MIT Research

Concrete Sustainablility Hub

The CSH (Concrete Sustainability Hub) was established in late 2009 to better understand the sustainable attributes of concrete and the areas where they can be improved, and develop scientific breakthroughs at the atomistic level to make cement and concrete even more sustainable into the future.

The Hub is organized into three areas or platforms:

Concrete Science Platform

Mission: Scientific breakthroughs toward reducing CO2 footprint of cement and concrete

Current Research Topics Include: “Cracking the DNA Code of Concrete”

Dissolution of Clinker Phases (pdf)

Precipitation of Calcium-Silica-Hydrates (C-S-H) (pdf)

Cohesion, Setting, Micro-Texture Development (pdf)

Building Technology Platform

Mission: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Concrete Buildings and Pavements to Identify Impacts and Opportunities.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) ongoing research through the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub has set a new standard in life-cycle assessment (LCA) modeling. The three reports published in August, 2011, discuss initial findings on the life-cycle environmental and economic costs of pavement, commercial buildings and residential building. The results provide a rigorous means of testing the relative environmental impact of paving and building materials and design alternatives.

Learn More about LCA

Promotion Resources

Download Summaries of the Reports:

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Commercial Buildings

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Residential Buildings

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Pavements

MIT Research: Effects of Inflation and Volatility on Construction Materials

Download Summary Presentations of the MIT Research:

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Commercial Buildings

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Residential Buildings

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Pavements

MIT Research: Effects of Inflation and Volatility on Construction Materials

Download Detailed Presentations of the MIT Research:

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Commercial Buildings (30 min)

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Residential Buildings (30 min)

MIT Research: Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Pavements (30 min)

MIT Research: Effects of Inflation and Volatility on Construction Materials (20 min)

Download the Full MIT Reports:

Buildings Life Cycle

Pavements Life Cycle

Inflation and its Volatility on Construction

Click here to download the NRMCA Sample Letter to the Editor. 

Click here to download the NRMCA strategic plan for leveraging the MIT LCA research results.

Click here to download a presentation describing strategies and ideas for promoting the MIT LCA research results.

Click here to download a recording of a webinar originally delivered on September 8, 2011, by NRMCA staff describing strategies for leveraging the MIT LCA year 2 research results.

Visit www.nrmca.org/sustainability for information on other concrete industry sustainability initiatives.

Visit www.nrmcavoice.com for information on advocacy and government affairs related to MIT LCA results.

For more information on other projects funded by the RMC Research & Education Foundation.