NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete—a pioneering force in accelerating the adoption and use of reduced-carbon concrete technologies—shares developments from their Fall 2024 Summit held on October 17, 2024, in Columbia, Md., with NEU members and federal agencies in attendance. The summit focused on federal initiatives to accelerate reduced-carbon concrete technologies and marked a milestone in collaborative efforts to address the challenges of implementing lower-carbon concrete materials and technologies in the construction industry. 

Collaboration and Innovation at the Forefront

The summit underscored the critical need for cooperation among federal agencies, industry leaders, and nonprofit organizations to drive innovation and overcome hurdles in adopting reduced-carbon materials. Federal agencies participating in the meeting included the Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Efficiency & Decarbonization Office (IEDO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Highway Administration (FWHA), U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The agencies updated the attendees on their respective consortiums, research initiatives, grants, and implementation of standards. 

"We recognize the complexities involved in transitioning to reduced-carbon concrete, but the collaborative energy at the summit was a clear indicator of our shared determination to effect meaningful change," said Dean Frank, executive director of NEU. “The support of the many federal agencies that attended the summit provides resources for industry leaders to move forward to meet carbon-reduction goals.”

Introducing ACI 323: Low-Carbon Concrete Code 

The introduction of the ACI 323: Low-Carbon Concrete Code, to be published by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) in early November, represents a significant step forward. The code employs a carbon budget approach and emphasizes the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for benchmarking, aiming to standardize methodologies for reducing carbon emissions associated with concrete construction. 

According to Matt Adams, PhD, chairperson for the committee that developed ACI 323: Low-Carbon Concrete Code and an associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, “The new code is a guideline to help establish best practices. As the industry evolves, a more detailed version of the code will eventually emerge.” He continued, “But it is with initiatives like the ACI 323 code, that we are laying down the groundwork for a more sustainable future in construction."

The discussions also brought to light the need for better training and education for concrete finishers and contractors to manage new materials effectively. The industry is encouraged to develop more tailored training and certification programs to bridge the knowledge gap and ensure a smooth transition to lower-carbon concrete mixes.

Looking Ahead: Action Items and Federal Support

The summit concluded with a thorough list of action items for the group, of which the top initiatives include:

  • Investigate ways for NEU to help with the education and technical assistance components of EPA's low-carbon materials program, 
  • Engage with industry associations to develop more tailored training and certification programs for concrete contractors working with lower-carbon concrete mixes and explore opportunities to leverage federal funding programs to support the training and education,
  • Develop regional-specific limits for lower-carbon concrete and materials,
  • Collaborate with industry groups to further integrate whole-building life cycle assessment approaches, 
  • Work with groups to improve the accuracy and transparency of EPDs,
  •  Explore the development of project-specific EPDs that can account for real-time changes in concrete mix designs and materials.

The White House has expressed encouragement for the industry's progress in reducing emissions, signaling strong federal support for sustainable development initiatives.

"NEU’s Summit is more than an exchange of ideas; it's creating a movement towards a sustainable future in construction," added Frank. "With the unwavering support from all stakeholders and the federal government, we are poised to make significant strides in reducing our carbon footprint."

The next summit is scheduled for the spring of 2025. NEU’s summits are open to NEU members, Allied Organizations, and government agencies.