Eco Alternatives to Concrete

Concrete has been a commonly used buildingsmog and fog in our cities which pollutes the
material since the time of the Pharaohs. Our lovesurrounding environment.
and dependence on concrete has shaped much of- Concrete dust – can be extremely
our architecture and infra-structure that is difficulthazardous to health depending on its constitution.
to envisage a world without it.It can not only cause a myriad of diseases such
From 60's tower blocks to the walls, pavementsas bronchitis but the dust can get into the
and curbstones that line our high streets; concreteatmosphere where it can dim sunlight and cause
has literally built our society.other environmental problems.
Eco Friendly Alternatives to Concrete
Now, there is an eco alternative to concreteThe problems associated with concrete have not
However, concrete is a natural enemy of thegone unnoticed however, and there are now
environment and causes several issues:many alternatives to using concrete and cement.
- Climate change – The cement and concreteOne such solution is to use recycled plastic which
industry is one of the of the highest emitters ofcan be used as a flooring or base for such things
CO2 producing 5 percent of mankind's greenhouseas sheds, garages, greenhouses and even car
emissions.parking. This prevents homeowners having to lay
- Prevents drainage – Concrete is waterproofconcrete in their gardens which becomes a
and so rainfall cannot soak through to the waterpermanent structure.
table. This can cause all sorts of issues in theThis eco base alternative to concrete is just as
environment fro soil erosion and water qualitydurable and strong and doesn't harbour any of the
issues.environmental problems associated with concrete
- Heat insulation – concrete soaks up heat– it can even allow water to pass through so
which means our cities are warmer in the eveningyour garden won;t suffer the lack of drainage
than the surrounding countryside. This causesthat a concrete base will cause.