CPCI Precast Concrete Guide to LEED v4.

April 2019 - Even if you are familiar with LEED, LEED v4 is vastly different than its predecessor. Take a moment to review this valuable guide. It will provide you with specific areas in which precast may be able to contribute directly or indirectly to obtaining LEED credits.

Tool for tracking GHGs in Canada's buildings has "built in" errors. The study Carbon accounting practices need improvements, may misdirect efforts to reduce emissions

April 2019 - One of the major key findings by International Institute for Sustainable Development is that LCA studies typically do not track the carbon emissions or sequestration of what is known as “biogenic carbon” from the extraction and end-of-life stages of wood building products. Collectively, these emissions can represent up to 70 per cent of a wood product’s total lifecycle emissions., challenging the prevailing assumption that wood construction materials are lower carbon than other construction materials, such as concrete and steel.

CPCI at Greenbuild 2014

The Greenbuild 2014 conference in New Orleans, LA was well attended. However, as in previous years, the wood industry had an overpowering presence. CPCI’s experience was quite positive as the promotion of the North American Precast Concrete Sustainable Plant Program and the Precast Concrete EPDs were of great interest to the Greenbuild audience. Click on the link below for more information.

North American Precast Concrete Sustainable Plant Program Launched

After creating the CPCI Sustainable Plant Program, the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) and the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) showed interest in offering this program to their members. The three associations worked together to develop a North American sustainable plant program for the precast concrete industry. Although PCI and NPCA are still in the trial phase, we hope to have enough reported data to create a North American report in the near future. The North American Precast Concrete Sustainable Plant Program was promoted at the CPCI booth at Greenbuild on October 22-23 in New Orleans, LA. Click on the link below for more information on the program and to view the new brochure.

EPDs on the forefront of Sustainability

With the proliferation ofeco-labels and green certificationsworldwide, it can be confusingdetermining a product’senvironmental attributes. Wellestablished in other parts ofthe world, EPDs are starting toappear in North America asthe common methodologyfor assessing the potentialenvironmental performance ofa product. The CaGBC LEED v4Rating System and Architecture2030 are emphasizing thedemand for EPDs, by addressingtransparency in environmentallifecycle impacts and theselection of building productswith improved lifecycles.

Lafarge’s expansion in Exshaw achieves major environmental milestone

On August 19th, 2014, Lafarge Canada Inc. announced its cement plant in Exshaw, Alberta has met its target to reduce emissions of dust, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from its existing cement kiln line, and achieved zero water discharge from its operations. As part of its expansion, which will increase manufacturing capacity by 60%, Lafarge upgraded an existing manufacturing line and is constructing a new kiln line. With the upgrade of the existing line now complete, Exshaw has reduced emissions significantly, with SO2 reduced by 60% and as well as a 40% reduction in NOx.

Version 2 of the CPCI Sustainable Plant Program Software Launched

The next generation of the CPCI sustainable plant software was launched in April 2014. Changes have been made to accommodate our partners in the US (NPCA and PCI) who require imperial units. Additional fields have been added on other materials (admixtures, reinforcing etc.) and alternative cements such as PLC. Also added is the option to input recycled water reuse and renewable on-site generated energy that is used in some states at precast facilities such as solar and wind. To learn more about the program, click below.