A student from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., won first place in the component category for demonstrating how materials usually bound for landfills could be recycled to create building materials for environmentally friendly structures. A team from Université Laval in Quebec earned first place in the structure category for designing a building that connects architecture to the environment by linking a former maritime construction site with sustainable design.

The field included more than 80 entries from students at 23 universities in 7 countries. The annual competition challenges students to explore innovative applications of concrete and other portland cement-based materials to achieve sustainable design objectives.

More about the “Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World” competition

CEMEX Plant Honored for Enriching Local Environment

CEMEX demonstrated that environmental stewardship is about more than maintaining the status quo at its Davenport, Calif., cement plant. The facility earned the Land Steward Award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) for improving and expanding the local wildlife habitat by reclaiming surrounding land with native species of vegetation.

One of the cement industry’s top honors for environmental excellence, the Land Stewardship Award, a category of the PCA's Environment and Energy Awards program, recognizes a plant’s efforts to protect and enhance the surrounding land. By reclaiming 16 acres of that quarry with native plant species, the company expanded the forested environment for wildlife. The Davenport facility also implemented a sustainable forestry program to enhance existing green space by planting 20,000 redwood seedlings each year and harvesting less than that number.

More on CEMEX Davenport

Decorative Concrete Creates Sustainable Beauty

Decorative concrete allows designers to apply texture, color, stamping and many more techniques to flat surfaces, such as driveways, sidewalks, plazas, patios and even interior floors. Because concrete requires minimal upkeep, the result is not only beautiful, but easy to maintain.

In addition to low maintenance and beauty, decorative concrete flatwork provides several other key sustainable benefits:

• Resource Efficiency – Reduces the need for finishes in general, including carpet which is associated with indoor air quality problems.


• Energy Performance and Thermal Mass – Concrete’s thermal mass improves energy performance when appropriately insulated. When three inches or more in thickness, concrete forms an air barrier.


• Cool Surfaces – Unlike asphalt, light- or natural-colored concrete reflects light to help reduce the heat island affect.

More on decorative concrete flatwork

Exposed Concrete Improves Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality can cause wheezing, nausea, dizziness and the increased incidence of asthma. Indoor air quality is affected by many factors, including outdoor pollution, cleaning products, tobacco smoke, and pesticides. Even traditional building materials, such as particleboard or treated wood, have an impact. However, indoor air quality can be improved by smart materials selection.

Because concrete has very low to negligible levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), concrete floors and walls are a sensible choice for indoor foundations and finishes. For example, decorative concrete flatwork and polished concrete floors do not require carpeting, which can be a significant source of VOCs.

Created by using diamond impregnated segments to grind traditional concrete into an attractive, gleaming surface, polished concrete is a viable option for residential or commercial flooring that limits allergens and dust.

More on concrete and indoor air quality

Articles of Interest
( Please note that these links are not maintained by PCA and may expire.)

Pervious Concrete: "Experiment at UNH gives new concrete a road test"
The Union Leader, N.H. - August 13, 2007

Green Roof: "City building is going for the green: Roof gardens can help environment"
Louisville Courier-Journal, Ky. - August 8, 2007

Insulating Concrete Forms: "The Building Blocks of Energy Efficiency "
The Bend Bulletin, Ore. - August 7, 2007

Shows and Conferences that Focus on Sustainable Development Issues

2007 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo
November 7-9, 2007, Chicago, Ill.

Click here for a complete list of upcoming shows and conferences.