Zonda - Resource Library

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. Concrete masonry is commonly used for structural and architectural walls in buildings. Knowing the full extent of its applications and capabilities is import for designers to make resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective buildings.

The intent of this course is to provide a general overview of the properties and performance characteristics of concrete masonry walls. Attendees will learn about how to take advantage of and maximize the features and capabilities of concrete masonry units.

This presentation is the first module in our CMU embodied carbon series and focuses on how concrete masonry units (CMU) differ from traditional wet-cast concrete in terms of carbon impact. Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) are made with dry-cast concrete (zero-slump) which uses less water and cement than wet-cast concrete, because of differences in manufacturing. The unique structure of dry-cast concrete enables increased rates of natural carbon dioxide sequestration at a much faster rate than most other types of concrete. We will set the stage for the concrete and carbon sequestration discussion by looking at the larger geologic carbon cycle and greenhouse gas emissions; and how it all relates to climate change. We will then look at the concrete carbon cycle and recent CMHA sequestration research and testing which demonstrates the accelerated sequestration rates substantially reducing the overall embodied carbon of dry-cast CMU construction.

This On Demand CEU is a recorded presentation from a previously live webinar event. This course explores how using concrete masonry units (CMU) in the built environment provides an integrated approach to climate-responsive design by simultaneously addressing three critical sustainability strategies: resilience, operational energy use, and embodied carbon reduction. Participants will examine how CMU construction offers inherent solutions to modern building challenges, from natural disasters and extreme weather events to energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction. The course demonstrates that CMU structures perform beyond code requirements without additional measures, providing durable, cost-effective buildings that support community resilience while contributing to low embodied carbon goals.