Welcome to the Portland Cement Association Press Center for the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, November 11-13, 2009

Visit the Concrete Pavilion (booth #760) at the 2009 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, November 11-13 at the Phoenix Convention Center and let the Portland Cement Association be your tour guide on the ways concrete is the responsible choice for sustainable design.

Contact Patti Flesher for more information: Mobile: 847.542.1236; Office: 847.972.9136: Twitter: @ConcreteThinker

Concrete Home Achieves “Net Zero” Energy Use for Habitat for Humanity


Phoenix Habitat for Humanity HousePhoenix’s newest Habitat for Humanity home showcases concrete’s sustainable building applications.   Concrete walls enabled it to reach “Net Zero” and expected LEED® for Homes Platinum designations as did a pervious concrete driveway, concrete roof tiles, countertops and floors. 

Concrete ... Limitless Sustainable Possibilities


Concrete materials and applications offer sustainable benefits to owners, occupants and communities. Pervious concrete, for example, helps communities manage stormwater runoff. Concrete walls provide owners with low maintenance and operation costs, and occupants enjoy quiet comfort.

Save energy and money with concrete walls
Buildings with exterior concrete walls, also called mass walls, utilize less energy to heat and cool than similarly insulated buildings with wood or steel frame walls. More.

Decorative concrete provides beauty that lasts a lifetime
Using decorative concrete limits finishing materials and harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and provides a high-quality, durable, low maintenance surface. More.

With pervious concrete, puddles are a thing of the past
Pervious concrete allows rainwater to naturally filter through it, preventing deposits of oil, grease and other contaminants from entering storm drains and going directly into the water supply.  This technology is recognized by the U.S. EPA as a as a best practice for stormwater management. More.

Concrete walls reduces noise pollution
The greater mass of concrete walls can reduce sound penetrating through a wall by more than 80 percent compared with wood or steel frame construction, improving the quality of life for occupants. More.

Concrete keeps on going, and going, and going ...
Concrete can be readily recycled and reused as base materials for roads, sidewalks and concrete slabs, sparing the use of virgin materials. More.

Concrete roof tiles provide long lasting, cool coverage
The natural color of concrete roof tiles reduce the solar reflectance of roof tops while providing a disaster resistant covering. More.

Learn more
ConcreteThinker.com is a unique clearinghouse of case studies, energy models, and other tools to help design professionals make sustainable development a reality. The Web site offers solutions for energy efficiency, disaster resistance, indoor air quality, and more.
Concrete Sustainability Hub Launched at MIT


Research Center Will Integrate Materials, Building Technology, and Economics
Established at MIT in collaboration with PCA and Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation, the research hub will accelerate emerging breakthroughs in concrete science and engineering and the transfer of that science into practice. View news release
High Performance Building Codes


Promising Safe, Secure, and Energy-Efficient Buildings for Future Generations
PCA has developed a sample ordinance for use by state and local governments and federal agencies to implement sustainable or green building initiatives. The requirements, formatted as amendments to the 2009 International Building Code, address, in addition to energy efficiency and typical sustainability criteria, enhanced sustainability is accomplished with requirements for increased disaster resistance and improved durability.
Honoring Sustainable Development Leaders


PCA Initiative Recognizes the Three Pillars of Sustainability
Concrete’s versatility and use in many green building applications makes it an excellent material for sustainable designs.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, PCA's 2009 Sustainable Leadership Awards honor government leaders who advance sustainable development in their communities through the use of concrete and cement-based products.
Concrete Thinking for a Sustainable World


A Commitment to Sustainable ManufacturingCemex
There are very few, if any, construction materials that offer concrete's wide range of sustainable and comprehensive environmental benefits, but the industry is not content to simply have a green end product. U.S. cement manufacturers are dedicated to continuously challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to improve energy efficiency and minimize emissions.

In response to self-imposed, industry-wide goals, individual cement plants are using new and innovative solutions. Each year the PCA Environment and Energy Awards honor facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement by going beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes and policies contributed to making their communities better places to live and work.