Essay D1 Evaluate The Environmental Performance Of Modern Materials

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D1 - Evaluate the environmental performance of modern materials and techniques used in the construction of substructures for low-rise domestic and commercial buildings, for two different tutor-specified scenarios Most people may not realise but concrete plays a vital part in our lives daily. It shapes and creates the built environment in which we are surrounded by, such as schools, bridges, roads, housing, hospitals, dams and so much mores. Concrete is the most used man made material in the world, averaging around 3 tonnes annually for each person. In comparison with other building materials such as wood, steel, plastic and aluminium, over twice as much concrete is used globally than any of these materials. It is the material choice of most purposes due to its strength, durability, thermal mass and its cost. Cement is notably the most important ingredient in the …show more content…

Steel itself can be used over and over again without losing any of its qualities, including strength. Steel is also the most recycled material on the planet with a survey taken in 2012 showed around 88% of steel being recycled. Steel offers: • Material efficiency – this results in less natural resources used, less transports, less emissions and less energy used • High recyclability – this results in less natural resources used, less waste and emissions used • Quality and durability • Dry and lean construction – this results in less health hazards, less waste, less energy used, less emissions produced and a better working environment Figure 15 – shows steels attributes Regardless of how you view them, concrete and steel are vital to the production industry, no matter how they perform for sustainable purposes, until an alternative comes around with roughly the same costs, durability and availability of these materials, then they are going to be around for many more years to

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