Kentucky Fosters Relationship with Green Building Council

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NRMCA Northeast Senior National Resources Director Doug O’Neill recently spoke at the Kentucky Ready-Mixed Concrete Association's (KRMCA) Winter Meeting in Louisville. He focused on the issue of sustainability and how our industry can better communicate concrete’s advantages. Also speaking at the conference was the executive director of the Kentucky Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Joan Pauley. "What struck me as so important to our industry was how such a positive relationship has developed between the KRMCA and the USGBC Chapter," O’Neill said.

KRMCA Executive Director Finley Messick is a firm believer that ALL ready mixed concrete associations should foster relationships with their respective chapters of USGBC. "The benefits have been truly rewarding for us here in Kentucky," he said. "Thanks to the efforts of our own Brett Ruffing, they look at us as part of the Green Building Community, they understand concrete’s important role within the LEED Green Building Rating System and we have become their source for all things concrete."

As an example of the kind of supportive relationship that has developed here in Kentucky, recently a local dentist sought out the USGBC Chapter to ask about sustainable building methods for a planned expansion of his dental practice. The folks at the Kentucky Chapter of USGBC put him in touch with Ruffing to discuss the possibility of installing a pervious concrete parking lot to address the stormwater concerns in the area. Ruffing’s involvement continues with his recent invitation to participate in a USGBC national advocacy conference call due in large part to his role in co-chairing the Kentucky Advocacy Day where the group met for five hours with state legislators discussing a more sustainably built environment.

For more information contact bruffing@krmca.org, doneill@nrmca.org or O'Neill's colleague Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org.