PCA Seeks Sustainability Nominees

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), Skokie, Ill., is accepting nominees for its second annual edition of the Sustainable Leadership Awards. The group says it established the awards in 2008 as a way “to heighten state and local decision makers’ understanding of the importance of cement and concrete to green building and as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.”

The PCA says the annual initiative identifies and honors government leaders who advance sustainable development in their communities through the use of concrete and cement-based products.

“There are few, if any, construction materials that offer concrete’s wide range of sustainable and cost-effective benefits,” says PCA President and CEO Brian McCarthy.

According to the PCA, projects nominated can include those where considerable amounts of concrete have been recycled.

McCarthy says PCA is calling on members of the building industry to submit nominations for the 2009 Sustainable Leadership Awards in four categories. The Leadership in Sustainability Policy Award honors public officials who advance policies that promote the concept of sustainable development by advocating for and promoting the use of concrete and cement-based products in their communities. Other categories include Homes and Residential Building; Non-Residential Building; and Infrastructure.

Buildings and activities must have occurred between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008, to be eligible. The deadline to submit final entries is May 29, 2009.

In 2008, winners from Fort Worth, Texas; Glendale, Ariz.; Chicago, Ill.; Leawood, Kan.; Hancock, N.H.; Salem, Ore.; Dallas, Texas; and Lubbock, Texas, were recognized for using new innovations and technologies that resulted in immense environmental benefits and cost savings.

In the Full-depth Reclamation (FDR) category, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and Hancock, N.H., have used concrete to reconstruct nearly 500 lane miles of roadways — representing a savings of more than 40 percent per lane mile from traditional repair of failed roads.

Those seeking more information or who wish to access the nomination form can visit www.cement.org/SustainableLeadership.