NRMCA and PCA are among the first concrete organizations to join USGBC, following a September 2005 change in Council guidelines allowing trade groups
NRMCA and PCA are among the first concrete organizations to join USGBC, following a September 2005 change in Council guidelines allowing trade groups full membership and meeting, event and election participation. They will move on behalf of industry producers to ensure that USGBC ratings acknowledge the environmental benefits of cement and concrete in finished construction.
NRMCA staff notes that the trade group membership provision is especially important as the Council drafts the LEED 3.0 document, which will drive specifications in public and private construction aimed at LEED certification. That process factors ratings of a project’s materials and products, placing special emphasis on energy efficiency, short- and long-term environmental impact and life-cycle performance.
USGBC recently approved LEED for New Construction Version 2.2, unveiling it at Greenbuild. NRMCA and PCA input resulted in acknowledgement of the Canadian calculation method for recycled content of concrete with supplementary cementitious materials. An earlier draft indicated that the Materials and Resources provision on regional materials would be based on weight. It was changed back to cost, an indicator USGBC determined more practical. This issue is a priority for Version 3.0, development of which will also include potential discussion of the environmental factors of using concrete floors versus carpet, and how those should be reflected in a LEED rating. NRMCA’s USGBC liaison is Ed Herbert, 888/846-7622 ext. 1154; [email protected].
In addition to NRMCA and PCA, other industry groups joining USGBC following the membership rule change this fall are Masonry Institute of America, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, and the Expanded Shale, Clay, and Slate Institute.