Tencate Geosynthetics and wind energy
Large-scale wind energy arrays are having a dramatic impact on the industry's efficiency. Also, turbine hub heights are exceeding 150m, making them far more powerful; but, also requiring stronger reinforcement support. Images by Tencate.

[metaslider id=49973]
Geosynthetics are helping substantially reduce the carbon footprint of construction, securing the environment, and extending the economical and environmental performance of infrastructures. As Earth Day 2016 is marked around the world, we look at some of the geosynthetics and applications that are helping create a more sustainable world.
Geosynthetics have helped infrastructures achieve:

  • Longer road lives
  • Stronger water resource conservation
  • Surface erosion control
  • Environmental Protection
  • And much more

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) has moved behind this cause considerably. In 2014, the society produced a video on sustainability. The UK chapter (IGS UK) has helped fund research on sustainability. In Thailand, multiple editions of a geosynthetics and climate change conference have been held.
**
More stories on sustainability, climate change response, environmental engineering, and geosynthetics are forthcoming.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

2 COMMENTS

  1. Reduced construction traffic is only a small part of the carbon footprint equation. For geosynthetics you need to consider the carbon footprint required to extract the raw materials, process raw materials, transport materials to factory and then produce the geosynthetics. Once all that is done, add in the cost of transport to site.

    • For most projects, geosynthetics still come out substantially ahead. Even the embodied carbon rating, factoring in raw material extraction, has geosynthetics excelling with final transport considered. Much of this is measured against clay layers or aggregate thicknesses needed to match the geosynthetic performance. Transport and time/equipment needed in construction without geosynthetics creates a multiple of emissions above the full rating of geosynthetics. Again, this is in most standard infrastructure projects for which geosynthetics are economically viable solutions. This isn’t to say that geosynthetics should always be used. As the IGS emphasizes, it is about appropriate selection. Dr. Dixon did a great job in his keynote at GeoAmericas summarizing the carbon analysis methods and why geosynthetics come out favorably so often now.

Comments are closed.