LafargeHolcim executives bring action plan to UN Climate Conference

Sources: LafargeHolcim Ltd., Jona, Switzerland; United Nations; CP staff

The world’s leading cement, aggregate and concrete producer will offer energy and environmental management perspectives at four United Nations Climate Conference sessions, topped by the introduction of a World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD)/Cement Sustainability Initiative project. Also known as (Conference of Parties) COP-21, the event runs through December 11 in Paris and involves 150-plus countries representing nearly 90 percent of carbon emissions across the globe.

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Survey: Company vision, work-life balance draw millennials to construction

Sources: FMI Corp., Raleigh, N.C.; CP staff

A report based on a national survey of nearly 400 individuals in the construction industry—half born between 1980 and 2000—contends that millennials are dedicated and loyal to their employers and, in terms of career aspirations, attitudes and goals, share similar values with the groups ahead of them in the workforce, Baby Boomers and Generation Xers.

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NRMCA helps secure Resilience pilot credits in LEED v4 project certification

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

At the urging of NRMCA and allied stakeholders, the U.S. Green Building Council has adopted LEED rating system pilot credits incentivizing project teams to plan, design and build for resilience. NRMCA proposed a pilot credit in September 2013, working with a group headed by the Resilient Design Institute’s Alex Wilson, a longtime resiliency advocate who had submitted a pilot credit proposal with similar goals.

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ASTM, ICC ES pool resources in PCR-, LCA-, EPD-centered consortium

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

Officials from ASTM, the (International Code Council) ICC Evaluation Service and Michigan-based NSF International have announced the first Program Operator Consortium, serving as an expert resource for creating product category rules (PCR), reviewing life cycle assessment (LCA) reports, plus verifying and publishing environmental product declarations (EPD).

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OSHA’s revised Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines build on VPP, SHARP

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA is accepting comments through February 15 on the updated Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines, published in 1989 to help employers implement workplace plans, but now revised to reflect modern technology and practices. The new document builds on the previous version; lessons from successful approaches and best practices under OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program and Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program; plus, similar industry and international initiatives such as ANSI/AIHA Z10 and OHSAS 18001.

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Supply Chain group finalizes LEED Materials & Resources credit guidance

Sources: U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

After nearly a year of stakeholder exchanges, the USGBC Supply Chain Optimization Working Group recommends three minimum steps to supplement the Materials & Resources credit (Building Disclosure and Optimization–Material Ingredients, option 3) for LEED v4 certification:

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Vulcan Materials tests carbon dioxide-dosed ready mixed

Sources: CarbonCure Technologies, Halifax, Nova Scotia; CP staff

Vulcan Materials is the first ready mixed producer to license technology in which industrial process-sourced carbon dioxide is injected into fresh concrete mixes, thereby offsetting water requirements; forming additional limestone in the matrix; and, sequestering the greenhouse gas in a hardened slab or structure.

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NRMCA teams with A/E/C-wise, online education series provider

Sources: RedVector.com LLC, Tampa, Fla.; CP staff

A leading source of eLearning and workforce training solutions for professionals in architecture, engineering, construction, industrial and facility management, RedVector has launched five mobile device-ready courses in partnership with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association:

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Boeing commits $212K to research on heavy-duty permeable pavements

Sources: Boeing Co., Seattle; CP staff

Aerospace and aircraft giant Boeing is teaming with Washington State University (WSU), and the Washington Stormwater Center to develop stronger permeable concrete or asphalt pavement through the use of carbon fiber composite material recycled from a Seattle assembly line. A $212,000 grant and material donation will spur investigations at the WSU Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, and WSU Pullman campus.

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Stormwater Institute prioritizes asset tracking, governance, watershed issues

Sources: Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff

A new Water Environment Federation report details challenges, opportunities and pathways to improving the nation’s drainage infrastructure and yielding a more resilient and effective stormwater sector. “Rainfall to results: The future of stormwater” was released during the recent WEFTEC conference in Chicago, dovetailing the launch of the WEF Stormwater Institute, a new center of excellence and innovation.

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