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Issue 2 • Volume 3 • April 10 FEATURED ARTICLE The 40th Earth Day Anniversary – Oldcastle, Inc. is Doing Its Part to Protect the Environment
Oldcastle, Inc. was incorporated in 1978, just eight years after the first Earth Day. There is now greater public awareness about environmental issues including climate change, biodiversity, conservation, pollution and recycling. Oldcastle and parent company CRH, plc are addressing environmental concerns and stewardship as a core component of our Corporate Social Responsibility commitment. March 20, 2010
At the 1969 National UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, McConnell proposed an Earth Day – to celebrate Earth's life and beauty and to alert humankind to the need for preserving and renewing the threatened ecological balances upon which all life on Earth depends. The proposal won strong support and was followed by an Earth Day Proclamation by the City of San Francisco. The idea was supported by the United Nations and many others worldwide. The ringing of the United Nations Peace Bell at the moment of the March Equinox on Earth Day has become a tradition. April 22, 2010
Nelson's idea evolved over a period of seven years, starting in 1962, in an effort to persuade President Kennedy to go on a national conservation tour to give visibility to environmental concerns. His efforts paid off – the President completed a five-day, 11-state conservation tour in September 1963. However, for many reasons, the tour did not succeed in putting the topic onto the national political agenda. Six years would pass before Nelson conceptualized the idea of an organized Earth Day. The time was right to tap into the environmental concerns of the general public and infuse the student anti-war energy into an environmental cause. Nelson generated widespread media interest and the wire services carried the story from coast to coast. In November 1969, The New York Times published a lengthy article by environmental reporter Gladwin Hill on the astonishing proliferation of events: “Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam ... a national day of observance of environmental problems ... is being planned for next spring ... when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in' ... coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned ..." As interest in Earth Day grew, Sen. Nelson was provided with temporary space for a Washington, D.C., headquarters and staffed the office with college students. He selected Denis Hayes as coordinator of activities. Hayes organized massive coast-to-coast rallies. On April 20, 20 million Americans – Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city dwellers and farmers, young and old – congregated at parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. The event brought together groups with common environmental concerns such as pollution, power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides and the extinction of wildlife. Notably, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. In 1995, Sen. Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest honor given to civilians in the United States – for his role as the principal Earth Day founder. Denis Hayes has continued to play an integral role in the Earth Day movement. In 1990, Earth Day went global and brought environmental issues to the world stage. As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. By Earth Day 2000, 5,000 environmental groups around the world were on board, reaching out to hundreds of millions of people in a record 184 countries. Oldcastle Initiatives
Oldcastle Architectural Products® (APG)
Environmentally Friendly Asphalt Patch
Saving Water in the Arizona Desert
CDI designed a custom water capture system that reclaims production waste water and channels it to a central area where it can be purified and reused. This allows for more efficient usage of Arizona's limited water and maintains environmental integrity, virtually eliminating waste water disposal. Additionally, the recycling facilities are regularly checked and monitored to ensure maximum efficiency and proper functioning. Oldcastle Distribution® (Allied Building Products)
As a nonprofit organization, the Forest Stewardship Council is devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests and sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable way. As a certified member and Chain-of-Custody distributor, Allied Building Products grants its customers the option to identify and choose Forest Stewardship Council's certified products, knowing there is a system in place to verify the sources of the wood used to manufacture the products and provide a link between responsible production and consumption. Allied Building Products' residential and commercial sales teams are now able to bid on projects that are seeking LEED designation – the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Allied has supplied materials for several large-profile construction projects, including the West Hawaii Civic Centre, the Colorado State University – Pueblo Academic Resource Building, the Renaissance School and British Consulate office in Boston, Mass., and the Sweet Bay Food Market in Tarpon Springs, Fla. Innovative Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop System in Atlanta
The system incorporated Solyndra solar panels, a unique cylindrical solar technology that incorporates reflected light from "cool" white roof systems. These panels optimize performance by converting more of the sunlight hitting a commercial rooftop into electricity. Solyndra and Allied recently announced that the group is Solyndra’s first distributor in North America. Corporate Green IT Team
In the past two years, more than 45,000 pounds of electronics have been recycled. Inefficient monitors, as well as personal printers, have been removed, while multi-functional devices for copying, scanning and printing are now used company wide. Waste was not limited to electronics and automation; more than 40,000 pounds of paper was recycled in the last year at a Fargo, N.D., location alone. Outdated business reports were disabled, reducing an average of 200 pages of reports per week in many locations. Styrofoam cups have been banned. Hundreds of fax machines are being removed by switching to a universal fax server, reducing not only paper waste, but also cutting expensive telecommunication costs. Energy waste is a global issue and one that affects every business. Simple tasks can help reduce energy consumption, including turning off unnecessary lights, using energy-saving bulbs, reducing outdoor air flow, installing energy-saving equipment, reducing the number of servers, and using power-saving options on printers and copiers helps to reduce energy consumption. Environmentally Friendly Rooftop
Promoting Green Sustainable Building
Oldcastle Glass®
Energy Efficiency Providing Glass Products for LEED Projects
Recycling in the Manufacturing Process
Water use is minimized by circulating to regressive rinse tanks and all water is ultimately cleaned and pH corrected with solids removed by a filtration process. A byproduct of the anodizing process is aluminum trihydrate, which is provided to producers of industrial alum and is eventually used in water treatment plants. Paint solvents are reclaimed and internal paint mixing capabilities allow excess color formulations to be reformulated. Chrome is captured and delivered to an outside agency for proper handling. Aluminum scrap, including saw chips, is captured and sold to recycling companies. Acrylic wastes are either reformed into acceptable domes or sold for recycling. Wooden pallets are either reused or recycled. Cardboard, steel banding, polycarbonate and fiberglass, as well as miscellaneous metals, such as steel and copper, are recycled. Other recycled items include beverage cans, printer cartridges and fluorescent bulbs. Oldcastle Materials®
A new technology has been developed to lower the production and placement temperatures of hot-mix asphalt. Referred to as warm-mix asphalt (WMA), it uses an array of materials and methods to dramatically reduce the temperatures at which pavement materials are produced. A number of important factors are driving the development and implementation of WMA. In particular, WMA facilitates "Green Construction," as it results in the reduction of energy consumption as well as plant emissions, and increases the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement.
As a role model and leader in biodiversity, Oldcastle Materials helps to improve the reputation of our industry and corporation, and provides concrete examples of our commitment to sustainability through this partnership. Habitat projects vary in nature and scope, and are cooperative efforts between management, employees, community members and local conservation groups, along with local, state, and federal agencies. Certification validates wildlife habitat projects to employees and the community at large. Oldcastle Materials has eight certified wildlife habitat sites in the states of Arkansas, New York, Ohio, Connecticut and Missouri, and is working toward certification at sites in New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Florida and Vermont. Restoration Projects
Porous Pavement
Oldcastle Precast®
Algaewheel® technology provides a diverse ecological environment for effective wastewater treatment using the relationship between algae and bacteria. Primary treatment in the Oldcastle systems is performed by algae, a green plant grown through photosynthesis, in a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, yielding a very sustainable design. Algae uses solar energy, produces oxygen and consumes CO2. Decentralized wastewater systems are used in locations where connecting to a sanitary sewer is not possible due to cost, availability or where the municipal system is near capacity. Decentralized systems provide very effective and sustainable wastewater treatment near the source. Oldcastle Precast Wastewater Systems benefits include: low energy usage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, low maintenance for simple technology and advanced ecological treatment using environmentally sensitive methods. Conclusion Author’s note – The background information about Earth Day was gathered through the Internet. There was some conflicting information with regard to the two Earth Day founders and the preferred date of celebration. The author in no way recommends one date or one founder over another. Waterfall photo credit (top left): Tilcon New Jersey employee Mark Cohen photographed this waterfall in George W. Childs State Park in Dingmans, Pa., for the 2009 Tilcon Earth Day Photo Contest. His photograph placed in the top three and was displayed at the company’s spring open house. The photograph reflects the environmental significance of Earth Day and inspires an appreciation for all the natural beauty around us.
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IN THIS ISSUE |
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SAFETY LEVERAGING THE PORTFOLIO
AWARDS
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Earth Day inspires
global awareness of the
importance of preserving
the Earth's environment.
It originated in 1970,
signifying the birth of the
modern environmental
movement, and is
celebrated annually in
March or April. Earth Day's
two founding fathers
both shared the vision of an international call to
action for stewardship of planet Earth. This year
we celebrate its 40th anniversary.
In 1968, McConnell incorporated "World Equality"
to foster the idea of equilibrium between nature
and human society. He designed the well-known
"Earth Flag," (pictured left) inspired by the first
photo of Earth that was published in Life Magazine.
Forty years later, the Earth Flag is still a part of the
Earth Day Ceremony at the United Nations. 
LEED Certification
APG's Bonsal American Group
has partnered with Oldcastle
Materials to produce
Sakrete® U.S. Cold Patch,
an environmentally friendly,
low VOC asphalt patch that
features more than 50
percent recycled content and
leaves no oily residue. The
product is currently produced
in two states and shipped to
Bonsal American plants for bagging and distribution to
The Home Depot and other independent retail outlets.
Sakrete® U.S. Cold Patch has earned The Home Depot
Eco Options classification, indicating that it has met
certain environmental performance criteria, which
allows consumers to identify products that have less of
an impact on the environment. 
Oldcastle Green Block 
In the desert of
southern Arizona,
saving water is a
priority. Concrete
Designs Inc. (CDI,
pictured left) invited
representatives
of Tucson's Water Department to audit the plant's
water use and conservation. CDI achieved a water
savings of more than 30 percent, which earned it a
WaterSmart Business Platinum rating – the highest
rating possible. 
Oldcastle Glass® provides glass for
some of the first
projects to qualify for
LEED certification.
Genzyme
Headquarters
was the first LEED office building and received a
Platinum certification. Oldcastle Glass® provided
materials for the entrance, including laminated and
insulating glass. 
Asphalt
mixtures are
critical infrastructure
building materials. They
consist of a blend of
approximately 95 percent
stone and sand, which is
heated, dried and bound
together by bituminous
binder (asphalt). These
mixtures are used to pave
highways, airfields, parking lots, driveways and more.
As concern for our environment grows, sustainable
materials such as asphalt and new production
technologies are becoming even more important to
the environment and the economy. 
Improving Biodiversity through Wildlife Habitat Sites
After 45 years of mining rock from the Eagle River
floodplain, B&B Excavating, an Oldcastle Materials
company, had an opportunity to restore the Eagle
floodplain. They were awarded a contract in
September 2008 and, in spite of commercial and
residential development in the area, the natural
beauty of the land has been preserved throughout
the valley. The restoration project used a coordinated
program of bank stabilization, stream channel
improvements, riparian vegetation establishment
and improved land use management to improve the
habitat. The project offers significant public benefits
by enhancing recreational river access such as
overlooks, fly-fishing, boating and hiking, and has
been nominated for several environmental awards. |
Oldcastle Materials, Inc. © 2010 Oldcastle Materials, Inc. |