FSEA April Meeting - Sustainability

This is a 1.0 Hour presentation and PDH certificates will be emailed from [email protected] to all attendees.

Second to water, concrete is the most widely used material on earth. From the Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome to iconic skyscrapers, bridges, and infrastructure; concrete is the primary component of the built environment. These structures have exhibited the strength, durability and disaster resilience required to withstand the test of time. However, the manufacturing of Portland cement, the essential element that holds the concrete matrix together, accounts for approximately 8% of global emissions. Time is of the essence to reduce the Global Warming Potential within the built environment and the cement and concrete industry have developed a comprehensive roadmap to decarbonization.

The UN Environment Global Status Report estimates that by 2060, 2.5 trillion square feet of new construction will be built, doubling the existing building stock. The challenge ahead of us is, how do we build disaster resilient, net zero energy buildings, at a lower carbon footprint? Concrete is the material of choice due to its thermal mass, energy efficiency, disaster resilience, strength, and durability. This presentation will address how to deliver the tried-and-true benefits of concrete while radically reducing concrete’s carbon footprint.

We will review where the concrete industry is and where we are headed on our sustainability journey, focusing on NRMCA’s sustainability initiatives and goals for carbon reduction. The materials and strategies that are available today to reduce concrete’s embodied carbon will be explored in detail, from sustainability specifications to implementing recycled materials. We’ll also look to the future at the research and development of innovations that are reshaping the raw materials used and the means and methods employed to manufacture concrete. Lastly, the sustainability-resilience relationship will be studied through the review of published data, including case studies of insurance costs, life cycle energy consumption and disaster resilience.

Michael Wymant, MEB

Michael Wymant, MEB, LEED AP+BDC, OM, is the Vice President of Building Innovations at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). Based in Pensacola, Florida, he brings over 20 years of pragmatic leadership to the sustainable building industry, focusing on operational and construction solutions for long-term building sustainability.

At NRMCA for nearly 10 years, Michael manages the Build with Strength program, which promotes the use of concrete in low- to mid-rise construction. He identifies key legislative, regulatory, and business issues impacting the ready mixed concrete industry, engaging and educating decision-makers to achieve positive outcomes.

Previously, Michael directed energy and sustainability for a real estate management firm, leading a team of building performance specialists. A faculty member of the Green Building Council since 2007, he has extensive experience as a project manager and consultant in sustainable real estate across the United States.

Michael holds a Master's in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo and a Master's Certificate in Real Estate from Northwestern University. He is a LEED Accredited Professional in both Building Design and Construction and Operations and Maintenance.

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