Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/178290
The precast elements for the net-zero duplex, which is targeting LEED Platinum certiļ¬cation, were made at Lafarge's Edmonton plant, and are expected to take just two days to assemble on site. The design team used Building Information Modelling (BIM) and modern energy modelling techniques. Modelling (BIM) and modern energy modelling techniques, says Zakariasen. A lower carbon footprint and sustainability in general are also very much a focus for some initiatives of the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI). Since 2008, CPCI has used life-cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the life-cycle performance of its members' products. More recently, CPCI has developed environmental data sheets for products. These provide a quick overview of the main environmental impacts for precast products throughout all 14/ APRIL 2012 p.12-19Precast concrete.indd 14 managing director. The CPCI is taking these initiatives further and plans to use Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for products manufactured by members. An EPD is a standardized (ISO 1425/TR) LCA-based tool to communicate the environmental performance of a product or system. As one might expect, it includes information about the environmental impacts of the product, system or service, energy use, content of materials and chemicals, extraction methodologies, emissions and so on. An EPD also includes some information on product COURTESY STANTEC ARCHITECTURE, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND LAFARGE features and the manufacturer. "This phases of their life cycle. "A data sheet level of detail about a product's composition and environmenhighlights product features and avail- tal impact gives customers the tools they need to review the able services that can help reduce the product and compare it with alternatives. We're committed to overall environmental impact. It also this level of detail and transparency. We aim to have all CPCI provides information on how the prod- products covered by an EPD by 2015," says Hall. uct might be used for larger green conThis year, the CPCI is launching another initiative, called the struction projects and has details about sustainable plant program. Its goal, says Hall, is to reduce the third party veri ication of the environ- environmental impact at the manufacturing level and foster mental claims that are made for the a culture of sustainability within the precast sector. "A growproduct," says Brian Hall, the institute's ing number of consumers and businesses want sustainable Precast Concrete 3/26/12 2:15:53 PM