Tilt-Up Concrete

NOT GOING GREEN – “EVER” GREEN

The natural properties of tilt-up concrete

construction lead to enhanced sustainability.

► Information courtesy of CON/STEEL Tilt-Up Systems ◄

For a printable version or for more information, please contact

CON/STEEL Tilt-Up Systems at csinfo@consteel.com, or check out

CON/STEEL’s biannual newsletter, The Alliance Times.

From energy-efficient light bulbs to hybrid cars to LEED certified buildings, it is clear that “green” will be a way of life in American society, as well as in the building industry into the foreseeable future.

However, before sustainable design became a motivation, quality concrete tilt-up projects were constructed based on concepts of creating building envelopes that minimized the dynamic changes in temperature surrounding the building. So, before sustainability was an industry buzzword, tilt-up buildings were already recognized for advanced thermal efficiency.

Despite its ability to regulate temperature swings and minimize energy consumption, the truth is that there is no way to achieve LEED certification with only the credits that tilt-up concrete can provide. The largest share of LEED credits come from mechanical, electrical, plumbing and site considerations.

So, it doesn’t matter what type of construction is used for the building shell, right? Wrong. Although tilt-up construction cannot single-handedly achieve LEED certification, it is a building shell method that earns easy credits – providing important points toward certification, or pushing your project to the next level of sustainability. Why not choose the method that delivers the most “green?”

Tilt-up construction uses local materials, reducing resources

needed to gather construction products at the job site.

Site-casting concrete

elements offers many

advantages for general

sustainability, as well as

documented LEED

credits. First, all the

significant components

for a tilt-up structure can

be provided through local

sources. This factor,

combined with tilt-up

panels formed on site,

reduces the amount of

fuel used to haul product

to the job site.

Sustainable projects also need building envelope performance to play an important role in reducing energy consumption and costs. Tilt-up buildings have a tighter structure and less air infiltration compared with many competing systems. Concrete’s natural ability to absorb and store energy– the thermal mass effect– can also be combined with optimum insulation options to deliver maximized thermal performance.

Tilt-Up in the Long Term

To be truly sustainable, a structure needs to be maintained in the long term. Tilt-up buildings have realized life spans of 100 years. These structures not only stand the test of time, but do so with a very low maintenance profile, keeping costs and product consumptions low. The environmental impacts of lowering maintenance costs are often overlooked, but contribute significantly to a building’s overall sustainability.

The natural durability of tilt-up wall panels not only allows them to withstand standard wear and tear, but also delivers the option of reusing panels in the event of a building addition or renovation. Repurposing wall panels– or using them as site fill or pavement sub base material– reduces overall construction waste.

Working Together for a Better Tomorrow

Construction product manufacturers are also working to provide goods that enhance the tilt-up structure while contributing to overall sustainability. According to CON/STEEL Ally, Scott System, up to 10 LEED credits can be achieved when Scott System Brick Snaps^® or Rim Snaps^™ are chosen to achieve a masonry finish for concrete tilt-up walls.

Employing this cast-in thin brick product uses 80% less

raw material and natural gas to produce and deliver.

The Scott System thin-brick product uses 80% less raw material and natural gas to produce and deliver than conventional full-size brick. The manufacturing process and lighter weight means that a reduced amount of clay and shale are needed and less energy is used to produce and ship the product.

The United States Green Building Council has also recognized the value of sustainable design for building shells. Among its numerous categories of LEED certification, the building shell is now one of them. The shell certification stays with the building, so a building owner can provide a sustainable baseline, regardless of the desires and decisions made by future tenants.

The best of all worlds can be achieved when building owners, designers and contractors work together to develop sustainable projects. Owners receive all the known benefits of tilt-up—speed, cost containment, durability, safety and more—as well as the newly recognized benefit of sustainability.

As the “green” trend continues to permeate many aspects of life, we consider the impact of our work and the legacy we will leave. The buildings we create leave a lasting impression on both the environment and the people they affect.

Why not leverage tilt-up construction to provide

the most sustainable facility possible?