Workshop: Implementing A Low Carbon Concrete Building Code in your City.
Concrete is the most widely used building material on earth—foundational to roads, bridges, buildings, and virtually all modern infrastructure. Yet, it is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the production of cement, its key binding ingredient. Fortunately, there are proven materials and methods that can significantly reduce the embodied carbon of concrete with minimal or no added cost. Local governments play a critical role in enabling this shift by adopting low-carbon concrete standards into their building codes.
This webinar is designed for local government professionals responsible for construction, sustainability, and code development, as well as citizens interested in advocating for climate-forward building practices. The session will focus on practical steps for implementing low-carbon concrete policies, with a special emphasis on the newly released ACI CODE 323 (November 2024), California’s CalGreen provisions, and Colorado’s Draft Model Green Code.
Participants will gain:
A clear understanding of embodied carbon in concrete and its climate impact.
An overview of what ACI CODE 323 and other leading state initiatives require.
Insight into practical, cost-effective strategies to lower embodied carbon through material selection and construction practices.
About our Guests
Dr. Matthew P. Adams is an Associate Professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology and a leading researcher in sustainable concrete materials. His work focuses on reducing the environmental impact of concrete and promoting performance-based specifications for low-carbon construction. Dr. Adams is actively involved with the American Concrete Institute (ACI), including as a member of ACI Committee 323 on Low-Carbon Concrete Code.
Kerry E. Sutton, P.E., LEED AP is a Senior Director at ACI with over two decades of experience in structural engineering, sustainable design, and code development. She has led efforts to integrate low-carbon strategies into national and international codes and is deeply engaged in advancing ACI’s role in sustainable concrete standards.
Brian Reyes is a Senior Circular Economy Coordinator at the San Francisco Environment Department, where he leads policies and programs focused on a circular, healthy, and low-carbon economy. With over 20 years of experience across government, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors, Brian has worked internationally in sustainable agriculture and youth programs in Cambodia, and previously served as a Sustainability Planner for Marin County.