21st of June, 2023, ID360, a leading sustainability and decarbonization consulting company, has been selected by the City of Agoura Hills to support its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Assessment.

The City of Agoura Hills is proud to announce its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), a comprehensive strategy to improve community health, reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels, and build resiliency against climate change-induced risks. The CAAP is a long-term approach designed to address the environmental and economic challenges faced by the community and encourage sustainable, climate-friendly practices. By implementing policies and programs focused on reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving air quality, the CAAP aims to provide cost savings to the residents of Agoura Hills while ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for all.

“The City of Agoura Hills is committed to taking a proactive and responsible approach to our future. Through their CAAP, the City is determined in taking critical steps to protect the well-being of the community and secure a more sustainable future for generations to come. Our team is looking forward to working with the City in performing the assessment review of their Climate Action plan,” said Melanie Jacobson, Principal, and Founder, ID360.

The CAAP includes initiatives such as promoting renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and supporting green infrastructure development. The plan also focuses on building resiliency during extreme heat events, wildfires, and other climate change-induced risks that may occur in the future.

ID360 has a long history of supporting California communities with climate action planning and implementation. ID360’s Climate Action Leadership program conducts a comprehensive audit of existing programs, metrics, ordinances, and interdepartmental coordination efforts related to the fulfillment and implementation of sustainability goals. Through this assessment, ID360 can provide an evaluation of the city’s current plans and strategize opportunities for improvement. The review concludes with recommendations for a CAP organizational strategy, and a management system designed to respond to new State legislation, changing priorities, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction policies using an interdepartmental collaboration model.

To learn more about ID360’s work and other decarbonization and green code services please visit www.ID360.green

We recently attended the annual American Institute of Architects conference in San Francisco where low-carbon concrete was the topic of many conversations. Architects and builders are turning to this innovative material to help their clients reach their green building and sustainable building goals. According to the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, together, building operations and construction now account for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. By utilizing low-carbon solutions we can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint while also enjoying benefits such as increased durability and improved insulation capabilities. In this blog, we cover the benefits and environmental impacts of low-carbon concrete as well as how municipalities and architects are incorporating it into building projects.

The basics of low-carbon concrete

Low-carbon concrete is an innovative material that has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. This type of concrete is not only more durable and better insulated than traditional concrete, but it also reduces energy bills and can reduce a building’s carbon footprint significantly. It is made from a combination of materials such as fly ash, slag, and silica fumes which replace some or all of the traditional cement in the mix. The specific mixture used will depend on factors like desired strength levels and application requirements.

Low-carbon concrete differs from traditional concrete in several ways. 

• It typically requires less energy to produce and has lower embodied carbon than traditional cement-based concrete. 
• It produces fewer greenhouse gasses during production due to its reduced need for cement. 
• It can be designed to have improved properties such as greater strength, increased temperature resistance, longer life span, and better insulation capabilities than traditional concrete.

There are various methods that companies can use to reduce the carbon emissions associated with producing low-carbon concrete. One way is to use recycled aggregate when producing ready mix or precast products. This reduces raw material needs while still providing a strong end product.

Using alternative binders such as calcium chloride can increase compressive strength while reducing environmental impacts associated with production processes like kilning or grinding limestone into cement clinker. And using industrial byproducts like blast furnace slag or steel slags in place of cement can help reduce emissions during production without sacrificing performance.

Benefits of using low-carbon concrete

The use of low-carbon concrete has quickly become a popular choice for builders and developers looking to reduce their environmental impact while saving money. Not only does it offer superior durability and insulation, but its production process also requires fewer resources than traditional cement. By utilizing alternative materials and recycled aggregate, businesses can reduce their carbon emissions while creating stronger, longer-lasting structures that are more efficient to operate. Low-carbon concrete is an effective way to save money on construction costs while helping the environment at the same time.

Environmental impacts of low-carbon concrete

The use of low-carbon concrete can provide a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide levels. By utilizing alternative binders production processes become more efficient. This helps to conserve water usage during construction while creating stronger and longer-lasting structures that require less energy for heating and cooling over the lifetime of the building. In addition to these environmental benefits, businesses and governments can save on construction costs due to increased durability.

How to incorporate low-carbon concrete into a building project

Incorporating low-carbon concrete into a building project is an important step for reducing environmental impact and achieving cost savings. To ensure success, it is essential to understand the product specifications and associated environmental impacts of the various types of low-carbon concrete available and the green codes applicable to your municipality. At ID360 we work with municipalities and architects to ensure project specifications meet or exceed the green codes.

The future of low-carbon concrete is looking increasingly bright. Low-carbon concrete can be used as part of an overall sustainability strategy in green building projects with beneficial impacts on both the environment (reduced emissions) and economics (cost savings). To learn more about low-carbon concrete as a sustainable building solution check out our Fundamentals of Sustainable Design and Construction course offered through ID360 Academy.