• Concrete is completely recyclable.
• Concrete doesn't release Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
• Concrete conserves oil, which is used to produce asphalt pavements.
• Replacing asphalt pavements with concrete can help to lower summertime temperatures.
• Concrete reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it.
• Concrete is a sustainable product.
• Contributes to the acquisition of LEED Credits.
The "heat island" effect seen in large cities has been attributed, in part, to the use of asphalt pavements.
While asphalt sealer is being investigated for its harmful runoff; concrete uses recycled waste products in its initial production and can itself be recycled and used as aggregate after being replaced. Now with pervious concrete we can ever prevent first flush pollutants from entering our streams and lakes.
Why concrete; because you deserve the longest lasting best performing product available. That’s why!
Pervious concrete pavement is a unique and effective means to address important environmental issues and support green, sustainable growth. By capturing stormwater and allowing it to seep into the ground, porous concrete is instrumental in recharging groundwater, reducing stormwater runoff, and meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stormwater regulations. In fact, the use of pervious concrete is among the Best Management Practices (BMPs) recommended by the EPA -- and by other agencies and geotechnical engineers across the country -- for the management of stormwater runoff on a regional and local basis. This pavement technology creates more efficient land use by eliminating the need for retention ponds, swales, and other stormwater management devices. In doing so, pervious concrete has the ability to lower overall project costs on a first-cost basis.
In pervious concrete, carefully controlled amounts of water and cementitious materials are used to create a paste that forms a thick coating around aggregate particles. A pervious concrete mixture contains little or no sand, creating a substantial void content. Using sufficient paste to coat and bind the aggregate particles together creates a system of highly permeable, interconnected voids that drains quickly. Typically, between 15% and 25% voids are achieved in the hardened concrete, and flow rates for water through pervious concrete are typically around 480 in./hr (0.34 cm/s, which is 5 gal/ft²/ min or 200 L/m²/min), although they can be much higher. Both the low mortar content and high porosity also reduce strength compared to conventional concrete mixtures, but sufficient strength for many applications is readily achieved.
While pervious concrete can be used for a surprising number of applications, its primary use is in pavement. This site focuses on the pavement applications of the material, which also has been referred to as porous concrete, permeable concrete, no-fines concrete, gap-graded concrete, and enhanced-porosity concrete.
