Promotion: Parking Lots

Concrete parking offers superior performance compared to other pavement alternatives in terms of strength, durability and reduced maintenance expense. Incorporating straight forward design and a variety of constructability features, concrete parking is also the economical choice when considering the life cycle cost of the pavement in service.
Benefits:
Strength – concrete parking areas have greater strength for spreading loads over larger areas of the subgrade, resulting in fewer pavement failures from truck use.
Durability – concrete stands the test of time better than any other leading building material. While its strengths are legendary, environmental concerns and new technologies make concrete an even smarter choice.

Reduces Heat Island Effect -Concrete provides reflective surfaces that minimize the urban heat island effect. Urban heat islands are primarily attributed to horizontal surfaces such as roofs and pavements that absorb solar radiation. In this context, pavements include roads, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. Where paved surfaces are required, materials with higher solar reflectance (albedo), such as concrete, will reduce the heat island effect, save energy by reducing the demand for air conditioning, and improve air quality.
Locally Produced – In almost every case, concrete is manufactured within 50 miles of final placement, and its materials produced within 500 miles. This means that the overall energy use of manufacturing and transporting concrete is much lower than alternatives. Recyclable - The constituents of concrete can be recycled materials, and concrete itself can also be recycled; these materials are usually available locally. Most concrete in urban areas is recycled as fill or road base and not placed in landfills. Concrete pieces from demolished structures can also be reused to protect shorelines, for example in gabion walls or as rip rap.
Lighting Efficiency – Lighting accounts for up to 25% of annual electricity usage in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. When combined with high-albedo concrete surfaces, the efficiency of lighting can be enhanced to the point that fewer fixtures are needed, with accompanying reductions in energy use and light pollution.
Concrete’s ability for high reflectivity makes for improved lighting, with safer roadways, parking garages, and parking lots. Concrete can make for more attractive exterior displays, highlighting aesthetic architectural features.
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Recycled Conten
Recycled content resources: (clickable links, where available)
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Headwaters Resources (NC&AA Member)
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Nebraska Ash (NC&AA Member)
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General Resource Technology (NC&AA Member)
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Flatwater Materials, Inc. (NC&AA Member)
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American Coal Ash Association
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Slag Cement Association
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about the use of concrete in parking lots


