Just What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable development marries two important themes: that environmental protection does not preclude economic development and that economic development must be ecologically viable now and in the long run. Widespread use of the term "sustainability" began with the 1987 publication of the World Commission on Environment and Development report, Our Common Future. Also known as the Brundtland Report, this document defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This concept of sustainability encompasses ideas, aspirations, and values that continue to inspire public and private organizations to become better stewards of the environment and that promote positive economic growth and social objectives. The principles of sustainability can stimulate technological innovation, advance competitiveness, and improve our quality of life.

The cement industry is a leader in sustainable development. Each year, the industry publishes a report on sustainable cement manufacturing that details the industry's progress and advances in environmental performance. The report addresses six critical areas: cement, concrete and voluntary goals; sustainable practices; environmental performance; community involvement; workplace health and safety; and sustainable concrete construction. So how is the industry doing? Read the newly released 2008 Report on Sustainable Manufacturing.

Web Site Features Sustainable Design Solutions with Concrete

PCA’s www.ConcreteThinker.com, is a unique clearinghouse of information that helps turn green building ideas into concrete solutions. It offers case studies, energy models, and other tools including a Sim City™ showing how to use concrete to make sustainable development a reality. A first in the industry, the Web site provides solutions for energy efficiency, disaster resistance, indoor air quality, and more. Subscribe to the free Concrete Thinking e-newsletter.

2008 Concrete Technology Forum Focuses on Sustainable Development

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association is sponsoring the 2008 Concrete Technology Forum: Focus on Sustainable Development, May 20-22, 2008 in Denver. The Third Annual Concrete Technology Forum will bring researchers and practitioners together to discuss the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for concrete and sustainable development. Engineers, architects, contractors, concrete producers, public works officials, material suppliers, and concrete industry professionals are invited to attend, give presentations and submit papers. More on the forum.

Q: How can pervious concrete be used for storm water management?

A: Pervious concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and coarse aggregate, little to no sand, and frequently containing chemical admixtures, which is created to provide a very porous medium for pavements that allows water to drain to the underlying soils. Pervious concrete is commonly produced to allow as much as 5 gal/ft²/ min or 200 L/m²/min to pass through the body of the concrete.

By allowing rain events to penetrate the pavement to the underlying soils, the first flush of the paved surface is contained on site. The natural infiltration of the area remains unchanged so the water can recharge the water table. This avoids surface runoff that must be held in detention ponds or added to the stormwater surface runoff which must then be treated before it is returned to the local streams. In many cases the paved area may also be designed with a layer of coarse granular material below the pavement to increase the storage potential of the system. This has proven to be an effective tool to increase the amount of usable pavement on a project as well as satisfy local water management regulations.

Click here for more cement and concrete FAQs.

Pervious Concrete Seminars
PCA and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association have teamed up with Land Development Today magazine to offer the seminar "Pervious Concrete—A Stormwater Solution."

• April 21, 2008 - Omaha, Neb.
• April 24, 2008 - Nashville, Tenn.
• May 1, 2008 - Philadelphia, Pa.
• May 14, 2008 - Little Rock, Ark.

Pervious Concrete Pavement website maintained by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the Portland Cement Association

Publications

Pervious Concrete Pavements (EB302)

Hydrologic Design of Pervious Concrete (EB303)

Pervious Concrete: Hydrological Design and Resources (CD) CD063

New Waves Hit Chicago’s Lakefront

As reported by Blair Kamin, architecture critic, in the March 23, 2008 Chicago Tribune, Aqua is a stunning new Chicago high-rise that will be completed in early 2010. Using concrete as both structural element and architectural material, the designer builds upon the Mies Van Der Rohe ideal “form follows function,” and disguises the building’s rectilinear layout beneath a fluid face.

Chicago boasts many great high-rises. Trump Tower is another well regarded tall concrete building taking shape. Aqua injects excitement into the mix, not just because it’s tall, but because it’s got an unusual exterior that is attractive and functional. More on Aqua.

Click here for more about architectural and decorative concrete.

Workforce Education Stacks Up to Other Investments

Everybody wants the best return that they can get—for everything from stocks and bonds to car and home purchases. But how do you evaluate returns on the intangibles like safety, community outreach or training? In an article in the January 2008 issue of World Cement, "An Investment that Pays Off," PCA casts a critical eye on training as an investment. The article examines just how workforce education compares to other types of common investments that a company can make. You’ll be surprised to see what increasing the education of workers really yields and… just as importantly how that stacks up against other investments like hours worked or capital stock purchased. Read the article.

Regional Programs Offer Attractive Training Opportunities

As an alternative to conventional classroom sessions, regional courses provide participants cost-effective ways of meeting their training needs with shorter seminars, close to home. The small-group settings of these courses allow attendees to focus on the issues facing them locally.

Upcoming regional programs:

• June 3: Pulverized Fuel Guidelines for the Cement Industry, Colton, Calif.
• June 4: Raw Mix Chemistry: From Quarry to Client, Colton, Calif.
• June 10: Troubleshooting Concrete Floors on Ground, Charlotte, N.C.
  

Half Price Sale on Design and Control CD

The fully searchable CD version of PCA's bestseller, Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures includes the entire text plus links to references and resources, PowerPoint presentations of each chapter, video clips, a comprehensive glossary, and a metric conversion program. It is the definitive reference on concrete technology covering fundamentals and detailed information on freshly mixed and hardened concrete. Sale price of $25 good until May 31. More information and purchase.

Lab and Exercise Manual of Concrete Construction
The Lab and Exercise Manual of Concrete Construction will aid in understanding concrete as a construction material. Students will learn about the basic mechanical properties of concrete and its constituents, mix design, fresh and hardened concrete properties, and high-performance concrete. The test methods and procedures used during lab sessions are in accordance with ASTM standards. (CD073)

Selected Landmark Papers in Concrete Materials Research
Thirteen landmark papers from the early 1920s to 1981 were selected by the American Concrete Institute for their significance in the field of concrete and cement-based materials. They cover a broad range of topics, from the analysis of the chemical composition of portland cement to microcracking of high strength concrete. (LT315)

2006-2008 PCA Research and Technical Reports
More than 100 publications completed during the past two years in PCA's Research and Technical Services programs are listed by title and code number. (MS375)

For additional technical information, the PCA Library has an extensive collection of books, journals, and other materials on all aspects of cement and concrete. The Library's catalog may be searched at www.cement.org/library.

FHWA Publishes ASR Newsletter

Set to be published quarterly under the new FHWA ASR Development and Deployment Program the newsletter, Reactive Solutions, is intended to be a communication tool for the program, that educates and informs the reader about issues surrounding alkali-silica reactivity (ASR). Read the first issue (Winter 2008).

Fellowship Research

Durability of Ternary Blended Cements in Bridge Applications (SN2754)
In this research the effects of binary and ternary blended cements including silica fume and fly ash were tested with respect to freeze-thaw resistance and chloride permeability. Download a free copy of the report.

IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference
The 50th annual conference will take place May 18-22, 2008, at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa near Miami, Fla. It offers a mix of technical papers, exhibits, educational sessions, and a plant tour. This year's program features a tour of Titan America's Pennsuco plant.

Chemistry of Cement and Concrete Course
June 2-6, 2008, University of Toronto

ACBM Workshop
PCA and the Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials (ACBM) will hold their next Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement Workshop on July 14-16, 2008, at the PCA headquarters in Skokie, Ill. “Teaching the Materials Science, Engineering, and Field Aspects of Concrete” will address the issues of adding and expanding coverage of concrete materials properties in undergraduate and graduate courses and laboratories.

Understanding and Using Bendable Concrete
The University of Michigan engineering department will present “Understanding and Using Bendable Concrete,” June 24-26, 2008, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This two-and-one-half-day course will explain how the material meets structural and durability challenges and how it compares to conventional concrete.

Complete listing of industry conferences.