Natural Stone Beats Concrete Hands-Down

Stone has a low carbon footprint and timeless appeal

At Yellow Mountain StoneWorks, we take climate change seriously. We’re proud to offer a natural, long-lasting product that requires little processing. Consider how stone compares to concrete:

Extraction of natural stone has fewer impacts to the environment.
Using the bench-cut quarrying method to extract stone emits far less carbon dioxide and contributes fewer airborne and waterborne particles than the quarrying of crushed aggregate material used in concrete production.

Concrete production is responsible for 7-10% of world CO2 emissions.
Production of one ton of cement emits roughly its weight in carbon dioxide. The processing of cement is energy intensive, requiring temperatures up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. This process involves heating calcium carbonate (CaCO3) until it is reduced to calcium oxide and all the CO2 is emitted. The cement industry produces 5% of global man-made CO2 emissions; 900 kg of CO2 for every 1000 kg of cement produced.

Natural stone has significantly greater compressive strength.
A typical granite paver has a compressive strength of 24,000 psi. Conventional concrete has strengths of 7,000 psi or less; concrete with strengths between 7,000 and 14,500 psi is considered high-strength concrete.

Natural stone has a life span measured in centuries.
The life span of concrete is measured in mere decades. Stone exhibits a timeless and natural aesthetic. Stone ages with grace without deteriorating.

If you want to see how we perform, check out the Living Building Materials Survey.

If we can be of assistance in helping you decide what the best product is to realize your design intent and conform to your project budget, don’t hesitate to contact us nicoleg@yellow-mountain.net OR 206-932-5696.