Winter storms can create hazardous weather conditions, making travel unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians. The simple solution is to apply ice melt products to your roadways, however have you considered the environmental effects of this simple solution? Read more to learn about what ice melt products are the most eco friendly and how you can make application more intentional and environmentally conscious.
There are a wide range of ice melt products available on the market including Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Brine Solutions, and Rock Salt, but do you know the environmental effects of each?
Most Eco-Friendly Ice Melt Product: Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium Chloride is a hygroscopic salt, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air to lower the freezing temperature of water. This helps to prevent dangerous ice build up and help keep roadways safe during winter storms. Magnesium Chloride is the most eco friendly ice melt due to the concentration of chlorides in the product. Compared to Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride is better for the environment because the product concentration is weaker and less corrosive on the environment.
How to Minimize Ice Melt Environmental Effects
When any ice melt product is applied to a road surface, it is inevitable that some of the product will end up as runoff, flowing into plants, greenery, or bodies of water. Even the safest and most eco friendly ice melt products can still damage the surrounding environment if an excess amount comes into contact.
In addition to purchasing an ice melt product that is safer for the environment, it is also important to only use the required amount of the product for your job size. This will reduce excess runoff and minimize negative environmental effects.
How to Decide What Ice Melt Product is Right for Your Conditions
Not all ice melt products work for every environmental condition and temperature you may find yourself in. It is important to be familiar with the ideal conditions for each ice melt product as you make your decision on which is best to keep roadway surfaces safe in your area. While Magnesium Chloride may be slightly more eco friendly compared to other product types, it is only effective in temperatures up to -13°F. If you are located in a region with colder temperatures, you may wish to opt for a product such as Calcium Chloride, which can withstand temperatures of up to -25°F. As long as you only use minimal product and apply it intentionally, you will minimize environmental damage.
What are the Environmental Effects of Homemade Ice Melt Products?
While there are many homemade ice melt recipes available that may seem more environmentally friendly, these solutions are not effective long term and often require a lot of ingredients or application with a lower degree of effectiveness. If you need to apply an ice melt fast and you find yourself without any products, a homemade solution can help in the short term while also being better for the environment and your outdoor space. With this being said, the lower environmental impact of these homemade products do not make up for their lower effectiveness and they will not be sufficient to keep your road surfaces safe during a winter storm.
Choose Eco Friendly Ice Melt with SISCU!
SISCU offers premium ice melt products that are environmentally conscious while also remaining effective at minimizing dangerous ice buildup. Choose the ice melt product that is right for your road surface and weather conditions while having the peace of mind that the product won’t harm the surrounding environment. Check out a variety of Magnesium Chloride products at SISCU today to keep your road surfaces safe this winter!