So you’ve decided to take the plunge and put in a new concrete driveway at home or a parking lot for your business. After comparing the types of concrete contractors, you’ve reached out to local concrete contractors and you’re accepting bids. But once those bids start coming in, what should you look for?

While every contractor’s bid will look a little bit different, in order for you to make an informed decision, all your proposals should contain enough information to help you make that decision.

Let’s take a look at what should be included in a concrete bid for your parking lot or driveway.

Buildings and structures manufactured with concrete can have a significant impact on the environment throughout their life cycles. How much of an impact, will depend on the sustainability of the concrete mix used in construction—and the makeup of the mix used will depend on the requirements or specifications put in place before a project begins.

In order to create truly sustainable buildings made from environmentally friendly concrete, design professionals, contractors and material suppliers must work together while still complying with the requirements put in place.

To understand how specifications for a concrete project requirement can impact sustainability, you first need to understand the two types of requirements most frequently imposed.

As the population grows, adding buildings to accommodate more people moving to cities is a necessary step. Buildings are responsible for approximately 39% of the annual global greenhouse emissions. Building operations alone results in 28% of the annual global CO₂ emissions. So, building materials that are designed to meet new regulations and environmental standards will be key in creating a sustainable future.