Reinforced concrete structures. Sustainable Architecture?

Nowadays we are in a situation in which we have to design and build our building structures with less energetic demand. Especially from the approval of the European Directive 2002/91/CE focused on reduce the energy consumption in newly constructed buildings in all the phases of the building technology process. The energetic efficiency and the sustainability of the reinforced concrete structures are presented in this paper, especially for its importance in the new instructions and regulations recently approved in Spain (CTE and EHE). This study is part of a research project currently development by the author financed by the Autonomous Community Government of Andalusia, (Spain) about constructive and structural aspects to consider in buildings restoration in Andalusia for energy savings (2008 - 2010).