Sources: Global Cement and Concrete Association, London; CP staff The eight-scale Low Carbon Ratings for Cement and Concrete (LCR) is presented as a “first-of-its-kind, simple, transparent, and adaptable tool that helps builders, architects, governments, planners, and consumers everywhere in the world to make more informed and sustainable choices.” The Global Cement and Concrete Association has formatted LCR to be used…
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Shining a Light on Construction Complexity
Plato and the power of integrated project tracking.Plato, the Greek philosopher born in the 4th century B.C., believed ignorance is the root cause of all difficulties. Construction projects, particularly those involving perishable and structural ready mixed concrete, are complicated and difficult. Given that nothing exists in the dark of ignorance that is not revealed when the light of knowledge is…
Read MoreWhy a code to reduce the carbon in concrete is important
Production and placement of concrete is responsible for an estimated 7 percent of total carbon emissions, worldwide. Recently, significant policy and legislative efforts have been undertaken to limit the embodied carbon associated with concrete and other construction materials. This action has taken place at the municipal, state, and federal levels simultaneously, leading to varied and inconsistent approaches to limiting the…
Read MoreSimplicity of materials, economy of means
Canadian artisan David Umemoto has teamed with Cemvision, Stockholm-based developer of portland cement alternative binders, on a demonstration of low carbon concrete interpreted in a sculpture whose eight pieces representing building blocks toward a sustainable future. While better construction materials are critical, Cemvision officials contend, a broader movement among designers, suppliers and regulators is needed to transform the present production…
Read MoreEPA stresses construction material PCR, EPD data integrity
The Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pollution Control, tasked with assisting the General Services Administration and Department of Transportation in construction materials procurement tied to Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs, closed out 2024 with a call for stakeholder input on draft technical documents framing carbon dioxide emissions accounting and metrics. Officials bills a new program and banner, Construction Material Opportunities…
Read MoreSmart Concrete
Digging into C-MORE, the EPA’s new regulation encouraging producers to lower carbon emissions Authors’ note: I’ve decided to write this monthly column because the concrete industry has greater opportunities for carbon reduction than any other core construction material, and frankly, in my 15-year involvement with concrete, I’ve learned to love the industry and the material. Concrete will be the carbon…
Read MoreS.T. Wooten extends N.C. market coverage with Capital Ready Mix
Wilson, N.C.-based construction materials, site preparation, building and heavy/civil project services provider S.T. Wooten Corp. has strengthened its North Carolina Research Triangle Park market position, acquiring Capital Ready Mix Concrete. The late-2024 transaction included four batch plants at Pittsboro headquarters and Knightdale satellite locations, respectively covering work west and east of Raleigh, the state capital. “The addition of Capital’s plants…
Read MoreState DOTs land Low Carbon Transportation Materials grants
The Inflation Reduction Act-funded Low Carbon Transportation Materials Discretionary Grant Program will provide $1.2 billion with reimbursement and incentive funding to purchase American-made low carbon construction materials and products, primarily concrete, asphalt, glass and steel. The program is part of the White House Buy Clean Initiative, which leverages federal government buying power to spur demand for materials or products of…
Read MoreDriver Safety with AI Scorecards
Onboard cameras equipped with artificial intelligence can help drivers improve their performance and producers defend themselves against lawsuits. Professional athletes watch film; lots of film. They look for patterns in what they did right and (most importantly) what they did wrong. When that knowledge is paired with dedication and hard work, it removes coincidence and paves a proven path to…
Read MoreAICrete aggregate sensor raises particle packing potential, moisture reads
Sources: AICrete Corp., Richmond, Calif.; CP staff AICrete is extending its artificial intelligence application competencies from concrete mix design optimization to aggregate characterization and moisture content measurement. AggSense transforms sand, gravel and stone analysis by replacing time-consuming burn and sieve tests with real-time particle size distribution and moisture evaluations. Ideally mounted over a conveyor belt, weigh hopper or aggregate bin,…
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