Why Is Blended Cement More Environmentally Friendly?

Cement forms the backbone of the construction industry, but its production consumes a lot of energy and natural resources and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. With rising environmental concerns and introduction of stringent government regulations on waste disposal, there has been a significant shift towards sustainable development. With this, blended cement is rapidly gaining popularity as a ‘green’ alternative to the traditional Ordinary Portland Cement in the construction sector. Using this environment-friendly cement offers several performance advantages, but before we dive into these details, let’s take a quick look at what blended cement is, and why you should choose it for your next construction project.

What Is Blended Cement?

Blended cement is prepared by mixing clinker with one or two supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as fly ash, slag, granulated BFS, silica fume, volcanic ash, and other industrial by products, at the grinding stage of cement production. This innovative cement-based material offers superior performance advantages, including improved workability, durability, strength, and better construction outcomes. Besides being an environment-friendly cement, it also performs well in both hot and cold weather conditions. It offers enhanced efficiency, reduces the amount of energy used, and generates lesser pollutants and carbon emissions. 

Simply put, the usage of blended cement instead of traditional concrete makes sense environmentally, economically, and functionally, making it a viable and cost-effective option for individual home builders.

Four Environmental Benefits of Using Blended Cement

While the performance advantages of blended cement are plenty, its impact on the rising trend toward green construction practices is worth mentioning. Here are some reasons that make it an environment-friendly cement:

1. Saves Natural Resources – The mineral admixtures used in the production of blended cement are waste products from thermal and steel plants. Using these industrial waste materials helps conserve precious minerals, such as limestone, clay and silica. 
2. Reduces Energy Consumption – Adding mineral admixtures like fly ash and slag, which are by products of other industrial processes, decreases energy consumption during cement production. 
3. Conserves Water – Blended cement uses a lower water-cement ratio during the construction process, thereby saving water.
4. Protects the Environment – Cement is a key ingredient used in construction, but it involves an energy-intensive production process that accounts for about 7% of the total CO2 emissions globally. It releases various pollutants, smog, and greenhouse gases. However, in the case of blended cement, the use of industrial by products, such as fly ash and slag, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions during cement production.

In a nutshell, blended cement is not only good for you but also for the environment.

Technical Advantages of Blended Cement

While these four reasons clearly explain why blended cement is more environmentally friendly than traditional concrete, there are other performance benefits, too. Earlier, the environmental concerns, stringent government regulations, and the pressing need to minimise carbon footprint were the primary reasons why its demand was on the rise. However, the growing awareness regarding its technical advantages is also encouraging individuals to opt for this environment-friendly cement. 

Let’s discuss the technical advantages of using blended cement quickly to help you make a more informed purchase decision when buying cement for your next construction project. 

• Higher Strength – Using fly ash or slag can significantly contribute to the strength gain of concrete. They can enhance the long-term strength and durability of your newly constructed house

• Reduced Costs – The use of supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash or slag requires lesser processing and decreases the amount of materials and energy used for cement production, which helps reduce the overall costs of concrete. Moreover, blended cement also helps cut additional expenses on repairs and renovations due to lesser seepage and related incidents, making it ideal for home construction

• Better Workability – Since blended cement uses less water, it is easier to work with and shape. Moreover, lower water consumption also minimises shrinkage and permeability
• Smoother Texture – Blended cement offers a finer texture than its alternatives when mixed and placed, resulting in improved construction quality for your project. It is also ideal for finishing and elevation works

Where to Buy Environment-Friendly Cement 

Whether you are planning to build a new home for yourself or starting a new construction project, there are many things to consider. Nevertheless, you can take some stress off your shoulders by seeking help from a Dalmia Cement RCF Advisor who will visit your construction site to guide you regarding the best usage of cement as well as help you develop the right construction practices. By now, it must be clear why blended cement is the way to go when it comes to your construction needs. Its numerous performance and environmental advantages clearly outweigh the benefits of traditionally used concrete.

In case you still have some confusion regarding where to buy blended cement, then look no further. Dalmia Cement is a leading cement manufacturer in India, offering a wide variety of speciality cement and value-added products for different construction requirements. With a constant focus on quality, innovation and sustainability, our environment-friendly cement offers durable and high-strength construction for years to come. Need more information? Get in touch with us today at 1800 2020 or visit Dalmia Cement and let our technical service executives take care of your queries.