Bechtel has joined the Atlantic Council’s Extreme Heat Resilience Alliance as the sole engineering and construction partner.
The group aims to help fight the impacts of rising temperatures and support urban preparedness against heat waves around the world. Bechtel will use its experience designing resilience standards and developing guidelines for climate-proof construction to make existing infrastructure more able to protect communities from extreme heat.
Bechtel’s contributions will also include cost-benefit analysis of resiliency innovations and collaborating with regional institutions to make infrastructure more robust and efficient. The alliance is composed of 30 global cities impacted by extreme heat, and disaster relief charities and experts in the fields of public health, climate change risk, and disaster management.
Other major contractors have recently launched environmental-focused initiatives. Balfour Beatty said it has developed technology to manage power usage on its jobsites and reduce carbon emissions across its construction sites by up to 80%. Lendlease Europe released it’s “Roadmap to Absolute Zero Carbon,” a 20-year plan to reduce emissions on construction projects.
Related Stories
| Jan 16, 2013
ANSI passes new safety standards for reinforcing steel and post-tensioning
The ANSI A10 Accredited Standards Committee for Construction and Demolition Operations recently approved amendments to the ANSI A10.9 Concrete and Masonry Standard.
| Jan 8, 2013
Congress passes Drywall Safety Act
Congress recently passed the Drywall Safety Act; President Barack Obama is expected to sign it soon.
| Jan 8, 2013
Building-integrated PVs could help boost green standards over the next few years
A developing technology could begin to have an impact on sustainable standards over the next few years.
| Jan 8, 2013
Revamp of codes among nine low tech steps to raise community resiliency
Updating of local zoning and building codes is one of nine low-tech steps that can boost sustainability and storm resiliency, according to this article.
| Jan 8, 2013
Group releases safety and building codes from 24 countries
Public.Resource.Org released 10,062 public safety documents including building codes covering 24 countries and 6 regions.
| Jan 8, 2013
Montana developing high-performance building standards for state projects
The Montana Department of Administration is developing a single building standard for all state facilities, and hopes to have a plan in place this spring.
| Jan 4, 2013
AGC economist says "fiscal cliff" deal will give construction a boost
The deal in Congress to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff "should encourage many businesses to go ahead with projects they have held in reserve," said Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America.
| Jan 4, 2013
California standards on furnishings, insulation to be revised
California is revising the state’s standards on interior furniture and insulation to maintain or improve fire safety while reducing or eliminating the use of toxic chemicals.
| Jan 4, 2013
Tilt-Up Concrete Association releases new temporary wind bracing guidelines
The Tilt-Up Concrete Association has released revised guidelines on Temporary Wind Bracing of Tilt-Up Concrete Panels During Construction.
| Jan 4, 2013
San Diego office tower to be America's biggest net-zero building
The 13-floor, 415,000 sf La Jolla Commons II office tower in San Diego will be the largest building in the U.S. built to the net-zero standard upon completion in 2014, according to real estate firm Hines.