Forum drafts standards for measuring environmental footprint of concrete

The Carbon Leadership Forum at the University of Washington College of Built Environment is gathering input this month on a draft of “Product Category Rules (PCR) for ISO 14025 Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for Concrete.” The group especially seeks feedback from concrete producers and their suppliers, architects and engineers, plus life cycle assessment and environmental specialists.

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Earth Day founder to keynote International Concrete Sustainability Conference

Speakers have been announced for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s 7th annual International Concrete Sustainability Conference, May 7–10 in Seattle. Headlining is Denis Hayes, president and CEO of Bullitt Foundation, founder of Earth Day and honorary chairman of the Earth Day Network. He will present a comprehensive and visionary view of sustainability coupled with building industry leadership demonstrated by the zero-carbon Cascadia Center in Seattle.

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Survey sees green homes market increasing five-fold by 2016

A study released at the recent National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show finds green homes comprised 17 percent of the overall 2011 residential construction market, but are expected to jump to 29–38 percent of the market over the next five years. The projection equates to a five-fold increase by value, from $17 billion last year to $87 billion–$114 billion in 2016, based on a five-year residential construction outlook.

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Fleet management bolsters Lafarge work on mammoth Corps contract

Lafarge North America recently added a mixer mounted on a Kenworth T800 Extended Day Cab—the 1,000th truck Paccar Leasing has delivered with an EPA 2010-compliant Paccar MX engine—to its New Orleans fleet. The producer leases 12 trucks at the operation, which serves contracts that are part of a $15 billion, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers system of linked levees, flood walls, gates and pumps aimed at quelling future storm surges.

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