FHWA’s INVEST – released in October 2012 – was tested for two years prior to launch, but the final product is radically different from the one used in beta and pilot program testing.

The beta update adds emission offset credits for those fuels and activities that either reduce the amount of CO2e released, or that sequester CO2. Credits are calculated for plant-based bio-fuels, transportation credits for waste derived fuels like recycled fuel oil, and cradle to gate credits for recycled raw materials like RAP and shingles. Credits are also calculated for reducing mix temperatures using warm mix asphalt technologies, based on user defined mix temperature.

To learn more, or to use the calculator or view an online webinar on its use, visit http://www.asphaltpavement.org/ghgc

In 2009 NAPA published an environmental sustainability report on asphalt, the first ever of its kind for the asphalt industry. Titled Black and Green: Sustainable Asphalt, Now and Tomorrow, it highlights the ways in which the asphalt industry’s everyday practices address climate change, improve air quality and water quality, provide green jobs, and reduce the carbon footprint of pavements. This 12-page report can be downloaded at http://www.asphaltpavement.org/images/stories/sustainability_report_2009.pdf

Britain’s asPECT

In Great Britain, a calculator to measure the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions or “carbon footprint” of asphalt used in highways has been developed and maintained by TRL, the Transport Research Laboratory. This program – dubbed asPECT, for Asphalt Pavement Embodied Carbon Tool – was produced as a result of a 2008-11 collaborative research effort of the Highways Agency, Mineral Products Association, Refined Bitumen Association and TRL Limited.

asPECT provides a methodology to calculate the whole life contribution of highway products to climate change. At its core is the calculator, a downloadable spreadsheet-based product that guides the user through the program’s methodology and makes the necessary calculations using up-to-date emissions factors on the user’s behalf. Learn more at www.sustainabilityofhighways.org.uk

Concrete’s Carbon Calculator

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has made available its NRMCA Sustainable Concrete Carbon Calculator. It will quickly determine two environmental impact measures to use to benchmark annual RMC production, Global Warming Potential, and Primary Energy Consumption. Global Warming Potential is reported in metric tonnes CO2e and short tons CO2e, and is a reference measure to report the amount of greenhouse gases produced in extraction, processing, transportation, construction and even disposal of material.

Primary Energy Consumption is reported in mega-joules and millions of Btus, and includes all primary energy consumed, directly and indirectly, to transform and transport raw materials into concrete products and buildings, NRMCA says.

It includes inherent energy in raw or feedstock materials that are also used as common energy sources, and also captures pre-combustion (indirect) energy use associated with processing, transporting, converting and delivering fuel and energy.

A plant emissions calculator is available as well. To learn more or to use the calculator visit www.rmc-foundation.org/Env_Health_Safety_Track.htm

Last December the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State University released Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Manual of Practice.

This guide provides a clear, concise and cohesive discussion of pavement sustainability concepts and of recommended practices for maximizing the sustainability of concrete pavements. Download it at www.cptechcenter.org/publications/Sustainable_Concrete_Pavement_508.pdf