In 2000, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) launched a program to foster continuous environmental improvement in the North American cement industry. One element of the program is to recognize individual facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental and energy efficiency improvement, and back up this spirit with action.

PCA and Cement Americas magazine presented the first cement industry environmental awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001. The awards program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States), and honors activities conducted during the previous calendar year (in this case, January to December 2007).

The judges selected first-place winners (as well as runners-up and finalists) in each of the contest's six categories: Environmental Performance; Land Stewardship; Outreach; Innovation; Energy Efficiency; and Overall Environmental Excellence.

Serving as judges for the 2008 Energy & Environment Awards were: David Ayers, Managing Director of Compliance, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association; Elizabeth Dutrow, Director, Industrial Sector Partnerships, EPA, Energy Star Program; Garth Hawkins, Cement Industry Consultant for PCA; Carl Koch, Jr., Cement Sector Liaison, EPA; Bob Masterson, Director of Policy, Cement Association of Canada; Stephen Russell, World Resources Institute; Bella Tonkonogy, EPA, Climate Leaders Program; Sheri Willoughby, Senior Program Officer-Business and Industry, Would Wildlife Fund; and Tyrone Wilson, Director, Regulatory Affairs, PCA. Each judge is independent from the cement manufacturers competing for the awards.

OVERALL
ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

Winner
Cemex
Davenport, California

Honored as the winner of the Land Stewardship category and finalist in the Environmental Performance and Energy Efficiency categories, the Davenport plant demonstrates excellence in several aspects of environmental responsibility. In 2007, the facility completed improved dust management, site paving, storm water controls, and site aesthetic improvements. The plant beneficially uses all produced kiln dust and reclaims more than 26,000 tons from an existing dust landfill. The facility uses byproducts from other industries and wastewater from the local community to conserve resources. The plant received the 2007 U.S. EPA Energy Star award for energy efficiency. The facility involves the local community in plant activities as well.

Runner Up:
Lafarge North America Inc.
Sugar Creek, Missouri

Finalists:
Lafarge North America Inc.
Alpena, Michigan

Titan America LLC/Roanoke
Cement Company
Troutville, Virginia

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

Winner
Holcim (US) Inc.
Theodore, Alabama

This facility has developed programs to respond to air, water, and solid waste emissions. The plant meets all air emission limits with particulate matter emissions at 17% of the standard, and dioxin and furan emissions at 1% of the limit. All cement kiln dust is reused within the manufacturing process, which limits carbon dioxide emissions. The plant received the 2007 Gulf Guardian Award form the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its stormwater management program. In 2007, no stormwater was released from the cement manufacturing plant or from the plant's off-site limestone and clay quarries.

Runner Up:
Lafarge North America Inc.
Sugar Creek, Missouri

Finalist:
Cemex
Davenport, California

LAND STEWARDSHIP

Winner
Cemex,
Davenport, California

This plant has established a diverse land stewardship program. In 2007, the plant partnered with the University of Santa Clara to complete an inventory of the wildlife habitats at the facility. UCSC also collected flora and fauna from the site for its arboretum. The Cemex plant was given the Forest Stewardship Council Smartwood Certification from the Rain Forest Alliance for the management of its 9,000-acre forest. The plant's management program includes the annual planting of 20,000 redwood seedlings and selective timber harvests. In 2007, more than 20 acres of the quarry were reclaimed with the planting of native habitats. Plant employees also participated in a Monterey Bay fish-clipping event to track the return of hatchery fish to the region.

Runner Up:
St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada)
Bowmanville, Ontario

Finalists:
Lafarge North America Inc.
Brookfield, Nova Scotia

Titan America LLC/Roanoke
Cement Company
Troutville, Virginia

OUTREACH

Winner
Lafarge North America Inc.
Sugar Creek, Missouri

This operation has an inclusive environmental outreach program. In 2007, the plant sponsored an Earth Day event for personnel and family members. Each participant received energy conservation information and a compact fluorescent light bulb for their home. During the year, students and other interested groups toured the plant to learn about is sustainable manufacturing practices. The facility has a variety of environmental communication programs for employees and a community environmental liaison panel for plant neighbors, government officials, and local business owners. The plant is a member of the Greater Kansas City Climate Protection Partnership, which supports economic competitiveness and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Runners Up:
Holcim (US) Inc.
Theodore, Alabama

Lehigh Inland Cement Limited
Edmonton, Alberta

Finalist:
Holcim (US) Inc.
Holly Hill, South Carolina

INNOVATION

Winner
Lafarge North America Inc.
Sugar Creek, Missouri

Energy utilization is a concern of all cement plants. This facility has found an innovative means to address its energy needs. In 2007, the plant commissioned an alternative fuels processing facility, which will store, shred, and weigh various industrial byproducts that will be pneumatically fed into the kiln preheater tower. The plant expects to replace 40% of the required fossil fuels with industrial byproducts such as rubber, plastics, cellulose, and textiles. The plant also has successfully utilized landfill gas in its facility as well; in 2007, more than 1.2 million standard cubic feet of gas was used from an adjacent municipal landfill. A contract with a second nearby landfill may triple the landfill gas available to this cement plant.

Runner Up:
Suwannee American Cement
Branford, Florida

Finalist:
GCC of America, Inc.
Tijeras, New Mexico

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Winner
California Portland Cement Company
Colton, California

This plant has an efficiency program that has resulted in major energy reductions, saved thousands of dollars, and prevented the emission of tens of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide. In 2007, CPCC added a corporate director of energy services who, with other senior executives and plant staff members, supervised energy conservation efforts. Also in 2007, the Colton plant scored 100% on the U.S. EPA Energy Star benchmarking program and received the Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award. Energy efficiency projects have included compress air system improvements, air leakage reduction for waste heat boilers, grinding mill optimization, drive belt replacement, high-efficiency motor installation, tighter cement grinding controls, and kiln operation improvements.

Runners Up:
St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada)
Bowmanville, Ontario

Suwannee American Cement
Branford, Florida

Finalist:
Cemex
Davenport, California