NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete, has announced the release of The Low-Carbon Concrete Guide: Materials, a guide authored by Mary Christiansen, PhD, LEED AP.

The publication focuses on practical, data-driven strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of concrete, with particular emphasis on the material and mixture decisions that designers, engineers, contractors, and policymakers make at the project level. The goal is to support performance-based choices that lower emissions meaningfully while meeting the safety, strength, and durability expected of traditional concrete, according to NEU.

The guide examines the role of concrete in global carbon emissions, life-cycle thinking, and carbon quantification tools, as well as a full spectrum of binder-level strategies, including supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), mineral fillers, blended cements, low-carbon Portland cements, and alternative cements. It also introduces aggregate, reinforcement, and water-level pathways, along with supporting concepts such as mixture optimisation and durability, as well as advanced concrete technologies to illustrate how material choices interact with long-term performance.

“We are excited that NEU could bring this detailed publication to the concrete industry,” says Kerry Sutton, Executive Director, NEU. “Mary Christiansen’s in-depth work on this guide has resulted in a valuable resource for both industry newcomers and experienced practitioners.”

The guide provides the context, background, and technical framework needed to understand low-carbon concrete materials and their implications for performance and sustainability.

The Low-Carbon Concrete Guide: Materials is available from the ACI store and can be downloaded at https://ow.ly/13cn50Xw4ci.

NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete was established in 2022 by the American Concrete Institute.