NRMCA Joins ACI NEU for Low Carbon Concrete Summit in California

ACI’s NEU, a Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete, hosted its Spring 2024 Summit at the University of California, Davis. The event (with attendees seen here), titled From Policy to Placement: Implementing Reduced-Carbon Concrete Construction, focused on engaging policy makers to map the present and future needs for advancing low carbon concrete in the built environment, reported NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Brandon Wray who attended the event.

Near-term strategies and policy directives were highlighted while ultimately honing in on the challenges and need for collaboration between all stakeholders. Wray highlighted the influence that the new embodied carbon provisions in the CALGreen code have had in stoking positive interest in low carbon concrete while further emphasizing the need for support in advancing performance-based specifications and ultimately the acceptance of emerging materials such as blended cements.

“The concrete industry is ahead of the curve in bringing EPDs and low carbon concrete materials to market," Wray said. "Ultimately though, the acceptance and utilization of these materials benefit heavily from well-guided policies that support their use.”

In the day prior to the event, Wray and CalCIMA’s Vice President of Policy Charley Rea met with the California Division of the State Architect to discuss how  advancing the use of blended cements will provide clarity and resources to the design industry.

For any questions pertaining to the event or Build With Strength's promotion efforts in California, contact Brandon Wray at bwray@nrmca.org.