THE ENERGY-SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY RIGHT BENEATH OUR FEET
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
How physical road properties unlock major energy savings
MIT research reveals that road design and maintenance impact transportation emissions far more than construction materials. According to Hessam AzariJafari of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, the industry has focused heavily on vehicle efficiency while paying far less attention to the roads those vehicles travel on. That gap may overlook one of the largest energy-saving opportunities in transportation. MIT research indicates that the way roads are designed and maintained can have a greater effect on emissions than the materials used to construct them.
Hessam was one of the leading partners on the IGGA/MIT Fuel Savings Calculator project. We applaud his efforts and contributions to our industry, as well as his opportunity to present his work on such a large platform as TEDx Talks.
Optimizing the physical properties of concrete pavements transforms them into active resiliency tools. To achieve scalable impacts, infrastructure asset management must prioritize specific physical characteristics:
Stiffness and smoothness: Flexible roads cause excess fuel consumption, while stiff rigid pavements improve vehicle fuel economy by three to seven percent Improving surface smoothness by 20% reduces vehicle rolling resistance, reducing vehicle fuel consumption by millions of gallons per year.
Urban heat reduction: Dark pavements raise local temperatures by 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Increasing network reflectance by 20% yields environmental benefits equal to removing the emissions of three percent of vehicles from the road.
Lifecycle carbon uptake: Concrete continuously absorbs CO2, sequestering six percent of the emissions generated from its cement production. Crushing decommissioned concrete at its end of life maximizes this carbonation process.
Selecting concrete pavement today positions agencies to leverage documented carbon-reduction performance and prepare for future sustainability funding opportunities.
See Hessam’s full TedXBoston video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWXNIt2t38