NRMCA announces green concrete plant and courses

SILVER SPRING, MD. —The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) periodically reviews its activities throughout the year. Following is a roundup of significant NRMCA activities since mid-March.

Green-star plant—NRMCA issued its first Green-Star Certificate to Transit Mix Concrete & Materials’ Seven Points Plant in Seven Points, Texas. NRMCA’s Green-Star Program was recently designed and implemented by the Environmental Task Group of the Operations, Environmental and Safety Committee, in collaboration with the EPA as a means to support the efforts of the ready-mixed concrete industry toward environmental excellence. Through the use of Environmental Management Systems as a tool for environmental benchmarking and continual improvement, Green-Star recognizes those plants that adhere to essential principals of the environmental and sustainability movement of our industry.

Green concrete course—NRMCA launched a new course titled "Green building with concrete." The course has received the highly regarded U.S. Green Building Council Education Provider Program (USGBC EPP) designation. The course provides detailed instruction on how the use of concrete can minimize environmental impact of buildings and public works projects during construction and operation. Specific course topics will be taught by NRMCA personnel and include the following:

• environmental attributes of concrete;
• climate change and concrete;
• green building rating systems and concrete;
• energy performance of concrete building systems;
• stormwater best management practices;
• optimizing recycled content; and
• interactive problem solving break out sessions and course assessment.

For more information on these and other programs, visit www.nrmca.org.