As part of its ongoing commitment to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of cement and concrete to sustainable building solutions, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) has identified local leaders in eight cities across the nation who have enacted policies or completed projects that promote sustainable development through the use of concrete and other cement-based products.

"As demand continues to increase, our government leaders and the cement and concrete industry have important roles to play as we determine how to best meet our nation’s development needs while protecting and sustaining the environment for future generations," said PCA President and CEO Brian McCarthy. "The PCA Sustainable Leadership Award winners have made great strides in balancing those priorities in a number of innovative and cost-effective ways."

The 2008 Winners

Leadership in Sustainability Policy

Honors officials who advance policies that promote the concept of sustainable development by advocating for and promoting the use of concrete- and cement-based products in their communities.

Winner: Richard J. Daley, Mayor; Sadhu Aufochs Johnston, Chief Environmental Officer, Mayor’s Office; City of Chicago, Ill.

Policy: "Greening" the City of Chicago -- Supporting and incentivizing green economic development by implementing a number of programs including Green Alley Program, Chicago Green Homes and Green Roof Grant Program.

Winner: Department of Street Services, City of Dallas, Texas

Policy: Sustainable rehabilitation, restoration and partial reconstruction of Dallas streets -- Instituting a program, in keeping with the City’s "Environmental Policy" for ongoing rehabilitation, restoration and partial reconstruction of city streets, saving approximately 40 percent per lane mile economically, and reusing an average of 80 percent of existing street materials.

Homes and Residential Building Projects

Honors officials who utilize concrete and other cement-based products to build homes and residential buildings that are energy efficient and beneficial to the community.

Winner: Brad Reed, Inspection Coordinator; City of Lubbock, Texas

Project: 100th ICF house (HUD funded HOME project) -- Construction of low-income housing using insulating concrete forms (ICF) wall systems provides superior construction technology at an affordable price and significant reductions in energy usage.

Winner: Dennis C. Kilfoil, Executive Director, Marion County Housing Authority; Salem, Ore.

Project: Hazelwood Estates, Woodburn, Ore. -- ICF wall systems were chosen for sound attenuation, fire resistance and to minimize long-term maintenance and minimize energy requirements.

Infrastructure Projects

Honors officials who utilize concrete and other cement-based products in public works projects such as highways, streets, bridges, dams, pipe or water systems and more that are beneficial to the community.

Winner: Najib Fares, PE; Infrastructure Manager, Transportation & Public Works Department; City of Fort Worth, Texas

Project: Annual street maintenance program for the city of Fort Worth -- Full depth reclamation (FDR) was used to save construction time, money and natural resources while providing long-term performance solutions.

Winner: Peggy J. Dunn, Mayor; Joe C. Johnson, Director of Public Works, Leawood; Leawood, Kan.

Project: Pervious concrete parking lot in I-Lan Park -- The location of the parking lot, near a creek, raised concern about erosion and flooding. By using pervious concrete, rainfall on the lot will be held until it is either absorbed into the ground or evaporates, and the concrete will act as a filter to clean the stormwater that falls into the lot. The parking lot is designed to last for at least 20 years with little, if any, maintenance required.

Winner: Kurtis J. Grassett, Director of Public Works; Hancock, N.H.

Project: Rebuilding of Antrim Road using FDR with cement -- With limited resources and an abundance of springtime floods, an innovative solution for rebuilding a flood-prone road while reducing Hancock, N.H.’s carbon footprint was the use full depth reclamation (FDR) with cement.

Winner: Elaine M, Scruggs, Mayor; Horatio Skeete, Deputy City Manager; Cathy Colbath, Transit Administrator; City of Glendale, Ariz.

Project: Park and ride parking lot project using pervious concrete -- Concrete was chosen as a key component in this project to encourage carpool, vanpool and bus usage in Glendale because it addresses water retention issues, mitigates heat island effect, allows plants on the site to thrive, and is expected to save money over the length of the project as it is not likely to need to be resurfaced for more than 20 years.