Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.
Issue link: http://concrete.epubxp.com/i/114208
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT BY STEVEN PROKOPY focus on them, show them the benefits of the association to the overall improvement of their business. We believe that anyone engaged in an industry has the responsibility to support and participate in the promotion of that industry. "In addition, we're participating in the development of the International Building Codes, the International Residential Code and the Green Construction Code. We're intimately involved in the LEED initiatives, which we firmly believe in. One of the places our product really shows its 'green-ness' is the LEED arena, and the idea that resiliency become a consideration in LEED rating is an absolute natural next step. Resilient construction supports the concept of LEED to such a degree that I'm sure, ultimately, it will be included. It's just a question of 'When will the light go on in enough arenas that it will be included?' It makes every bit of sense. "We have a national initiative under way to identify target customers, the impact of which is being felt across the country. Where it was a real battle 10 years ago, people are starting to understand the benefit of concrete and are aware of the green aspects of it and the energy savings. More and more companies are getting it. The users today are insisting on green construction, and we see this area of the construction industry as having absolutely phenomenal potential as we go forward. Several studies have pointed to green building being the fastest-growing segment of the construction industry." To encourage more builders to think about green initiatives in a more formal setting, NRMCA and other sponsors are gearing up and expecting record attendance for the 2013 International Concrete Sustainability Conference, May 6-8, in San Francisco (Redwood City). The eighth annual conference will provide learning and networking opportunities on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing and construction. Childs is especially encouraged at the growing number of participants not directly connected to the construction industry, including government agencies. "We're seeing a much broader base of people, showing interest and seeing the tangible things that are being done and could be done, which offer an opportunity in sustainability," he proclaims. "Support within the industry is always great, but seeing that extra support from outside is tremendous." 28 | MARCH 2013 UTILIZING MIT RESEARCH The NRMCA chief admits that the research results coming out of MIT's Concrete Sustainability Hub are not being utilized by the industries it serves nearly as much as they could be or should be. "As you get into something, you have to identify where the strengths and weaknesses are," he says. "When you go to MIT, you've got the best scientists and researchers in the world. Their interest in this project is contagious. The information that is being developed is revolutionary." Childs recalls his first Hub advisory council meeting—where he was one of four NRMCA producer members on hand—and addressing a 23-year-old woman's question concerning the biggest problem with concrete: water. Her response at first made him laugh and then shocked him. "I think we can solve that problem molecularly," she said. "I thought she was pulling my leg, but realized she wasn't laughing; she was serious," he relays. "The research at MIT has progressed, and it is doing a lot of work with the molecular makeup of cement, looking at it from durability, flexibility, strength and energy-saving standpoints. The researchers get into which component of cement is most important in, for example, reducing energy consumption in production. Getting into building, they believe we can use the mass of concrete to theoretically build a structure that has heating elements in the walls and floors; that we can buy our energy at night rates that are 40 to 50 percent lower than prime time; and store that heating during the night to be dissipated during the day to drastically reduce energy costs. "The information they have come out with in rigid pavement versus a flexible pavement has been overwhelming, showing the ability to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse gases by increasing the life cycle of a product and reducing the life-cycle cost of a product. We as an industry are now focused on how we can best get this information out, with and without MIT, inside and outside the industry. It can be frustrating looking at the limited success we've had so far knowing the caliber of information we have, but we are sure working on it." WEBINARS GREATEST HITS Since NRMCA began offering webinars and online courses in 2008, nearly 3,200 individuals have signed on. The types of offerings look like a list of the very is- sues the association is pushing on a daily basis, including paving, sustainability and resilient construction, to name a few. "People have accepted webinars and are receiving continuing education credits for participation in them," Childs affirms. "I don't think you can even talk about the importance of what the Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation is doing, without getting into sessions such as the effect of pavement type on fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, or the Sustainable Concrete Plant Guidelines." One of the more interesting webinar offerings has to do with communicating concrete's sustainable benefits, a course that is, not only about the information, but also how to effectively get the word out into the world. "That's a work in progress that will only get stronger as we get our groups together and determine best practices," Childs explains. "Is it a national campaign? Is it a regional campaign? What we have focused on is an enhanced relationship between the national associations and putting a much bigger emphasis on working with the state and regional promotional associations and organizations. They're as interested in success as we are." POLICY OF INCLUSION Childs makes it clear that NRMCA needs to be as useful to small and mediumsized companies as it is to larger, moreestablished operations. "It's all of us being involved, every person being as important as the next person, having the ability to participate and add value to the business," he concludes. "I assure you, there are ideas that a guy with one plant has that a guy who owns 1,200 plants could benefit from. It's just like anything else in life: if you stay in your shell, that's about as far as you're going to get. But if you stick your neck out, there's a whole new world out there. You and your people will benefit from it, but more importantly, our industry will as well. "Most associations are losing membership or are in turmoil. NRMCA is as strong as it has ever been and its membership is growing. My word to anyone who is skeptical is, invest in one meeting. It's like when you go to your first dance, your greatest fear is that you'll get left standing in the corner. That doesn't happen here; people will pull you right in, and you'll feel at home." WWW.CONCRETEPRODUCTS.COM