Evolving the Concrete Jungle

How low-carbon concrete is helping the construction industry combat climate change
Sponsored by Holcim (US) Inc.
By Erika Fredrickson

Learning Objectives:

  1. List ways in which the construction industry has an impact on global greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
  2. Explain how life-cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration (EPD) help designers compare options and make informed decisions.
  3. Discuss how a circular economy approach to construction can benefit businesses, people and the environment.
  4. Describe low-carbon concrete is a proven alternative for the design of lower embodied carbon buildings and infrastructure.

Credits:

HSW
1 AIA LU/HSW
GBCI
1 GBCI CE Hour
IACET
0.1 IACET CEU*
AIBD
1 AIBD P-CE
AAA
AAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
AANB
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
AAPEI
AAPEI 1 Structured Learning Hour
MAA
MAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
NLAA
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA.
NSAA
This course can be self-reported to the NSAA
NWTAA
NWTAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
OAA
OAA 1 Learning Hour
SAA
SAA 1 Hour of Core Learning
 
This course can be self-reported to the AIBC, as per their CE Guidelines.
As an IACET Accredited Provider, BNP Media offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.
This course is approved as a Structured Course
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
Approved for structured learning
Approved for Core Learning
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA
Course may qualify for Learning Hours with NWTAA
Course eligible for OAA Learning Hours
This course is approved as a core course
This course can be self-reported for Learning Units to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia

The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to one of the most pressing crises of our time: climate change. It is also an industry with huge potential for innovation that can—and often does—find new ways to exceed standards and provide valuable and exciting solutions. As the industry grapples with ways to solve the greenhouse gas emission problem, new building technologies and new ways to evaluate sustainability continue to rise to the surface, providing designers and building owners better options for sustainable projects. Life-cycle assessment and environmental product declarations help designers make informed decisions, while a circular economy approach to materials and “green” technologies, including low-carbon concrete, help move the built environment toward a better-built world.

Concrete Jungle

Photo courtesy of Boston University

 

Holcim (US) Inc. Holcim (US) Inc., is one of the world’s leading suppliers of sustainably manufactured cementitious materials. The Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction promotes and supports the innovative solutions of architects for the future built environment with $2 million in prize money.

 

Originally published in April 2022

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