How precast concrete can be green: saving time, money, energy and the planet, one panel at a time.

• Position: ADVICE CONSTRUCTION

CONSIDERING THE environmental impact of new construction is an issue that continues to become more important. Lawmakers are passing legislation requiring more environmentally friendly buildings. Property owners are becoming more interested in the benefits and cost savings that energy efficient buildings deliver. Together, these factors are ushering in an era of "green" construction.

Choosing the right materials is a key consideration of green construction. For example, precast concrete wall systems can be used in office buildings, manufacturing facilities, retail operations, schools and even ice arenas. Each of these projects can be friendlier to the environment by benefiting from faster construction times, energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and increased recycled content.

Fabcon is an ISO 9001 registered manufacturer of precast concrete wall systems and a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2007, it introduced VersaCore+Green[TM] wall panels, which significantly raised the standard for precast wall manufacturers in supporting the sustainable architecture and green construction markets. These panels reduce the harmful effects of fossil fuel emissions and manufacturing waste on the environment.

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Using recycled materials in new construction helps to reduce waste. By using nearly 60 percent recycled materials, the new panels illustrate how to reduce and reuse. Virtually all of the pre-stressed steel used in the panels is recycled, while most of the aggregate and an increasing amount of the foam billets is also recycled. In addition, Fabcon uses a recycled byproduct of the coal firing process as an ingredient in its concrete mix. Instead of becoming...