The University of Sheffield in the UK has developed an energy-efficient concrete road as part of their EcoLanes FP6 project.

The new road is made of dry mix concrete, which was developed by the university, and reinforced with recycled steel fibres.

Steel fibres from post-consumer tyres are around 50% cheaper than manufactured steel-fibre reinforcement and using the fibres from waste tyres means there is no need for raw material to be mined and formed.

The road was constructed using a roller compaction method, which meant less cement was required to form the dry mix.

The University said that over the lifetime of the concrete pavement, there is a 40% reduction in energy consumption.

The new concrete has also been tested for its durability by placing it in a climate chamber for 56 days, with a daily changing temperature from 20 to -20°C.