| The construction industry is turning green nowadays, | | | | Green Concrete Finishes |
| and this refreshing change of attitude is thanks to a | | | | When it comes to lessening environmental harm, |
| consumer market that wants to pursue a more | | | | eco-friendly building designers already give concrete |
| environmentally-friendly lifestyle. The | | | | finishes the highest scores in green building design and |
| consumers-turned-environmentalists desire to live and | | | | construction. After all, this material is sourced from |
| work in buildings and facilities that use only the | | | | the earth itself, being made from cement, which in |
| greenest materials, and constructed without harming | | | | turn is made from crushed limestone. |
| the environment in any way. | | | | Limestone extracted from the earth's bowels is |
| Now that the green building movement is gaining | | | | abundant everywhere on the planet. This means |
| momentum, the construction industry is abuzz with | | | | limestone does not require the use of harmful |
| environmental concerns, such as energy efficiency, | | | | materials for its extraction, processing, production |
| lesser environmental harm, sustainability, to name just | | | | and transport. Furthermore, green builders appreciate |
| a few. For building designers and facility managers, | | | | that cement is friendly to recycling - often using |
| this means that existing construction methodologies, | | | | by-products such as ash in its composition, which are |
| products and materials must all undergo very deep | | | | normally just thrown away as useless waste. |
| scrutiny - from paint formulations to concrete finishes | | | | Sustainable Applications Using Green Concrete Finishes |
| - to find out if they meet the standards of the | | | | Many eco-friendly building materials work because |
| environment-responsible. | | | | they lessen the harm to the environment during |
| Energy Conservation and Concrete Finishes | | | | construction and application. But when it comes to |
| The dull gray slab of cement is shaded eco-friendly | | | | longevity and endurance, concrete finishes are by far |
| green because of its unique ability to help in managing | | | | the best choices available for green builders. |
| the cooling and heating systems in the facility, making | | | | Concrete is not only environment-friendly and |
| it a very energy-efficient material. | | | | energy-efficient, it can also last for long periods of |
| Concrete finishes have a remarkable capacity to | | | | time, impervious to physical damages that other |
| absorb and retain heat when needed. In the summer | | | | materials are very vulnerable to. It is also resistant to |
| months when heat permeates building interiors, they | | | | decays, and can withstand physical damages brought |
| act as insulators, absorbing heat and keeping the area | | | | by fire or water. When building materials have longer |
| cool. In nighttime or winter, they also regulate the | | | | life spans, the facility incurs lesser replacement costs |
| room temperature to achieve comfortable warmth, | | | | in the long run. |
| using the same heat absorbed earlier. | | | | Sustainability is particularly important to modern |
| Adding to its value as an energy-saving application, | | | | consumers, who are increasingly demanding creative |
| concrete finishes often come in natural earth tones | | | | methodologies and materials with which to build their |
| and hues. The lighter coloring helps the surfaces | | | | homes and work places. Architects, engineers and |
| reflect more light and cooling the surroundings, | | | | facility managers find concrete a very reliable material |
| further lessening the energy and lighting costs in the | | | | to satisfy the environmental concerns of consumers. |
| facility. | | | | |