The concrete mixer and cement in general has been paramount in building the modern cities we know today, allowing us to reshape how we imagine architecture throughout history. Cement is one of the most widely used materials in manufacturing today, and we produce it at rapid speeds to keep up with the growth of city expansions. Building and expanding so drastically has a heavy impact on our environment, but how can we reduce these effects through architecture?
This article will take a walk through the history of concrete mixers and cement to create the modernised world we know today and the impact this has had on the environment. We’ll look at some innovative architectural designs that have used concrete and concrete mixers to create buildings that re-conceptualise sustainable buildings.
Concrete Mixer: How It Started
Concrete is not a modern building material and the use of concrete dates back to ancient history. The Romans built with a type of concrete substance made from volcanic ash thousands of years ago, with some of these structures still standing today. The Pantheon in Italy is a famous example of one of these first concrete buildings that is still admired today.
Thousands of years after the Romans experimented with concrete, Portland cement was invented. In 1824 Joseph Aspdin patented this material which was made from a mixture of limestone and clay. This Portland cement established the start of the cement production we know today and was quickly used across the world.
Concrete mixers were only invented in the early 1900s, with very basic designs. Although these quickly evolved into truck concrete mixers, and the highly effective machines we see on every construction site today. Concrete mixers allowed the building process to be sped up by producing large quantities of concrete and also improved the consistency for a high-quality finished product.
Concrete Mixers: The Invention Of Reinforced Concrete
The concrete technology used in modern construction has come a long way from where it began. The use of well-developed concrete mixers and new methods of pouring concrete allows us to build structures more advanced than ever before. The construction methods and concrete mixers we’re familiar with today began with the invention of reinforced concrete.
Reinforced concrete is revolutionary as it hugely improves the strength and capabilities of concrete, allowing us to create elaborate, towering structures within today’s cities. Reinforced concrete contains steel rods embedded within the structure, this maximises the strength of the material making it possible to build buildings that can withstand immense pressure.
Concrete Mixer: Impact On The Environment
As cities and urban areas expand at rapid speeds it leaves a very negative effect on the environment. Cities are now growing faster than ever to keep up with the population’s needs, and these are some of the challenges the environment is facing due to rapid expansion.
Loss of habitat: When urban areas expand, natural habitat is lost, causing a decline in natural biodiversity.
Rising temperatures in urban areas: This is due to the urban heat island effect. Due to the lack of vegetation and trees in urban areas, they absorb more heat during the day and retain this heat at night. Temperatures rise in urban areas increasing the effects of climate change.
Construction Creates Waste: The building process uses a large amount of materials that are harmful to the environment. It can be difficult to dispose of this waste sustainably.
Water Pollution: When construction waste or industrial waste is not disposed of responsibly, water runoff from these sites can contaminate natural rivers and water sources with harmful chemicals.
Concrete Mixer And Sustainable Concrete
With these environmental issues on the rise, it is now more important for construction industries to turn to more sustainable practices. Concrete mixers and concrete play a significant role in the building process, as one of the most widely used materials. Choosing sustainable concrete practices and building with environmentally conscious architectural designs can make a phenomenal difference to the future of our urban spaces. Here are 5 ways industries can make concrete more sustainable:
Opt for a carbon-neutral concrete mixture
By using eco-friendly cement mixtures, we can rely on concrete that reduces the carbon emissions involved in production. There are now alternative cements available that have lower emissions than conventional products. It is also possible to add CO2-absorbing minerals to the concrete mixture, further reducing its impact.
Some manufacturing companies make use of renewable energy sources during the production process. For the production process to become more carbon-neutral, renewable energy sources should be prioritised in manufacturing.
Make the production process more energy-efficient
Any form of energy efficiency will benefit the environment. Manufacturers can lower their carbon footprint by reducing their energy consumption during production. This is possible by increasing the efficiency of the plant by ensuring all machines are regularly maintained, and equipment is working effectively. Modernised machines and technology are often more efficient with less energy consumption, and industries can implement the use of modernised kilns to decrease their energy usage.
Increase the use of recycled concrete
What makes concrete a great material is that it is possible to recycle. Recycling concrete hugely reduces the amount of waste in construction and reduces the demand for new production. Old concrete from demolished buildings can be turned into aggregate and reused for new buildings. Buildings can also be carefully deconstructed, leaving behind whole pieces of precast concrete to be used again in a new construction project. Concrete recycling should be prioritised and more recycling facilities should be built for this to be possible.
Sustainable architectural design
Choosing more sustainable construction methods can greatly reduce the environmental effects of the industry. Using concrete and concrete mixers effectively to build structures that are more environmentally conscious is extremely important for our modern society. This can be done by designing structures that are made to last. Long-lasting structures require little repair and reduce the need to use more materials in the future.
Buildings can also be designed to be more energy efficient, incorporating eco-friendly practices such as solar panels, or green roof systems. Building designs should also be able to adapt to changes to be successfully repurposed and modified rather than demolished in the future.
Use more precast concrete in construction
Precast concrete means using concrete pieces that are made off-site and then delivered and put together at the site. It is beneficial to the environment as this process often produces less waste, and aids in creating stronger, long-lasting concrete structures.
Concrete Mixer: Innovative Architecture
Building large-scale structures and skyscrapers is nearly impossible without concrete and concrete mixers. Fortunately, these innovative architectural designs are changing the way we think about sustainable building, using concrete to create buildings that have as little environmental effect as possible. The following are just 5 examples of truly inspiring architecture from across the globe that has incorporated sustainable practices into its design:
The New York City’s Bank Of America Tower
This building is considered one of the most efficient and sustainable skyscrapers in America. Standing at 365.8 metres in height, the entire building was designed and built with sustainable materials. Recycled materials were prioritised in its construction. Slag was used to create concrete aggregate, making it more sustainable as slag is a byproduct created by blast furnaces. Utilising this material greatly reduced the CO2 emission in the construction process. The building is also highly water efficient as it collects rainwater to be used in its greywater system.
The Shangai Tower
This skyscraper in China shows highly innovative design elements throughout the entire structure. The building is designed in a twisting shape which protects the structure from high winds. This twisting design also reduces the material usage in the building, limiting the need for steel and concrete construction materials making the building process more efficient. The building also incorporates a highly efficient wastewater system, collecting rainwater which is used within the building’s green spaces and toilet systems. Wind turbines are mounted onto the rooftop of the building which produces about 10% of the building’s electricity. The tower has received many awards including certificates from the Green Building Council in the US.
One Central Park Building In Sydney
This building consists of a large residential area as well as a shopping centre and is admired as one of the best sustainable building projects in Australia, receiving a 5-star rating by the Green Council Australia. The building has a power plant to meet the electricity needs of residents. It also effectively recycles water used by residents to minimise water waste.
Singapore’s Parkroyal Collection Pickering
This building in Singapore features a luxury hotel, and incorporates an extensive amount of green foliage. The building has over 15,000 metres of green space that is elevated around the building. The gardens make use of sustainable water, collecting rainwater and using solar energy to be self-sufficient. The large amount of green space aids in reducing the effects of the urban heat island effect, and creates a healthy habitat for plants and biodiversity within urban areas.
Copenhill: Denmark
This building stands out due to its many functions. Its main function is as a power plant producing electricity from waste which is burnt in the building’s furnaces. Each year, waste is converted into cleaner energy which meets the needs of 150,000 residential homes in the surrounding area. The building also acts as a sports centre, showcasing one of the world’s tallest climbing towers, along with an artificial ski slope. This sustainable project will help the city reach its goal to produce as little carbon emissions as possible.
BS Power: Concrete Mixer Supplier
BS Power is one of South Africa’s leading suppliers of concrete mixers for professional usage on any construction site. Our concrete mixers are durable and robust, made to be long-lasting, allowing you to produce a quality concrete mixture and improve the efficiency of the building process. We offer concrete mixers from renowned brands such as Baumax and Honda. Concrete mixers benefit the construction industry in the following ways:
Concrete mixers help you get the job done quickly: If you want to improve efficiency on a construction site, concrete mixers speed up the mixing process and allow workers to spend time on other tasks rather than constantly mixing.
Concrete mixers create a better working environment for workers: Mixing concrete and cement is a tough job that requires a lot of muscle, and workers are often susceptible to injuries. The dust from the cement is also harmful when inhaled. Using concrete mixers on your construction site protects workers from harm.
Concrete mixers produce concrete on-site: Enjoy the benefit of having concrete readily available on-site, reducing transportation costs.
Reduce Wastage: Concrete mixers produce much less waste than mixing by hand, this can help reduce costs on the construction site and also make your site more sustainable.