What is B2W?

B2W is a trend in commercial and municipal construction that takes full advantage of the durability, beauty and environmental benefits of concrete. It replaces asphalt paving with cooler, longer-lasting concrete surfaces, reducing costs and earning LEED credits for owners.

Which projects are good choices for B2W conversion?

Asphalt roads and parking lots are among the surfaces rapidly being converted to concrete by forward-thinking owners, including cities, towns and state transportation departments. The trend also encompasses new construction where asphalt has been specified but, after seeing the dollar savings and green benefits, decision-makers opt for concrete instead.

Does B2W save money?

In many cases, B2W can reduce costs on a first-dollar basis. Federal Express saved 50c per square foot when it chose concrete over asphalt for its new 1-million-plus-square-foot parking lot in Bedford Park, Illinois.

B2W also reduces costs over time by:

• Drastically reducing maintenance costs. You won’t see sags, ruts or wear lanes on a concrete road or lot. Resealing is eliminated and repairs are minimized.


• Reflecting at least 3 times more light. Concrete’s albedo rating is between .3 and .7, as compared with .05 to .1 with asphalt. Fewer light poles can illuminate a larger area, reducing lighting costs year after year.  Bonus for auto dealers: cars sparkle when displayed on bright-white concrete.


• Delivering 20-plus years of worry-free service. That means less reconstruction, less disruption, fewer headaches and fewer dollars down the drain.

I’m confused. Asphalt has always been the low-cost alternative to concrete. What’s changed?

Soaring oil prices have pushed the cost of asphalt up 300% in the last 3 years.  As a result, concrete competes better than ever before. Even in situations where concrete costs more to install, the long-term cost savings make it a better investment.

What other “green” benefits does concrete deliver?

Reduces heat islands.  Concrete absorbs and re-radiates much less heat than asphalt, cutting back on the heat transferred to vehicles and nearby buildings.

No VOCs. Because concrete contains no petroleum, it does not release toxins into the atmosphere as asphalt does.

100% recyclable. When concrete’s long life is complete, it can be used to make new materials, keeping the green benefits going. 

When a B2W conversion is done, is the old asphalt completely removed?

In some cases, yes. In other cases, the asphalt is leveled and covered with a skin of concrete. This alternative, known as “white-topping,” delivers many of the same benefits as a full tearout and repouring. The engineering and business challenges of each project will dictate which B2W approach works best.

Read more: Find out why FedEx chose concrete hands-down for its mammoth new parking lot in Bedford Park, Illinois.