Concrete 'can help in sustainable construction'

Concrete can play a major part in sustainable and environmentally-friendly construction, the British Cement Association has commented.

In a statement welcoming the government's recently published Sustainable Construction Strategy, the chief executive of the body, Pal Chana, said the use of concrete and cement was central to sustainable construction.

Emphasising its eco-friendly credentials, he stated: "Concrete is flood resilient and its natural thermal mass properties can significantly reduce the amount of energy need for heating in the winter and cooling in increasingly hotter summers."

Such considerations may be considered by those planning to self build or renovate their homes.

The Sustainable Construction Strategy includes environmental targets such as halving the amount of landfill waste created by the demolition, excavation and construction process.

It also aims to reduce skills shortages in the industry by recruiting 230,000 more trained workers by 2010, as well as reducing the number of construction-related deaths by ten per cent.