Study Shows Environmental Advantages of Concrete Pavement

The RMC Research & Education Foundation (RMC), a concrete industry trade association based in Silver Spring, Md., has announced the release of its report Effect of Pavement Type on Fuel Consumption and Emissions in City Driving.

The study, performed at the University of Texas at Arlington by Dr. Siamak A. Ardekani and Palinee Sumitsawan, compared fuel consumption and total CO₂ emissions for a motor vehicle driving on asphalt pavement and concrete pavement in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to a press release announcing the study. The RMC says fuel consumption and emissions rates were consistently lower on concrete pavements and, in some instances, the differences between the two pavement types were stark.

The final report also includes a new spreadsheet program tool: Roadway Fuel Consumption and Emissions Calculator. This tool will allow the user to estimate the fuel consumption and emissions savings or costs based on a user-specified project conditions.

“This new study demonstrates yet another way how the use of concrete can have a positive impact on the environment,” says Julie Garbini, RMC Executive Director. “The government and media repeatedly remind us of the need to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil through reduced fuel consumption and to decrease emissions in an effort to thwart global warming. With the Foundation’s release of this report, we have significant data that will provide state DOTs (departments of transportation) with additional information necessary to make informed choices about pavement selection, especially regarding lifecycle, environmental and air quality considerations.”

“The specifying community should find these results and the accompanying calculator extremely useful when selecting pavements for future projects,” Garbini adds. “We’re delighted to add this new project and calculator to our Research to Support Sustainable Development CD.”

The full report, Effect of Pavement Type on Fuel Consumption and Emissions in City Driving, and its companion tool Roadway Fuel Consumption and Emissions Calculator, are available for download from the Foundation’s website at www.rmc-foundation.org.