Sustainable and resilient infrastructure should be at the heart of any commonsense solution to address environmental issues in cities and states across America, noted the Portland Cement Association (PCA).
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently called upon the National League of Cities to move forward with sound investment to combat climate change. PCA believes that a good way to do this is to make a sound investment to combat our nation’s deteriorating infrastructure.
“Billions are spent each year on roads that need to be repaired after less than ten years, when we know how to build sustainable, resilient structures that last for decades,” said James G. Toscas, president and chief executive officer at PCA. “Besides being potentially unsafe, bad roads cost the public money in terms of lower fuel economy and a less efficient transportation system. Improving the overall efficiency of any system will reduce waste, including waste in the form of releases to the environment. We plan to engage the EPA and other federal agencies to put durability and resiliency at the core of policy decisions that affect our infrastructure.”
PCA points out that to be resilient, a community must be built to not only operate efficiently, but also to withstand and quickly rebound in the wake of natural events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. Resilient communities employ comprehensive planning and strict building codes that result in long-lived, robust structures. Durable, high-performance structures that are built above the minimum standards help promote community stability and continuity in the wake of such events.
