For Solus, the medium truly is the message - and as makers of designer concrete products in an ecologically sensitive world, a big part of our message is sustainability. But what does this really mean? And in this culture that is replete with "green" jargon, how can one separate fact from fallacy and get to the root of this complex concept? At Solus, we take a very practical approach to sustainability, specifically, how can we use as little energy and materials as possible while minimizing waste and still do what we need to do? The process begins with the concrete.
Okay, let's just get the gruesome parts out of the way right from the start. The CO2 formed in the production of concrete accounts for 3% of all global emissions - which is a huge amount considering it comes from one material. This is largely due to the fact that it is the second most consumed substance on earth (after water). The production of cement, one of the key constituents of concrete - from the mining of raw materials, to transport, to the superheating required to give cement its unique properties - is very energy intensive. These facts being as they are, concrete is widely used for a reason. It is incredibly versatile, extremely durable, and composed of materials that are often locally available. So how does Solus reconcile these two faces of concrete, and make sure that we are utilizing it in a way that minimizes its environmental footprint?
There is much that can we can do in the manufacturing and handling of concrete to ensure that we are best utilizing our energy and our resources:
Local Materials - Most of the constituents of concrete are widely available and can be locally sourced. In Vancouver this is no exception. All of the our main ingredients come from within 100 kilometres as well as the bulk of our forming and mold materials. Further, virtually all of our manufacturing processes are done under our roof by local people.
Recycled Content - The bad news: over half of the electricity in North America comes from coal burning. A bit of good news: a byproduct of these power plants, fly ash, has cement-like properties and we use it to replace some of the cement in concrete. This has a three-fold benefit: we recycle an industrial waste product, we reduce the amount of cement (the highest energy component) required in concrete, and overall, using fly ash results in better, more durable concrete.
Recyclability - It's no secret that concrete can last a long time and put up with a lot of environmental abuse. As someone who just virtually rebuilt a house on an 80-year old foundation, I can personally attest to this. When its service life does eventually end, concrete can be recycled, usually pulverized and turned into aggregate or fill. All of our waste concrete is recycled in this fashion.
Embodied energy - In interior design applications like fireplace mantels, concrete compares favourably with other materials such as wood and particleboard. When recurring embodied energy is taken into account (i.e. energy of maintenance and refinishing), rot-proof, bug-proof, uv-proof concrete
Overall, concrete's sustainability as a decor material is defined by "appropriate design". Specifically, this means choosing applications that take the greatest advantage of concrete's natural characteristics.
Durability - By far, concrete?s greatest asset is its durability. Properly maintained concrete structures can last for hundreds, if not thousands of years. In interior design applications concrete products have a virtually unlimited life span.
No off-gassing. Little or no maintenance ? As concrete contains no harmful chemicals, it off-gases only water in its lifetime - it therefore meets IAQ standards. Further, as concrete looks best "au naturel", without paints or coatings, and ages beautifully with its environment, the need for maintenance and refinishing is kept to a minimum.
Thermal Mass - Concrete has excellent thermal mass properties which means that it can store heat or cold effectively. This is why concrete basements can be oases of cool in hot summer months and why radiant flooring works best when it is poured into a concrete slab. Likewise, a concrete fireplace surround will store and radiate heat, and concrete tile will enhance the performance of radiant heating applications.
Beauty - Although a subjective measure, I think most would agree that when it comes to architecture and interiors, beautiful design is more sustainable than the alternative. There is no use in making something that lasts if it needs to be updated or replaced for aesthetic reasons every few years. Timeless, trend-defying design helps to ensure that concrete's natural durability is thoroughly utilized and that it remains a beautiful and sustainable part of our designed spaces for years to come.
Solus is now on Facebook! See the latest images, reviews and client comments. Leave your comments and share concrete ideas. We will be giving away sets of our Candle Blobra candle holders every 100 fans leading up to giving away a 26" hemi firebowl when we reach 1000! Follow the link to become a fan.
Our handcast concrete tiles are a spectacular solution to fireplace and feature walls. Our individually hand made tiles will transform your space with substance and warm, organic aesthetic.
After a spring cleaning, we have uncovered a selection of surrounds, tiles, and vessels that are either overstock or don't pass the first quality muster. Check back to this page as we are continually updating it.
