Published in September 2006, this study was conducted by the Athena Institute and commissioned by the Cement Association of Canada. The purpose of the study was to compare the embodied primary energy consumption and global warming potential of equivalent concrete and asphalt pavements structures over a 50-year "life cycle assessment period". Energy used and emissions created from the construction and maintenance of actual concrete and asphalt pavement designs for MTO and Transport Quebec and two equivalent pavement designs for arterial roadways and high volume highways designed by Applied Research Associates (ARA), Inc. were studied.
In each case it was determined the asphalt alternatives use significantly more embodied primary energy than their concrete pavement counterparts. As for greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the analysis shows that there is no statistically significant difference (i.e. within 10 % error or confidence interval of life cycle inventory) in the GHG emissions created over the 50 year evaluation period for the two ARA equivalent concrete and asphalt pavement designs. However, for the Quebec freeway, the asphalt pavement alternative produces a statistically significant 11 % more GHG emissions than the concrete pavement alternative. For the Ontario freeway design the asphalt option's GHG emissions are 11% lower than the concrete design.
Athena Study Executive Summary
athena report Feb. 2 2007