Transportation agencies nationwide are increasingly focused on understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of pavement materials, particularly carbon emissions. To aid in this effort, the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CP Tech Center) has published the “Guide for Reducing the Cradle-to-Gate Embodied Carbon Emissions of Paving Concrete.”
The guide targets the earliest stages of concrete production, offering strategies to reduce carbon emissions from aggregate mining to product manufacture at concrete plants. By addressing these cradle-to-gate emissions, agencies can take significant steps toward sustainable pavement systems.
Outlined in the guide are five key strategies, including targeting cementitious binder, optimizing concrete mixture, and reducing emissions from aggregates. Each strategy is accompanied by an Implementation Table providing actionable steps for implementation and estimation methods for embodied carbon emissions.
“The strategies presented can be implemented immediately for short-term improvements,” states the guide, emphasizing the potential for ongoing reductions throughout the concrete lifecycle. This proactive approach aligns with broader sustainability goals in transportation infrastructure.
While the guide targets agency personnel, consultants, and contractors involved in concrete paving projects, its effectiveness may vary depending on existing practices and material availability. Nonetheless, its publication marks a significant step forward in promoting sustainable practices in concrete production.
Funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) cooperative agreement Advancing Concrete Pavement Technology Solutions, the guide is part of ongoing efforts to advance sustainable solutions in transportation construction. It is available alongside related publications and webinars on the CP Tech Center’s website, facilitating widespread access to valuable resources in reducing carbon emissions in concrete production.
Read more here: https://cptechcenter.org/news/cp-tech-center-publishes-reduced-carbon-guide
Get the guide here: https://cdn-wordpress.webspec.cloud/intrans.iastate.edu/uploads/2024/03/guide_for_reducing_cradle-to-gate_emissions_w_cvr.pdf