The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded California Portland Cement Co. (CPC) a 2008 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficiency. CPC's accomplishments was recognized at an April 1 awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

In addition, the company's plant in Colton, Calif., was recently awarded the Energy Efficiency Award in the Portland Cement Association's 2008 Environmental and Energy competition. (See Page 25 for the complete list of winners.)

An Energy Star partner since 1996, CPC continued its energy reduction trend in 2007 by cutting energy intensity by 2.5% from 2006 levels for a savings of nearly 363 trillion Btu. This savings reduced CO2 emissions by 34,366 metric tons, the equivalent of providing electricity to 4,644 American homes.

Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are continuing to promote energy efficiency through participation in Energy Star. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $16 billion on energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.

The 2008 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing other what can be achieved through energy efficiency. Award winners are selected from more than 9,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program.

ST. MARYS HONORED FOR ENERGY USE BY CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

St. Marys Cement in Bowmanville, Ontario, was recently honored with a Canadian Industry Programs for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award by the Canadian government for its leading participation in energy efficiency.

St. Marys employees formed the Energy Management Conservation Committee in May 2006. Known as E=MC2, the group has developed a total of 45 initiatives and energy-efficiency projects, which have delivered $433,000 in annual savings. As procedures are developed, they will be integrated into the plant's ISO 9001/14001 system to help drive continuous improvement. The E=MC2 model is being considered for deployment across the company's North American operations.

The CIPEC Leadership Awards celebrate the achievements of Canada's industrial companies and raise awareness that energy efficiency is good for business and good for the environment. These awards are part of a family of ecoENERGY Efficiency Awards supported by Canada's government to celebrate best practices in innovation in energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy.

INDUSTRY LEADERS CHAMPION SUSTAINABILITY, ‘GREEN’ MESSAGE

Officials from the American Concrete Institute and its independent affiliate, the Strategic Development Council, have enlisted Portland Cement Association in a concrete sustainability initiative to be outlined in a forthcoming vision document. The groups are targeting strategies to which all concrete industry segments can align their own activities, thereby conveying a common message on a subject of increasing priority to public and private construction customers and agencies.

“Concrete sustainability is a crucial issue in the industry,” says SDC Executive Director Douglas Sordyl. “With the continued assistance of PCA, who together with ACI identified the need for such a common industry approach two years ago, there is no doubt we will be able to move this initiative forward with much success.”

Joining Sordyl at an SDC World of Concrete gathering in January were PCA's recently appointed President/CEO Brian McCarthy, plus Council officers and members of aligned concrete groups. Additional information about SDC and the sustainability project can be obtained by visiting www.concreteSDC.org.

CEMENT TOTALS

Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States and Puerto Rico were about 6.1 million mt in December 2007, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This was 22.4% lower compared with shipments for December 2006. Shipments for all of 2007 totaled about 112 million mt, down by 9.5% compared with those of the same period in 2006.

Clinker production totaled 7.5 million mt in December 2007, about 3.1% lower compared with 2006. Cumulative shipments for 2007 were 87.3 million mt, down 3.0% from 2006.

Masonry cement shipments were about 219,000 mt in December 2007 were 35% lower compared with shipments in December 2006. End-of-year shipments were 4.28 million mt, down 20.7% from the same period in 2006.

DECEMBER 2007