The construction business has come a long way from the usage of wood and stone to using steel bars in the construction of buildings and other structures. However, some materials have truly passed the test of time and still maintain a high level of popularity as the people choice for construction like concrete. One can see it used widely everywhere, from the cities to villages. Its benefits and versatility despite its few limitations has made it one of the mostly highly rated materials for use in construction.

Concrete the Sustainable Building Material

Not all materials are environment friendly, some may possess eco-friendly attributes in some stages of production, but very few are environmentally friendly like concrete in all stages of its life spans. Here are some of the reasons to use concrete as a long-lasting material.


1. Efficiency: composed mainly of limestone, which is sourced from the earth and is one of its most abundant mineral, other sources also include fly ash, silica fume, waste products form power plants and slag cement etc. however limestone remains the main source used in the manufacturing of concrete.

2. Durability: one of the major highlights is its durability. They are immune to rust, rot and do not burn. This already eliminates half the main cause of loss of durability among building structures made from other materials like wood or metal.

3. Thermal: Concrete is known to possess thermal properties, which means it can absorb and retain heat reducing the need of heating and cooling devices which on the long run saves you a lot on electrical bills.

4. Storm water retention: the problem of most pavements is that it blocks natural water system into the soil. This can lead to erosion, flash floods and other problems from water being unable to pass through. Concrete in this regard is porous and allows for the flow of water readily through it, making it great for use in construction of pavements parking lots and sidewalks etc.

5. Waste is kept to a minimum: unlike wood or metal which requires to be cut to the amount required. Concrete can be produced to a specific amount as required. This eliminates waste and upon completion of the project the remaining material which is left unused or that has solidified can be crushed and mixed into a new paste for use in a new project.

6. Emission free: it does not contain toxic compounds or any other volatile compounds making it desirable as it is emission free.

7. Versatile: you can shape it to form any shape and upon hardening it shall adapt to the shape, this makes it a dream for architects to work on.

8. Cost effective: if you were to analyse the benefits it provides, ranging from high durability, immunity from rust, fire and mould, as well as being energy efficient etc. it is already a deal breaker among other building materials. The cherry on the cake comes at how cheap the cost is in comparison to its benefits.

There are several materials that highlights similar features that concrete possess however there are very few that actually possess that many characteristics like the ones showcased by concrete, to top it off because it so cost effective it trumps over similar materials and thus its application can be seen worldwide in cities for building sky scrapers to villages for building small houses and sheds. Its versatility also provides architects to utilise its potential in myriad and varied forms. Its environmentally friendliness also means it is attuned to nature and upon destruction can be recycled.