Opportunities for Conserving Energy in Asphalt Paving Processes

About the report:

This report discusses the potential for energy conservation in a number of activities related to the use of asphalt materials in highway construction. It is pointed out that not only should the total energy be considered, but also the category of the energy involved. The categories suggested are (1) embodied energy, (2) transport energy, (3) construction energy, and (4) indirect energy. Transport energy and construction energy have a major direct impact on highway contractors, since such energy consists primarily of the fuel to operate hauling and construction equipment. The indirect and embodied energy categories are important from a national viewpoint, but with respect to highway construction are of concern only to the extent that they affect the cost and availability of materials. Included are discussions of asphalt supply and costs; effects of substituting emulsions for cutbacks; the potential for energy conservation with drum mixing; the potential for conservation with conventional asphalt mixing plants; energy saving through the use of asphalt stabilized aggregates; and energy considerations in recycling asphalt pavements.

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