With circular and innovative technologies, a reduction of CO2 emissions of up to 40% is possible
The ecological transition can also travel on Italian roads: road pavements with high performance, longer life span, high recycling rates, in fact, reduce energy needs and significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. natural.
The Conference ‘The roads at the crossroads of the ecological transition’, organized by the Foundation for Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Green City Network and the patronage of the National Council of Engineers, proposes an eight-point path for the development of national guidelines that introduce an innovative, green and circular approach to the maintenance of the 670,000 km of road pavements of the national road network, to facilitate the transition of the sector towards sustainable management, contribute to achieving the country’s climate objectives and preserve the economic value of the pavements estimated at over one thousand billion euros.
“The contribution of the road paving sector to the achievement of climate objectives – he declared Edo Ronchi, president of the Foundation for Sustainable Development – it can come from a renewed management approach with a view to the life cycle of the flooring itself, from the design to the choice of materials, to the execution of the works, which favors the circularity of resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. A life-cycle-oriented management also makes it possible to optimize the economic resources of the bodies and public administrations responsible for management and guarantees greater safety for users “.
The numbers
In terms of life cycle, the execution of maintenance works on a pavement with innovative and circular technologies that allow the complete recycling of bituminous conglomerates at reduced temperatures, generates savings of up to 40% of CO2 emissions equivalent to work performed with traditionally adopted hot methods, as well as reducing the pressure on natural capital for the production of virgin bitumen and aggregates.
The proposals
Here are the eight points proposed as guidelines for the elaboration of national guidelines to accompany the sector in the transition towards sustainability: Reuse of bituminous conglomerate from recovery; Energy efficiency in the production and laying of bituminous conglomerates; Technologies with modified bitumen / conglomerates and recycled polymers; Maintenance planning and disaster prevention; I Cam roads to accompany the transition; Adaptation of technical standards to the availability of innovative and circular technologies; Life cycle cost assessments to support spending decisions; Continuous training and knowledge sharing.
Source-www.adnkronos.com