As several devastating natural disasters have leveled towns and stalled economies, industry attention returns to smarter building. Construction professionals seek materials that are durable, versatile, and sustainable. An existing concrete product may be the key to better building. Conventional concrete—the go-to material for low- and mid-rise buildings— lacks the combination of compressive strength, tensile strength, and durability needed to withstand high magnitude earthquakes and daily wear. Concrete cracks, crumbles and collapses during earthquakes, leaving high repair costs and the potential loss of life. Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) sought to improve upon concrete without increasing the cost of construction. Their creation, eco-friendly ductile cementitious composite (EDCC), eclipses conventional concrete in three ways. Sustainability Conventional concrete production is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas, totaling 7 percent of global emissions. EDCC replaces 70 percent of cement with fly ash, which reduces the levels of carbon dioxide emitted. Additionally, EDCC reduces land and water pollution. The fly ash in EDCC is industrial waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or dumped into rivers and streams. Strength + Malleability Once dry, EDCC becomes as strong as steel yet is much more flexible. A half-inch thick concrete wall can resist a magnitude 9 earthquake when sprayed with a layer of EDCC  10 millimeters thick, UBC reports. Without the EDCC reinforcement, a wall of that thickness would collapse at 65 percent intensity. Versatility EDCC is a sprayable concrete mixture that can be used to reinforce and support thin concrete walls. Thinner concrete walls expand design possibilities without limiting the integrity of the structure. The spray facilitates easier application and a broader range of uses. Builders and engineers are already using the fiber-reinforced concrete to create in schools and businesses. EDCC can also be applied to...