CEMEX invested $550 million into EURUS, a Mexican wind farm that represents a major contribution towards the company’s global effort to reduce its emissions footprint and to become more sustainable. CEMEX, a PCA member company, partnered with ACCIONA, an organization specializing in windpower technology, to construct 167 wind turbines in Juchitan, Oaxaca, Mexico. Part of the energy generated will supply approximately 25% of CEMEX’s energy needs in its Mexican operations.

More information on the wind farm.

Concrete is ideal for green or vegetated roofs because it provides a uniform and continuous load-bearing surface for the potentially moist growing medium and plants. Projects utilizing waterproof concrete made with proprietary admixtures can allow for the elimination of membranes, and therefore simplify design, construction, and maintenance processes. Also, innovative uses of lightweight concrete can assist vegetated roof systems.

Read more about the advantages of green roofs and why concrete is the structural system of choice.

The City of Highland, Calif., earned a PCA Sustainable Leadership Award for the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center. Choosing to create a facility that exemplified a commitment to educating citizens well into the future as well as addressing the latest building sustainable development practices was essential to city officials.

The LEED Gold certified library and environmental learning center is constructed with insulated concrete form (ICF) wall systems and features elements of concrete throughout – all chosen to maximize energy efficiency, create environmental benefits, and conserve resources. Notable concrete elements include a parking lot constructed of recycled concrete and a concrete roof to accommodate a rooftop garden.

Read the case study on the Highland Library.

Concrete Sustainability Hub Launched at MIT

To address the sustainability and environmental implications of the use of concrete, MIT is collaborating with the Portland Cement Association and Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation to create the Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSH). The goal of CSH is to accelerate emerging breakthroughs in concrete science and engineering and transfer that science into practice. CSH will provide $10 million of sponsored research funding during the next five years.

More information on the CSH.

PCA and several other industry concerns recently gathered in Phoenix for the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo. The PCA booth featured a popular pervious concrete display as well as a wall sample of HercuWall™, the insulated concrete forms system used in a LEED Platinum Habitat for Humanity home on showcase during Greenbuild in November.

Showcasing the Sustainable Benefits of Concrete Home Building

For more than two decades, the proven performance of concrete home building has been on full display at the International Builders Show. PCA’s Booth (N2431) is the anchor tenant of The Concrete Pavilion for the Jan. 19-22 event in Las Vegas. The Concrete Pavilion offers a one-stop opportunity for visitors to learn more about innovative concrete homebuilding solutions. Attendees can see how smart homebuilders stand out from their peers by choosing concrete to achieve profitable, high performance construction, while offering real value to their customers. More on the IBS.

Visit the GREENSITE Pavilion at World of Concrete

GREENSITE, sponsored by Holcim, is the destination for green-minded contractors at the upcoming World of Concrete, February 2-5, in Las Vegas. If you are interested in green building with concrete, GREENSITE is a perfect place to get started or find answers to specific questions.

The GREENSITE Pavilion will feature presentations from industry experts on sustainability and a special luncheon and forum on Thursday, Feb. 4, from noon to 2:00 p.m. The Feb. 4 event will connect interested contractors with experienced green professionals.

Get FREE registration for World of Concrete.