The latest Environmental Protection Agency Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks cites 2022 GHG loads of 5.489 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 1.3 percent increase from the prior year. The GHG Inventory factors emissions of CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride—all pegged for their global warming potential when released to…
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Reduced Carbon Concrete Consortium assists states’ FHWA grant pursuits
The American Concrete Pavement Association, Iowa State University-hosted National Concrete Pavement Technology Center and allies have formed the Reduced Carbon Concrete Consortium (RC3) to assist state departments of transportation and other qualifying entities eyeing grants under the just-announced Federal Highway Administration Low-Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) program. RC3 will provide DOTs technical assistance and facilitate contractor preparedness with critical next steps…
Read MoreEPA outlines 2029-2032 mixer, dump, day cab emissions standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims avoidance of 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $13 billion in net society benefits attributable to GHG Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3. If upheld after near-certain legal challenges, new thresholds in the final rule, measured against Phase 2 targets, will equate to CO2 emissions reduction levels of a) 8-40…
Read MorePortland-limestone cement reaches universal state DOT approval
Portland Cement Association reports across the board state agency approval of portland-limestone cement, or ASTM C595 Type IL binder, on the heels of a Connecticut Department of Transportation green light for the material. Compared to ASTM C150 Type I/II portland cement, PLC is finished with higher limestone content, while exhibiting a carbon dioxide emissions footprint up to 10 percent lower.…
Read MoreGraphene for Carbon-Neutral Concrete
Graphene technology promises carbon-neutral ready mixed concrete. Those seeking to aggressively push a transition to carbon neutrality should look to Adam Smith, known as the father of capitalism, for guidance. According to the 18th-century Scottish philosopher and economist, “By pursuing his own interest [the individual] frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote…
Read MoreThe Other Shoe Drops
In the last half of April, there were a couple of seminal economic events that, taken together, mark an example of proverbial shoes dropping, and for the first time in years, marks a cautionary signal on the economy. The first shoe to drop was when Fed Chairman Jay Powell unexpectedly announced that firmer-than-expected inflation during the first quarter has called…
Read MoreWork ethic takes center stage
We reflect this month on 2024 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association convention notables: Committee awards and Chairman Nathan McKean’s enthusiastic industry view. Here, we extend the Florida gathering’s salutes to NRMCA Executive Vice President, Operations and Compliance Gary Mullings, who has retired from day-to-day duty after 50-plus years with the organization. Luckily, he continues as a consultant, primarily assisting the…
Read MoreNRMCA veteran Maher joins CIM as interim executive director
Sources: CIM National Steering Committee; CP staff The National Steering Committee for the Concrete Industry Management program has appointed former National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Chief Operating Officer Nicole Maher as interim executive director, effective this month. She assumes the interim executive director post after serving as NSC secretary/treasurer since 2013; succeeds Dr. Rex Cottle, who has led the NSC…
Read MoreSika’s Rmax division streamlines below grade insulation
Sources: Sika Corp., Lyndhurst, N.J.; CP staff Eyeing code-level foundation insulating performance in a 1.5-in. thick board, the Rmax division of Sika Corp. has turned to a durable, water-resistant facer on a core of polyiso, a closed-cell material widely adopted for high thermal resistance in exterior continuous wall and roofing applications. “Historically, the vast majority of the below-grade commercial and…
Read MoreSuperior Ready Mix: Where Innovation Lives
In an era of continual investments, divestments and mergers of large, global materials producers, it’s easy to view the “big players” as agents of change. But look closely: true innovation is second nature to regional leaders like Superior Ready Mix, a family-owned and operated producer of concrete, asphalt and aggregates based in Escondido, Calif. The company began in 1958 as…
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