The economy may be creeping along at a snail’s pace, fueling the argument for more federal stimulus, but private money is still flowing quickly and quietly into innovative construction materials that promise to help stretch infrastructure budgets and save the planet at the same time. One such venture is Los Gatos, Calif.-based Calera Corp., which soon is to formally announce big plans to capture carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants and lock them up in concrete, the most consumed material on the planet, besides air and water. Photo: Centria Innovative materials and methods, like polymer-core sound walls (above) and contour
Like time and money, the space on the rooftops of public and commercial buildings is a finite resource. Now, a curvy, new solar cell offers building owners and contractors an opportunity to make the most of all three. The system consists of dozens of hermetically sealed glass tubes containing a cylindrical core of thin-film photovoltaic material arranged in a 3.5-ft x 5-ft rectangular aluminum framework to create panels specifically designed for optimal performance on low-slope rooftops. Photo: Solyndra Curved cells (above) allow for flexible rooftop installation. Related Links: America May Gain from Materials Designed To Stretch Your Stimulus Dollars Packing
In the never-ending war on corrosion, a patented, reinforcing-steel bar certified to last at least 100 years is receiving a second life thanks to venture capitalists hell-bent on improving infrastructure. But it is going up against a heavy tradition of epoxy-coated reinforcing bars, which are constantly on the move in an effort to stay a step ahead of the competition. Photo: NX Infrastructure An Obama-style stimulus plan would call for miles of steel reinforcing bar. Related Links: America May Gain from Materials Designed To Stretch Your Stimulus Dollars Packing in Particles Yields 100-Year Concrete Mixes Asphalt ‘Armor’ Is Wearing Well