SRI 2021

Concrete is a mixture of raw materials: Portland cement, water, sand, and gravel. It is non-combustible and, due to its durability, increases the lifespan of a building by double or triple that of other common building materials. Another advantage of concrete is its increased thermal mass which makes it a highly energy-efficient building enclosure. Buildings with high energy efficiency reduce the amount of heating and cooling required to condition the air and lead to less operational carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately, high carbon dioxide levels have led to the increase of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Per Architecture 2030, between 2020 and 2050, the carbon emissions from building construction, including embodied energy, are expected to be 11% of all global carbon emissions. Embodied energy is “refers to the sum impact of all greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a material during its life cycle” (ArchDaily 2021). Building operations, including heating and cooling, will account for 28% of total emissions. The embodied carbon emissions of construction are approximately 3729 million metric tons of CO2 per year. This research study examines mass timber and concrete and determines which construction material is more sustainable today.