The Portland Cement Association (PCA) released a new report focused on resiliency titled The Real Value of Resilient Construction. The report demonstrates through historical data, evidence from external sources, and comparisons of building materials that resilient design and construction built with concrete leads to longer lasting buildings due to concrete’s ability to stand up to normal wear and tear and resistance to extreme weather events.
“U.S. taxpayers cannot afford to continue building and rebuilding the way we did in the past,” said Michael Ireland, PCA President and CEO. “Strong, robust structures ensure community continuity and provide long lasting value for scarce taxpayer dollars.”
On a national scale, between 1996 and 2014, damages in the United States due to hazards (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, etc.) totaled over $377 billion, according to the National Weather Service. The Real Value of Resilient Construction notes that reinforced concrete structures reduce recovery costs after disasters hit and the upfront costs of incorporating resilient concrete features may not be significant, and are likely to save money in the long run.
The report also looks at how concrete buildings are the new “green” buildings. Structures that last longer reduce environmental footprint because their emissions, attributed to heating, cooling and operation, can be spread over many decades. Incorporating concrete can also contribute toward achieving points in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program.
