Thank You to all our friends, members, and associates.
Continue readingA Year End Message for Members and Associates of the Northwest Cement Council
The road to low-carbon concrete
Concrete efficiency could deliver nearly a quarter of the reductions required to meet the industry’s 2050 zero-emissions goal
Continue readingFocus on the Footprint: Making Strides in Building Sustainably
The Structural Engineers Foundation is thrilled to announce details for its 12th Annual Fall Forum, to be held on November 30
Continue readingOregon Excellence in Concrete Awards – Call for Project Submissions
Don’t delay – Prepare your submissions for the Excellence in Concrete Awards
Continue reading6 countries taking action to solve concrete’s emissions problems
An acceleration of green public procurement practices is needed to achieve low carbon concrete.
Continue readingCarbon -Neutrality by 2050 – Can it be Done?
Cement and concrete are the foundations upon which our modern society and our economy are based. The question is not whether we can achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 but how it will be done.
Continue readingHolcim and Bloomberg Media launch the Circular Cities Barometer
Northwest Cement Council, April 27. 2022 – Holcim and Bloomberg Media have launched the Circular Cities Barometer to showcase how the world’s top 25 cities lead the shift to circular living.
Seattle, Chicago, and New York are the lead U.S. cities promoting Circularity as critical to a more sustainable future.
Jan Jenisch, Holcim CEO: “Circular economy is a key element to stay within our planet’s boundaries and get serious about climate action.”
“With our world’s rapid urbanization, cities are at the center of this shift from a linear ‘take-make-waste’ economy to a circular ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ one,” he said. “I’m excited to learn about these best practices so that we can all play our part to fast-track the transition to circular living,” he added.
The move follows April 22, 2022, announcement that the Carbon Capture Coalition Governance Board unanimously approved the membership of Holcim US, the nation’s leading cement and concrete building materials, provider. Holcim is the first and only cement and concrete company to join the Coalition.
Convened by the Great Plains Institute, the Coalition is a nonpartisan collaboration comprised of more than 90 companies, unions, and environmental policy organizations, building federal policy support for carbon capture technology deployment.
Partnerships such as the Holcim – Bloomberg Media alliance and the Carbon Capture Coalition signal a general transition by suppliers of the world’s most essential building products towards more sustainable production practices and lower carbon products for use in buildings, municipal systems, and other urban amenities.
For example, the proprietary algorithm of the Circular Cities Barometer measures the transition of 25 cities from a linear to a more circular orientation. These cities are scored on a dozen circularity indicators measuring circular buildings, circular systems, circular living, and circular leadership.
“Being at the forefront of developing low carbon solutions requires continuous innovative thinking and partnerships,” said Toufic Tabbara, Region Head North America, Holcim.
“Our efforts are most effective when we can align and join forces with other companies and organizations across industries who share this same commitment. We are proud to be part of an organization that is similarly focused toward more efficient, innovative and sustainable practices,” Tabbara added.
Lauren Kiel, General Manager for Bloomberg Green at Bloomberg Media, echoed those thoughts. “At our core, Bloomberg is data-centric and solutions driven,” he said. “That’s why we’re pleased to be partnering with Holcim to bring attention to what makes cities around the world circular.”
The goal is to inspire other cities to take action to enable change toward more circular policies and programs that conserve energy and lower the carbon footprint of the built environment.
Carbon management technologies will play an essential part in helping Holcim U.S. meet its mid-century climate goals, decarbonize domestic manufacturing and industry, and retain and expand high-wage jobs.
In collaboration with research institutions and other corporate partners, Holcim U.S. is involved in two studies assessing the viability and design of commercial-scale carbon capture facilities at the Portland cement plant in Colorado and the Ste. Genevieve cement plant in Missouri.
The company has also announced that its Lafarge Joppa cement plant in Grand Chain, Illinois, has transitioned to the production of OneCem® Portland limestone cement (PLC) production. The transition follows the successful shifts to the lower CO2-intensive product in Texas, Missouri and Michigan facilities.
“As a leader in our industry, it’s our responsibility to build a path for others to follow by setting the bar for product innovation and improvement,” said Michel Klenk, plant manager, Holcim U.S.
“OneCem fits the bill as a low-carbon product that allows for sustained performance with lower emissions — a major demand in the industry as we help our customers achieve significant emissions reductions while delivering products that continue to meet or exceed their exacting specifications.”
More information on the Holcim 0 Bloomberg Media initiative is available here and on the Holcim U.S. participation in the Carbon Capture Coalition here.
About Holcim
Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure and improving living standards worldwide. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Holcim is becoming a net-zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving the circular economy as a world leader in recycling to build more with less. Learn more here.
About the Northwest Cement Council
The Northwest Cement Council (NCC) represents the four largest cement companies operating cement grinding and manufacturing facilities in Oregon and Washington. Our members include CalPortland, Ash Grove Cement, Lehigh Hanson, and LafargeHolcim United States. Together we promote, protect and advocate the use of cement and concrete solutions in resilient, economical and environmentally responsible construction in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more and follow our progress here.
NRMCA Members Decrease Carbon Footprint by 21% in Seven Years
Innovative products such as portland-limestone cement can reduce the carbon footprint of concrete while maintaining high performance.
Continue readingHolcim partnership to develop breakthrough energy storage solution
Holcim is developing a breakthrough energy storage technology with INSA Lyon and ENGIE’s Corporate Research Center, ENGIE Lab CRIGEN, to serve as an alternative to batteries. The solution is based on cement hydration, storing heat as energy and releasing it when needed in an infinitely repeatable cycle. This next-generation approach offers an alternative to conventional battries that is local, safe, affordable and recyclable.
Fidelio Bermejo, Head of Global Innovation: “The world needs innovative solutions to accelerate our shift towards renewable energy generation, distribution and storage – all areas in which Holcim can play a big part. With this collaboration, we are moving energy storage forward, opening up a new range of solutions based on materials that are local and recyclable.”
Cementitious material used as energy storage
This innovation is based on leveraging the unique properties of a specific cementitious material that can absorb 300 kiloWatt of energy per cubic meter and release it later through hydration. It is designed to store the surplus energy that runs through a heating network and release it when needed through a hydration trigger. This cycle can be repeated infinitely. Holcim and its partners will investigate how to efficiently integrate this solution into a heating network and the broader energy infrastructure.
A breakthrough solution for energy management in cities
This innovative approach could help meet the demands of renewable energy storage while optimizing urban heating networks in line with Holcim’s vision to build greener cities. Holcim is putting its expertise to work in many ways to accelerate the world’s transition to renewable energy, from 3D printing of windmill towers to enabling roads that recharge electric vehicles.
More information is available here.
Northwest Cement Council is Growing
Seattle, Washington, February 1, 2022: The Northwest Cement Council (NCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Antara Choudhary as a Market Development Manager.
“We are most fortunate to have Antara as a member of our growing organization,” said Diane Warner, Executive Director of the Council.
“Antara brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about cement and concrete, which will be of enormous value in helping us to expand our network and to build a greater appreciation of their importance in today’s economy.”
A graduate of Oregon State University, where she completed her Ph.D. in Civil and Construction Engineering, she also has studied at Stanford University, where she received her Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, where she received a Bachelor of Technology degree in Civil Engineering.
Her doctoral studies focused on Portland Cement (PLC) where she researched the impacts of heat hydration, drying, shrinkage, and flexural strength. She has also studied the influence of PLC on the transport and durability properties of concrete. After three years of rigorous testing, this research led to the approval of PLC by CalTrans.
The Northwest Cement Council has launched a new website designed to be more engaging to key stakeholders and the general public, noted Diane Warner. “The knowledge base that Antara brings to the Council will help us to translate scientific data about the advantages of cement and concrete into messages that designers, engineers, construction companies, and operators of buildings and associated infrastructure will better understand”, she added.
“I am looking forward to new opportunities with the Northwest Cement Council”, said Choudhary. “Working with the members of the Council, I will be able to translate my knowledge of the chemistry of cement and concrete into practical solutions that are of growing importance as we strive to lower the carbon footprint of the built environment.”
Antara will be based in Seattle, but her work will extend throughout the Pacific Northwest.
About the Northwest Cement Council
The Northwest Cement Council (NCC) represents the four largest cement companies operating cement grinding and manufacturing facilities in Oregon and Washington. Our members include CalPortland, Ash Grove Cement, Lehigh Hanson, and the LafargeHolcim United States. Together we promote, protect and advocate the use of cement and concrete solutions in resilient, economical and environmentally responsible construction in the Pacific Northwest. Follow the activities of the Council via our website (nwcement.org/), on LinkedIn, and Twitter (@nwcement).