More than three out of four design professionals PCA surveyed on preferred materials for sustainable design cited concrete, acknowledging its energy efficiency, durability and reduced maintenance. “Few, if any, construction materials offer concrete's wide range of sustainable and environmental benefits,” says PCA President/CEO Brian McCarthy. “This survey shows the design and building community recognizes that concrete can address the issues most important to sustainable development activities.”

On a scale of one to five, the online survey's 500-plus respondents ranked the importance of 22 attributes when selecting building materials, with energy efficiency (4.5 mean rating), durability (4.4), and aesthetics (4.2) topping the field. When survey participants were asked which building material they preferred to meet those attributes, concrete was the most common response for energy efficiency and durability. “Buildings with exterior concrete walls utilize less energy to heat and cool than similarly insulated buildings with wood or steel frame walls,” McCarthy notes. “The superior insulation, air tightness, and mass of the walls can reduce energy for heating and cooling by up to 40%. Plus, smaller, more efficient heating and cooling equipment can be installed.”

Concrete's role goes beyond energy efficiency. After measuring attributes' mean ratings and evaluating how concrete, wood and steel ranked against those qualities, an index revealed “green factors” of 4.20 for concrete, 4.03 for wood, and 3.85 for steel. “Architects and designers are choosing concrete [and] spreading the word on its effectiveness, says McCarthy, as 63% of survey respondents were very likely or likely to recommend using concrete for a sustainable building design, compared to 54% that would recommend wood and 53% steel.

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