Glasswing Going for Gold in Kelowna

For those of you in the construction industry, by now you are well aware of the name LEED and the standards that they recognize for excellence. For those of you unfamiliar though, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is intended to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.

Download Project Sheet

For one particular design firm, Architecturally Distinct Solutions (ADS) from Kelowna BC, their desire has been to create a home that will set a new standard for their area with their goal being to achieve LEED Gold. This particular home / project has been named the "Glasswing".

The Glasswing residential project was a unique opportunity for Sustainable Concrete Canada to directly contribute to the commendable goal of obtaining LEED Gold through the supply and installation of our pervious concrete. All the concrete was created using our proprietary additive Hidro 600.

The project sheet (shown on the right) outlines some of the facts about this project, as well as some of the unique project details. You can also see a quick promotional video about this project on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

Congratulations also to OK builders as this was their first pervious concrete project with SCC in the area. Their commitment to quality and service is unrivalled. Anyone in the Okanagan area will benefit from the same level of quality and professionalism on their project. Use the team of OK builders and Sustainable Concrete Canada for your pervious concrete project in the Okanagan.

Read more about the Glasswing project on the Fortis BC website or the Architecturally Distinct Facebook Page

Hidro 600 - The Difference is in the Paste

In the world of concrete, paste is created by combining water with cement (or supplementary cementitious materials). For pervious concrete, paste is critical to the success of the product.

Flow Cone - Conventional Mix

Pervious concrete mix designs are very different from conventional mix designs because water alone is not the answer. Conventional concrete mix designs are "water first" and aided or improved with the addition of additives. Pervious concrete mix designs are "additives first" and water second. If you have ever experienced a mix that is setting up too fast or getting too "hot & and sticky" to discharge out of the truck properly, you know the addition of water will not save the load.

Flow Cone - Hidro 600 Mix

The Hidro 600 Paste Binds Superbly to Any Aggregate

For pervious concrete, the paste needs to be fluid enough to mix easily, coat your aggregate, adequately, hydrate the cement particles, and provide the workability needed for quick discharge and placement.  It is impossible to gain all the previously mentioned attributes with just water alone. Additives are essential to achieve an optimal mix. To aid in creating a good performing paste, many additives have been tried and used (see picture above for a conventional mix design paste consistency). However, until Hidro 600 no single additive has successfully provided all the characteristics necessary to create a pervious concrete product that performs to a level needed by industry.

Hidro 600, without the aid of other additives, creates a paste that easily coats, yet binds superbly to any aggregate. The fluidity of the paste ensures complete hydration of each cement particle and allows for; thorough and complete mixing, easy discharge, and excellent workability during placement. Hidro 600 also works in all climate conditions without changing dosage rates.

Click here to see a short video that demonstrates the new and revolutionary properties of a mix containing Hidro 600, or Click here to visit Sustainable Concrete Additives and learn more.