This study evaluated the lifecycle performance, cost, and compliance benefits of the Hercules Eco Block™ compared to traditional sediment and stormwater control measures. Data was gathered from multiple residential and CDOT sites across Colorado.
Lifecycle cost analyses considered material purchase, installation, maintenance, and replacement over typical project durations. Durability and compliance data were drawn from active site monitoring to assess real-world performance.
The Eco Block™ can be reused across multiple homebuilding cycles, reducing waste compared to disposable controls like silt fence or heavy-weight wattle (HWW). A lifecycle cost estimate compared 60 feet of each measure over time for a typical 8-month home build.
The analysis used the maintenance and replacement assumptions shown below:
Although Hercules has a higher upfront cost, its reusability leads to lower long-term expenses. Costs equal HWW halfway through the second home build and silt fence around the fifth, showing clear lifecycle savings.
A lifecycle cost comparison was also performed between Hercules Eco Block™ and straw wattle (SCL) under rougher CDOT project conditions. The analysis considered 500 feet of control measures over a 10-month duration.
Assumptions for maintenance and replacement are detailed below:
While Hercules costs more initially, its durability minimizes replacements and maintenance. The lifecycle cost equals that of straw wattle about eight months into the project, demonstrating faster cost recovery in harsher conditions.
Across five vertical sites, 1,218 units were monitored for 2.5–7 months, with only nine units rendered unusable — a loss rate under 1%. Traditional measures showed 1.6x more non-compliance and roughly 3x higher maintenance costs.
In total, data from six sites show Hercules Eco Block™ offers:
Made from recycled tires and fully reusable, Hercules Eco Block™ is both eco-friendly and cost-effective for curbside and similar construction applications.
The chart below will help you compare traditional measures to the Eco Block™. This information applies to home building and infrastructure projects.
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