These days, over 95% of Ontario's roads use asphalt. You might want to consider choosing asphalt for your driveway as well.
While many homeowners opt for concrete driveways, asphalt offers some big advantages, particularly for the environment. When it comes to eco-friendly pavements, asphalt is the superior option.
Here's what you should know about the environmental benefits of asphalt paving.
Energy Conservation
The asphalt production process is clean and produces fewer greenhouse gases than concrete. Asphalt also generates a lower amount of material waste as well.
The asphalt paving process is very eco-friendly compared to concrete. This makes it one of the best choices when trying to choose a driveway paving project option that causes less harm to the environment.
Asphalt Paving Recycling and Reusability
One of the eco-friendly perks of an asphalt paving project is that it comes from using recycled materials.
When it comes to recycling, asphalt is pretty impressive. Asphalt has many different items, including glass, tires, slags, recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), and more.
In addition to this, paved asphalt itself can be reclaimed and reused again and again. About 65 million tons of asphalt is reclaimed annually, and 99% of reclaimed asphalt pavement is in use in new and rebuilt roads.
Water Runoff Management
Porous asphalt can be particularly helpful for the environment because it can filter water and keep pollutants out of the soil.
With these pavement structures, water will drain below and reach the soil below the pavement. Unlike with the use of storm sewers, rain won't flow down forcefully. This eliminates the need for detention basins.
An asphalt driveway provided by Tri-City Paving Inc will be better for the environment and the soil below the asphalt.
Urban Heat Island Effect Reduction
A top advantage of asphalt is that it can help to cool down cities.
With the urban heat island effect, it's been found that cities are warmer than nearby rural areas. This is due to the human activity that occurs within them.
Porous asphalt can reduce nighttime temperatures and reduce the impact of the urban heat island effect. Other types of pavements don't offer this unique advantage.
Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment
When considering the eco-friendliness of asphalt, it's important to consider the entirety of its life cycle.
Asphalt can be produced locally and with low material waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and the use of fossil fuels. Once the asphalt has been used, 99% of it can be recycled for new and rebuilt roads.
Overall, asphalt's life cycle is very eco-friendly compared to other pavement options.
Understanding Eco-Friendly Pavements
If you're considering driveway options, be sure that you understand eco-friendly pavements. Asphalt paving is better for the environment. This is due to the production process, recyclability, and stormwater management advantages.
Do you need asphalt paving in Kitchener? Contact Tri-City Paving Inc today to learn more about what we can do for you.
