Cement industries are being rewarded for going further in green innovation

There have been many important contributions made by the cement industry as a whole through its continuing efforts to discover new environmentally safe and sound options in the creation and processing of cementitious materials. In 2000, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) established an awards program in a committed effort to excel in programs that would not only ensure a healthier and safer environment for communities, but also improve technologies to maximize sustainability and energy efficiency for “green building”. “designs.

April 27, 2010 The 9th annual Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards revealed five US companies, along with Lafarge North America Inc. of Ontario, Canada, that were honored and honored by PCA Magazine and Cement Americas.

Brian McCarthy, President and CEO of PCA, said: “The US cement industry is dedicated to producing a superior product while challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to improve energy efficiency. Actions taken by these plants and many others are at the forefront of manufacturing technology and position the industry as a key contributor to the development of the latest energy expertise.”

The company that stood out the most, taking home 3 awards across different divisions of their company, was Lafarge North America Inc. In Ontario, Canada, they received the 2010 Overall Environmental Excellence Award for implementing a project that is on track to reduce fuel consumption. and will result in a reduction in carbon dioxide and sulfur emissions released into the environment. A focal point of the project was the planting of a variety of crops and the harvesting of others for use in promising trials to find a renewable and sustainable source of biomass.

Kiln operations improved dramatically after the installation of new blowing technology, and cement kiln dust was almost completely removed during production. Topping off his impressive list of accomplishments was the planting of 3,000 trees on his property for habitat restoration plants. The project was also designed to promote education and the importance of climate change by including the community and enlisting the help of local scouts, scout leaders and parents.

Second prize, the Environmental Performance Award, went to Lafarge North America Inc. in Sugar Creek, MO. The Sugar Creek plant completed a wide variety of different projects in 2009 in hopes of expanding the use of alternative fuels and feedstocks the plant uses. With the addition of a third source, landfill gas, they were able to shift 17% of their consumption from fossil fuels. The 17% less fossil fuel now not consumed at this facility equates to more than 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide from coal combustion.

Third prize, for Innovation, was awarded to Lafarge North America Inc. in Tulsa Okla. During 2009, the Tulsa plant tapped into an existing residual fuel resource that the industry had been using for many years. Tire-derived fuel is often obtained by using old, used, and broken-in tires; the Tulsa plant took this concept one step further and partnered with Goodyear to recycle waste from the tire manufacturing industry into the kiln cement manufacturing industry.

The fourth award, the Outreach Award, was presented to The Holcim (US) Inc. in Theodore, Alabama and honored their extensive community outreach and compelling efforts during the 22nd annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup Day in 2009. With a A total of 71 employee volunteers and community members began an extensive “hands-on” cleanup mission on the Theodore Industrial Canal. Many Holcim Inc. employees volunteered to play a leadership role and be designated “zone captains” in the cleanup. The commendable results were the removal of 1.5 tons of waste from the water and shorelines. Holcim also helps its local community on Used Electronics Recycling Day; which has collected nearly 200,000 pounds of discarded electronic devices.

The fifth award, the Earth Stewardship Award, was presented to CEMEX of Xenia, Ohio for their plant’s cooperative efforts to help eliminate an invasive vine plant species that spanned approximately 5 acres of land; which continued with threats of aggressive spread. In a joint effort by the local community, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Cedarville University, a plan was developed and implemented that eliminated the infestation and allowed the area’s native vegetation to return.

The final award, the Energy Efficiency Award, was given to CalPortland of Colton California. His recognized achievements include some newly installed and highly efficient equipment. Its state-of-the-art finished cement grinding process will result in an annual reduction of 7 million KWh, while another 5.7 million KWh will be saved annually by maintaining its comprehensive kiln leak prevention programs. They also installed a new cement terminal, which is projected to add another reduction of 3.7 million KWh.

Any North American cement manufacturing plant can qualify for the Cement Industry’s Annual Energy and Environmental Awards Program; for achievements that have taken place within the previous calendar year. Judges for the 2010 Awards honored performances companies delivered in 2009. Judges came from independent groups including the National Ready-Mix Concrete Association, US EPA ENERGY STAR, US EPA Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation US EPA, Canadian Cement Association, Cement Americas, US Geological Survey, World Resources Institute, and World Wildlife Fund.

Another program that further complements the Portland Cement Association’s commitment to making long-term sustainable improvements available to communities is its annual Sustainable Leadership Award. Concrete provides not only improved efficiency and sustainability, but also the versatility to be easily incorporated into many “green building” upgrades and designs. These awards honor government leaders who promote the development of their communities through concrete products.