Courtesy : 99acres.com

Green cement as a sustainable construction material

Green cement is an environmental-friendly product that minimises carbon footprint in the process of cement production. It has been estimated that a single tonne of Portland cement releases approximately six percent of the total man-made carbon emissions, which significantly contributes to the current environmental issues. The usage of green cement can provide an effective solution to such pressing complications.

Given the non-availability of raw materials, depletion of fossil fuel reserves, and the growing environmental concerns; the cement industry is indeed going through a rough patch. This, in turn, has given rise to the increase in the demand for alternative fuels from renewable resources and recycling of waste materials. Green cement is one such innovation in the cement industry, which is produced with the help of a carbon-negative manufacturing process. In short, the cement produced as the final product of a technologically advanced process, which minimises the emissions during unit operations, is referred to as green cement. It is an eco-friendly product, which resolves serious environmental issues and helps make the environment cleaner and greener.

The concept of green cement dates back to the discovery of geopolymer cement in the 1950s. Unlike the traditional Portland cement that is produced by using high-quality calcium oxide, green cement is manufactured using aluminosilicates. Moreover, as compared to the traditional cement, green cement functions better, requires fewer materials in production, and releases less carbon-dioxide in comparison to the former. In terms of the volume of consumption, the global cement market is likely to reach 277 million metric tons by 2020, increasing at a CAGR of 15 percent.

As apprised by Anil Muthyala, Managing Partner, Vishnu Priya Group and Aspire Infra, “Green Cement is the need of the hour. Depending upon the process of manufacturing; the emission of carbon dioxide, with the help of green concrete, can be limited to 30 percent or even less as compared to the conventional methods. Also, the need for freshwater in Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) using green cement is reduced to about 50 percent, which is quite significant. IGBC, in its green homes rating system, has allotted nearly eight points for using raw materials such as green cement, which are not associated with hazardous environmental impacts.”

Here are some of the known benefits of green cement:

Makes the use of industrial waste

Fly ash, which is a by-product of coal combustion, is produced in high quantities in industrial plants. Usually, several acres of land is required to dispose of the product effectively. However, green cement helps to make the most of fly-ash and protects the land from being destroyed. Other than fly ash, green cement also utilises blast furnace slag, which is yet another harmful industrial waste, released from iron manufacturing.

Requires less energy

The materials used in the process of traditional cement manufacturing require a large amount of natural gas and coal for heating purposes. Since green cement already comprises of industrial by-products, the energy required for production is quite less in comparison to traditional cement. Moreover, green cement is also more resistant to temperature changes, and therefore, minimises the costs associated with both heating and cooling.

Long-lasting

Having a low shrinkage rate, green cement tends to be more long-lasting than the traditional cement. Moreover, it is stronger as compared to the latter and can, therefore, withstand temperatures as high as 2400 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, it can also withstand the negative impact of acid rain, which significantly reduces the chances of corrosion in residential and commercial structures.

Reduces carbon dioxide emissions

Manufacturing of green concrete releases up to 80 percent less carbon dioxide in comparison to the traditional concrete, which uses clay, sand, and pulverised limestone as some of the major ingredients. As per estimates, all these products contribute to nearly 5-8 percent of the total global carbon dioxide emissions. Switching over to green concrete also helps minimise heat during the production.

Being a self-drying element, green cement is also beneficial for the contractors, as a fresh coating can be applied in as early as 72-96 hours. This not only saves time for the workers but also prevents the loss of other projects.