Energy involved in construction materials and procedures

This report reviews various published energy requirements for highway construction and maintenance, including the energy requirements for processing the materials and the fuel used in hauling and for construction equipment. The emphasis here is that decisions concerning the use of alternative types of materials for highway construction and maintenance should be based on technological considerations, safety and the cost effectiveness of alternatives rather than on uncertain estimates of energy requirements. It is important to realize that energy computations include separate determinations for construction, transport, processing and calorific energy and that the relative amounts for different processes and materials be given consideration in any decisions concerning the use of alternatives.