E-concrete laboratory research
Wednesday, 19 January 2022
As the world progresses, society is looking for more sustainable ways to live. This means finding ways to limit our impact on the environment by using fewer resources. One way we can do this is by using E-concrete.
Our team made the testing module with industrial waste products, such as fly ash and slag. It is a more sustainable option than traditional concrete because it requires less energy to produce. Additionally, E-concrete is just as strong as traditional concrete, but it is lighter, so it uses less resources. E-concrete is the next step of sustainability because it helps us limit our impact on the environment. It is a more sustainable option that requires less energy to produce, and it is just as strong as traditional concrete.
Fewer than 1% of the world’s population lives in coastal areas, but these areas are home to more than 50% of the world’s population and account for more than 75% of the world’s economic activity. The world’s coasts are under pressure from rising sea levels, increased storm activity, and other impacts of climate change. These pressures are exacerbated by the loss of natural coastal habitats, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs, which provide vital ecosystem services, including coastal protection, water purification, and carbon sequestration.
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) is an approach to climate change adaptation that uses natural systems to provide protection from climate impacts. EBA strategies can include the protection and restoration of natural coastal habitats, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in salt water. They provide critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection, water purification, and carbon sequestration. More than 80% of the world’s mangroves have been lost since 1980. Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow in salt water. They provide critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection, water purification, and carbon sequestration. More than 30% of the world’s seagrasses have been lost since 1930.
Coral reefs are close to the shore and are made up of coral, rocks, and other materials. They provide critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection, water purification, and carbon sequestration. More than 50% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost since 1970.
EBA strategies can also include the use of Living Shorelines, which are natural or nature-based shoreline stabilization practices that use living plants, animals, and other organisms to protect against erosion and flooding. Living Shorelines can be used to protect against coastal erosion and flooding. Erosion is the process by which the land is worn away by the action of water, wind, or ice. Flooding is the inundation of land by water that covers the surface of the ground. EBA strategies can also include the use of Green Infrastructure, which is a planning and design approach that uses nature to manage stormwater run-off, reduce flooding, and improve water quality.
E-concrete is the next step of sustainability and it will be delivered in mid-quarter 2022. It is made from industrial waste, such as fly ash and slag, which are by-products of power plants. These materials are mixed with water and binders to create a new concrete that is stronger and more durable than traditional concrete. E-concrete has many sustainability benefits. First, it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. Second, it lowers CO2 emissions because it requires less energy to produce than traditional concrete. Third, it lasts longer, which means less concrete will need to be produced over time.
We understand there are certain challenges that need to be addressed before e-concrete can be widely used. First, the materials used to make e-concrete are not widely available. Second, the production process is still being perfected. Third, e-concrete is more expensive than traditional concrete.
We are working with local university experts including biology and engineer for a government fund research program to study the coastal life in Hong Kong. We will deliver the 1st batch of E-concrete in 4th quarter of 2021. The new study will demonstrate the environmentally friendly than traditional concrete and its relation to coastal life.