Benefits in Energy Savings and CO2 Reduction by Using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

This study uses the Pavement Life-cycle Assessment Tool for Environmental and Economic Effects (PaLATE) and energy consumption data provided by local hot mix asphalt plants to confirm the benefits of energy savings and CO2 reduction derived from using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP). Other effective factors, such as the manufacture of binder, a plant's energy saving strategies, and the performance of RAP pavements, are also discussed. According to the results of the analysis, producing 30% RAP mixture has only 84% of energy consumption and 80% of CO2 emission of a virgin hot mix asphalt mixture. The reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emission is mainly due the reuse of asphalt concrete. Although there are some studies that claim that mixtures containing RAP do not perform as well as virgin mixtures, as long as the life of RAP pavement can achieve over 80% of the new mixture's life, there will be positive benefits on reduced energy consumption and CO2 reduction from a life cycle approach. Using RAP in pavement mixture is indeed a feasible and potential way to make pavement construction greener.