NOV 29

OK...we don't spend a lot of time thinking about concrete. It's not especially important to our day-to-day lives...is it?

You bet your Wii it is. Concrete is the most used substance on the planet. We talk about plastic bottles and disposable packaging. That crap PALES in comparison to the amount of concrete we use in the world. Eight percent of human-produced carbon dioxide is a direct result of the mining, processing, and transport of concrete!

And, in the end, it's strong...but it could be stronger. And when it reaches the end of its useful life, there's nothing to do with it but throw it away.

Enter HYCRETE! Hycrete is not only more durable than concrete (because water cannot penetrate it) it's also extremely easy to recycle. Just grind it up and, voila, it is the same stuff it was before it was cast. Hycrete is cradle-to-cradle certified as well as LEED certified.

The World Economic Forum just named the company that produces Hycrete one of the few 2008 "Technology Pioneers." And we just wanted to say, congratulations, you rock...thanks for saving the world in a seriously powerful (albeit unglamorous) way.

Comments (10)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

This is pretty huge
written by Webster, November 29, 2007

Not only is concrete widely used, it's widely destroyed. And at local rates of 100 dollars per ton for trash plus required landfill diversion programs, contractors will love it.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Hempcrete
written by shawn, November 29, 2007

Concrete can also be made with hemp hurds and hydraulic lime. It actually petrifies and becomes stronger as it gets older.

It's also called Isochanvre.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Concrete is the same way
written by Webster, November 29, 2007

Theoretically, 500 year old concrete is stronger than 400 year old concrete. When you pour a foundation, you basically plan on pouring a foundation with a large structural margin so that it will reach the required minimal load value quickly, say a week or so.

And this is why Hank never talks about concrete....

• 
• +0
• 
• 

LEED certification is for building
written by Max, November 29, 2007

Just a friendly correction to the article, LEED is only a building certification program, and does not certify building products. That said, building products, including this one, can contribute to the achievement of LEED points within building projects.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by J, November 29, 2007

Wait, so if water can't penetrate it, doesn't that mean that there will be more runoff?

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Where's the rub?
written by Mark @ TalkClimateChange, November 30, 2007

Can it really be true and can it really be that good? Even after doing a few google searches I still can't find anything negative mentioned anywhere about this product..

Sounds like the perfect solution. What a happy thought to start the weekend with.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Don't get too excited
written by K, November 30, 2007

According to their website it's an additive to concrete, not a new type of concrete. It's not something you can recycle, unless it's crushed and use it as loose fill - just as they do with "regular" concrete. Silane treatments do the same thing with masonry products.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

How much does it cost?
written by Itseze, November 30, 2007

Sounds great to me, but how much does it cost to make this stuff. and if it is recyclable, how much energy does it take to reuse it? Still a great step in the right direction though!

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Mr.
written by Odin, December 14, 2007

I am working with Papercrete as a building material.
It is composed of 75% re-pulped paper,10% portland cement,5% sand, 5% hydrated lime, and 5&#xla;tex paint.
I form it into blocks using a mold. Then they are "cemented" together using the same damp material. It is very strong and very light. has an R value of 3 per inch.
But it must be sealed against water penetration.
I have found Thompsons water seal works very well for this.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Anyone find/know anything about oxblood
written by John, June 23, 2008

O.k., it sounds gross but mixing oxblood with concrete is said to make it stronger and I've read of a door painted with oxblood that still looks great after 300 years. I've also read that Spanish floors used to be poured this way and when polished (think of those concrete floors you've seen that are almost mirror-like) take on a ruby glow. Are there more available and/or cheaper materials to replace oxblood? Does anyone know of someone who has used this combo in their floor?
Concrete also sometimes has a significant amount of fly ash (a by-product of energy producers) added to concrete. This decreases landfill and is reported to make the concrete stronger. Combining this with oxblood (or a substitute) should make for some outstandingly durable floors, assuming someone knows how to do this.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment