EcoMix®
EcoMix is a precast concrete mix that reduces carbon dioxide from conventional cement by at least 50%. EcoMix allows architects and designers to improve key sustainable attributes of their buildings and lower the overall carbon footprint of their precast projects.
Prior to EcoMix, typical High Concrete Group precast concrete contained approximately 10% Portland cement. The company targeted this ingredient for reduction as part of the High Green Initiative, a corporate effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over five years. According to the Portland Cement Association, the production of Portland cement contributes about 5% of human-produced greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
High uses supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to replace half or more of the Portland cement in its precast concrete. The SCMs include ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash and silica fume that are derived from industrial waste stream products. The materials may be used individually or as a blend, and can improve the light reflectance, workability and other characteristics of precast concrete.
The use of EcoMix is currently limited to High’s full-line plant in Denver, Pa. EcoMix joins High’s ECastTM and CarbonCast® brands of more sustainable precast concrete that helps improve the carbon footprint of building projects by reducing embodied energy.
