“BEST PRACTICES TOWARDS CONCRETE MATERIAL TRANSPARENCY AND DECARBONIZATION”
Concrete is the building block of modern society and the most widely used building material. As demand for building construction continues to increase, it is likely the demand for concrete will also increase. Concrete is unique among building materials as its formulation is highly influenced by its application. Design professionals and contractors have a greater influence on concrete formulation than they do with other building products. It is essential for design professionals, policy makers and contractors to be aware of strategies to optimize concrete in buildings to achieve decarbonization. By taking advantage of the particular ingredients in concrete and the unique nature of its complex supply-chain, project teams can reduce the embodied carbon of concrete while enhancing project performance. To assist the AEC professional in navigating the array of environmental frameworks, the US National Ready Mixed Concrete Association took a leadership role in adopting new reporting requirements for material transparency including LCAs, EPDs, and PCRs to ensure a life-cycle approach to balance environmental impact, cost and long-term durability.
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“CURRICULUM VITAE”
Tien Peng is the former Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Codes and Standards for the U.S. National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. His team launched the industry leading Environmental Product Declaration Program for benchmarking and decarbonized the industry by 21% in seven years to meet international demand for transparency. He now provides technical consultancy as owner of GreenPlum Street LLC.
As a long-time advocate of sustainability, Tien promotes green building and social responsibility to various industries from housing to microfinance to community planning. He consults with private and non-profit organizations on operational excellence as a way to sustainability and profitability. Tien leverages three decades of design and planning experience to steer complex projects to successful outcomes. Tien was recognized for his grassroots advocacy as Trade Association of the Year by US Reed Awards for legislative victories and pioneering digital platform for analyzing data.
Tien has been involved in codes and standards as a means to ensure buildings and facilities are safe, healthy, and carbon efficient. He advised the Washington State legislature on building code adoption as a member of the State Building Code Council. He also facilitated the creation of the LEED Homes rating system for the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as well as current versions of the BuiltGreen program, the Evergreen Development Standard and currently serves on the ASHRAE 189.1 Embodied Carbon Workgroup. He collaborated on the Concrete Sustainability Council responsible sourcing scheme recognized by the BREEAM, DGNB assessment programs and the USGBC Social Equity Pilot Credit.
Tien holds an Masters in Architecture and a B.E. in mechanical engineering. His professional accreditations include LEED AP BD+C, Certified Sustainable Building Advisor (CSBA), Certified Green Professional (CGP) from the National Association of Home Builders, Project Management Professional (PMP), and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB).