Optimize the Carbon Emissions of Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe during the Life-Cycle

As the world is moving to provide a better and cleaner environment for future generations, there is a critical need to reduce the environmental emissions footprints. Underground utility installation, especially in the development of residential communities in the urban area, is one of the largest construction projects across North America and, consequently, one primary source of emissions. This study focused on optimization of the CO₂ emissions during the life cycle of one of the commonly used pipe materials: pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP). The study focused on a large-diameter 36-in. sewer pressure pipe operating at 100 psi internal pressure for 100-years life operation. The study compared and analyzed the CO₂ emissions during fabrication, operation, and disposal phases for PCCP pipe, and give recommendations to how to reduce the CO₂ emissions during the life-cycle of the pipe. The results of the study show that the CO₂ has been reduced by 75% on the fabrication phase, 7% on the operation phase, and by 43% on the disposal phase of PCCP.