NRMCA Introduces Trends in Low Carbon Concrete at Recent Sustainability Conference

The need for continued communication of the many problem-solving capabilities that low carbon concrete can provide to all stakeholders of the construction process was the major takeaway from the Ozinga Sustainability Summit held earlier this month in Oak Brook, IL. Various sustainability experts presented to more than 60 contractors, structural engineers, architects and ready mixed concrete personnel with information outlining the current environmental direction and trends in the ready mixed concrete industry.

NRMCA Manager, Codes and Sustainability Programs, Matthew Lemay provided an overview of sources and the tools developed for the quantification of embodied carbon in concrete. Of particular interest was the NRMCA Industry Wide EPD program and his demonstration of the online NRMCA Concrete Carbon Calculator tool for easily calculating the environmental impacts of concrete mixes and assessment of lower carbon alternates. NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Donn Thompson shared approaches currently available to engineers and architects to optimize the environmental impacts of the specification of the various concrete mixes for their projects.

A panel featuring local practitioners from construction and engineering firms as well as a representative from a large Silicon Valley corporation discussed the approaches being used to improve the carbon footprint of the projects in which they are engaged. There was consensus that more education is needed to help everyone involved in their projects, from owner, contractor and subcontractor to consultants and local code officials, to become better informed about the emerging strategies and innovations that concrete producers like NRMCA Producer member Ozinga are now able to provide.

Contact Matthew Lemay at mlemay@nrmca.org or Donn Thompson at dthompson@nrmca.org for more information.