Concrete is by far the most widely used construction material worldwide. Its huge popularity is the result of a number of well-known advantages, such as low cost, general availability, and wide applicability. But this popularity of concrete also carries with it a great environmental cost.

Most damaging is the enormous amounts of energy required to produce Portland cement, as well as the large quantities of CO2 released into the atmosphere in the process. The production of cement is responsible for approximately 90% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with concrete production.

Replacing a portion of the cement with industrial by-products such as fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and silica fume, reduce the mining of natural resources and greenhouse gas emissions associated with cement production while disposing of a waste material previously destined for landfill.

An average of at least 30% cement reduction was achieved by the d-school building for all the concrete mixes used in its construction.