Presentation Stresses Full Life Cycle Impacts to Better Inform Project Material Choices

Over 360 construction professionals attended an NRMCA-sponsored online presentation last week titled The Environmental Impacts of Building Materials – Comparing Concrete, Wood, and Steel, reports NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations Donn Thompson. The program addressed various critical issues that designers should consider when evaluating the environmental impacts of building materials for their projects. Thompson and his colleague Frank Mruk - both working under the Build With Strength banner, outlined the importance of looking beyond just the sustainability of material acquisition, production and delivery to the construction site. Instead, they stressed that aspects of performance over a project’s full life, including effects on energy consumption during operation as well as end of life considerations, should be examined in determining the most appropriate material choices for lasting value.

An online recorded version of the program is available through Hanley Wood University and can be accessed by registering here. Architects, builders, contractors and other construction professionals can fulfill professional training requirements through the Hanley Wood site. There are now 10 online Build With Strength continuing education offerings focused on various ready mixed concrete topics.

For more information on last week’s program, contact Frank Mruk at fmruk@nrmca.org or Donn Thompson at dthompson@nrmca.org.