Not only is polished concrete a natural, durable, beautiful flooring system, it is proven to be one of the most effective GREEN flooring solutions and systems available, possibly the greenest flooring solutions that delivers the results it does.

Today’s emphasis on alternative construction methods that are earth friendly, as well as cost-effective, make concrete polished floors an outstanding option to more traditional floor coverings. Among the many green flooring solutions, polished concrete stands out for its durability and minimal environmental impact.

It’s incredibly strong environmental benefits include:

• The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth. Polished concrete flooring options repair and use the existing concrete slab as a base, removing only a minimal amount of surface material, further emphasizing its role as a green flooring solution.
• It’s incredibly durable and its longevity significantly decreases waste from flooring systems that require initial purchase and delivery and replacement over time such as tile, VCT tile, hardwood and carpet which have a limited life cycle.
• Polished concrete doesn’t require hazardous adhesives; it’s sealed with low VOC sealers. VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals) create odors and affect indoor air quality, which irritates the sensitivities to airborne contaminants of a large portion of the population. The polishing process uses sealers with low VOC levels, and HEPA vacuums to remove 98% of the airborne particles generated during the polish process.
• Concrete can be recycled. Recycled as road fill or road base, to protect shorelines or reused as aggregates in new concrete.
• It’s low maintenance to clean; doesn’t need to be waxed and buffed, which saves time and money and doesn’t require hazardous cleaning agents, making it one of the most practical green flooring solutions.
• Light reflectivity – the polished, reflective surface with a shine similar to polished marble or granite adds more light without additional fixtures, which saves energy, decreases artificial light requirements resulting in lower electricity costs.
• Concrete stores and releases heat, which aids in the control and maintenance of temperatures
• During the process, concrete can be stained to give designers and architects more ways to incorporate colorful and artistic elements into their designs while earning LEEDs credits.
• Contributes to LEED certification in the areas of building reuse, material reuse, low emitting materials and optimizing energy performance. Details from IPCI (The International Polished Concrete Institute, LLC) are below.

 

 

Polished Concrete

A Sustainable Flooring Solution

Conserving the earth’s natural resources and reducing the environmental impact of construction are a big focus on many projects. Polished concrete flooring is one of the most sustainable flooring options available. As a concrete slab is a required element for virtually all construction projects, polishing that slab to provide a finish will not require the harvest, manufacture, and transport additional material. There is no material sitting on top of the slab, such as tile, hardwood or carpet, that will end up in a landfill when it comes time to replace it.

 

LEED Points

Building Reuse:  Polished concrete supports the efforts to prevent waste, energy, and materials and to reduce the environmental impact that is caused by harvesting and manufacturing new material.  Reusing the concrete slab as a floor finish, instead of adding additional flooring such as carpet, tile, or hardwood on top of the slab, will help achieve the desired points – to a different degree in new construction versus remodeling an existing structure.

Indoor Environmental Air Quality is maintained at a high level when a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) sealer is used on the floor, or the sealer is omitted entirely.

To qualify to be LEED Certified, a building must achieve a minimum energy efficiency and optimize energy performance.  The reflective nature of polished concrete can assist with this credit by maximizing the natural and artificial lighting already in use, thus improving the energy efficiency of the lighting system as a whole.

The insulation gained from the thermal mass of constructing with concrete, including walls and exposed slabs will help retain the internal temperature of the building and reduce the load on HVAC systems.