Ready-mix concrete is a popular paving solution for industrial and commercial applications due to its longevity, sustainability, and versatility. County Materials’ Ready-Mix is customizable and often specified for applications such as parking lots, driveways, loading docks, slabs, walkways, and more.
Safety
Parking lots built using ready-mix concrete offer greater nighttime visibility, increasing pedestrian safety. Concrete is also an efficient solution for alleviating the cost of outdoor lighting. For businesses whose parking lots and walkways are utilized after dark, light reflectance is an important safety and cost consideration.
Temperature Regulation
Concrete is often specified over asphalt for paving applications because of its unmatched temperature regulation. Because concrete is lighter, it does not retain as much heat from the sun, resulting in cooler, safer surfaces. Urban and suburban areas tend to have higher air and surface temperatures than surrounding rural areas: a phenomenon referred to as the Urban Heat Island Effect. The use of ready-mix mitigates this effect, lessening the demand for air conditioning as well as levels of air pollution and maintenance costs.
Emittance
According to the Portland Cement Association, emittance is “a measure of how well a surface lets go of heat via radiant energy” and is measured on a scale of 0 to 1. Concrete surfaces have an emissivity level between 0.85-0.95, meaning they absorb and emit radiant heat at an unmatched level.
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)
A surface’s emissivity level contributes to its SRI value, the measure of its ability to stay cool in the sun. SRI values are monitored by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most universal green building rating system. Using concrete can contribute to a structure’s LEED certification due to its environmental advantages.
Cost Savings
The light reflectivity benefits of ready-mix concrete also maximize cost savings. Projects that utilize concrete require fewer light and cooling fixtures. Not only does this elimination improve energy emissions and help the environment; it also decreases project expenses and maintenance costs.
Use County Materials’ Ready-Mix Concrete for your next project by contacting our Central Florida Ready-Mix Dispatch team at (352) 343-8488, option 3.
