State DOTs purchase and use a wide array of pavements and building materials during their construction and maintenance activities. Over the course of their total lifecycle, these materials are associated with certain levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, also known as “embodied carbon.” Embodied carbon is an important component of the total GHG emissions resulting from construction and maintenance projects, including manufacturing building materials, transporting those materials to job sites, and using various construction practices. As a result, states are increasingly considering the environmental effects of the pavements and building materials they choose.

This webinar highlighted the Sustainable Pavements Program, a strategic initiative launched by FHWA in 2010 to increase the awareness and body of knowledge related to sustainability considerations in pavement systems. Attendees learned about Caltrans’ implementation of the Buy Clean California Act, including the collection of Environmental Product Declarations that quantify lifecycle emissions associated with construction materials. Lastly, Oregon DOT discussed its ongoing efforts to inventory the GHGs associated with its construction and maintenance operations and explore alternative materials and fuels with less embodied carbon.

Speakers

• Migdalia Carrion, Acting Sustainable Pavements Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration
• Prashant Ram, Pavement Engineer, Applied Pavement Technology, Inc.
• Delia Aguirre, Acting Statewide Materials Support Branch Chief, California Department of Transportation
• Zechariah Heck, Sustainability Program Manager, Oregon Department of Transportation