The future of the construction industry depends on our ability to provide solutions that help foster more sustainable societies. Most of the products we offer are not final products, but serve to construct buildings and infrastructure works. Buildings account for 40% of energy consumption in developed countries and are a major contributor to climate change. Transforming the way they are conceived, constructed, operated, and dismantled is an ambitious endeavor. We, therefore, work with governments, universities, customers, and other business partners to build a profitable, sustainable construction industry. This involves reducing the environmental impact associated with the extraction of natural resources; the production, transportation, and placement of construction materials; and the use, maintenance, and disposal of the buildings and infrastructure developed with them. We have a history of developing innovative products that provide social benefits, while reducing their environmental impact.

Our research and development (R&D) efforts help us to create more sustainable processes and products, while reducing costs and meeting customer needs.

For example, in 1999, we developed a special antibacterial concrete for use in hospitals and as flooring in low-income houses. Other applications include free-flowing foundation concrete and acid-resistant concrete, which is used by livestock farmers who need surfaces that can withstand the environment of silage storage.

More recently, we have been working with customers to develop home building materials with improved thermal insulation in roofs and walls. These materials reduce the need for heating and cooling and contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the most effective ways to enhance the sustainability of buildings is through improved energy efficiency. Enhancing the environmental qualities of cement and concrete to improve energy efficiency in buildings will clearly create many commercial opportunities.

To this end, we are collaborating with a group of leading companies in the building, equipment, and energy industries as part of the Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EEB) initiative, which is coordinated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The EEB envisions a world where buildings consume zero net energy, generating as much energy as they consume. This project will develop a roadmap for transforming market structures and practices throughout the building industry, from finance and design to operation, in order to achieve this vision. The EEB initiative is working to identify immediate steps that will begin to change the construction business climate in favor of sustainable development.

Cement and concrete have an important role to play in meeting the sustainable building standards of the future. We develop materials that improve insulation, reducing energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. We also market products that increase drainage to prevent flooding and contain alternative or recycled materials. Examples include:

• Cement produced using alternative fuels in the kiln and containing alternative raw materials such as by-products from coal-fired power stations and the steel and iron industry
• Insulating concrete that limits the amount of heat transfer in buildings, keeping them cool in hot climates and trapping heat inside in cold weather, saving energy
• Porous concrete that allows rainwater to filter into the ground, reducing flooding and helping to maintain groundwater levels. The light-colored, porous concrete also stores less heat, reducing heat traps in cities
• Antibacterial concrete that controls bacteria growth, helping to maintain clean environments in places such as laboratories, restaurants, and hospitals