< PreviousContact Ken Warren —P: 951-396-0878 | E: ken@elitece.net www.eliteconstructionequipment.com Elite Equipment & Services LLCis dedicated to providing our customers one-stop solutions to their jobsite needs. Our staff is highly motivated to finding solutions and providing the highest level of customer satisfaction. We will continue to think ahead and outside the box to meet the ever-changing needs of developers, general contractors, subcontractors & owners. Meeting Your Job Needs Another way that StructureCast stays prepared to take on the challenges of an evolving precast market is through industry associations. Recognizing PCI West (a chapter of Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute) as the gold standard of pre- cast concrete certification, StructureCast wanted to be part of the membership. “We realized once we began to scale up and grow our business and product lines, that we wanted to adhere to the highest standards of our industry. We looked at the criteria and the requirements of PCI. We knew that we wanted to achieve that. We wanted to inspire confidence from our clients. Through continuous improvement, we wanted to be among the best in the precast industry and to be qualified to do our best work for our customers,” says Anna. Its unrivaled acclaim as a high-caliber provider of both pre- cast products and service has presented the opportunity to work on some very high-profile projects like the concrete stair systems of the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, but also some more classified projects that are military and nuclear/ener- gy-focused, and forward-thinking projects with Tesla. As StructureCast prepares to find increased success in an ever-expanding market, it will remain focused on delivering a personalized customer experience and cultivating a team with extensive industry knowledge. Taking leadership roles in PCI and NPCA (The National Precast Concrete Associa- tion), as well as having been awarded Quality Awards by both organizations, fosters the opportunity for StructureCast to both learn more and influence the precast industry. Structu- “As StructureCast prepares to find increased success in an ever-expanding market, it will remain focused on delivering a personalized customer experience and cultivating a team with extensive industry knowledge.” | 90 FEBRUARY 2024As Brent and Anna Dezember lead StructureCast’s next steps for future success, their strategy is total scale up. The team will remain focused on its current service areas and prod- uct lines, with a continued emphasis on a custom, design build experience. This means leveraging an ever-growing knowledge and experience base and encouraging cus- tomers to envision bigger and better outcomes. Structu- reCast is a company that sees no limits and has a team prepared to meet every opportunity that comes its way – On Time, On Plan and On Budget. reCast is also very committed to earmarking a large portion of its annual operating budget for training. “We believe in this investment because it not only gives our team satisfaction in what they do, it also helps us grow the wealth of information we can bring to each project and to each customer.” And because it operates primarily in California, StructureCast emphasizes an environmental component to the growth plan. “We are always trying to be part of the cutting edge of what is happening environmentally in our industry. Through training and innovation, we can bring an insight and a thoughtfulness to our customers, so we are all ready to meet emerging regu- lations and best practices,” says Anna. WRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL T he concept of a zero energy home is a fast developing one, gaining interest and traction around the world. So, what makes these homes an attractive proposition? Well, in truth, there is no great secret to it. As world leaders converge once more to identify and plan new ways to tackle imminent and far-reaching climate disruption, living in a structure that is self-sufficient in terms of energy usage is incredibly appealing. When it comes to building homes how- ever, there is no easy fix with regards to carbon emissions. Construction is an energy-heavy environment, and the effects of this energy usage needs to be addressed. Many avenues are being explored, each with varied rates of success and potential. Embodied carbon, sustainable materials, solar panels, each have their place in the construction eco-system. However, in order to reach net-zero, the solutions need to go beyond potential and exploration. | 92 FEBRUARY 2024Zero energy homes have been around, in one form or another, for much longer than you might think. In 1973, while in the midst of an oil crisis that quadrupled the price of energy, Denmark invested in significant energy conservation in build- ing research. The resulting experiment, the Lyngby house, contained vertical solar collectors and previously unheard-of levels of insulation to store the suns energy year-round. While not entirely successful, the program provided enough infor- mation and had enough potential for the idea to be carried forward. According to Dr Marc O Riain, President Emeritus of the Institute of Designers in Ireland, the program, while not perfect, served as the inspiration for many future initia- tives. “The team used super-insulation, recognized thermal bridging, achieved good airtightness, and used heat recovery ventilation. The complicated active systems like solar water and seasonal storage tank were prone to damage and effi- ciency issues and were extremely expensive. However, they pointed the way for the rest of us and we stand on the shoul- ders of such pioneers whose legacy we are only seeing in mainstream construction today.” | 93 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONSo, what is a zero energy home? Interestingly, these struc- tures are not simply houses with solar panels and sustainable materials. The concept goes significantly further than that. Zero energy homes combine advanced design and superior building systems with energy efficiency, solar power, and the most environmentally sound techniques. The result is a home that is so well insulated, air-tight and energy efficient that it can produce as much renewable energy as it consumes over the course of a year. “Zero energy homes are better, more durable, homes from the ground floor up to the roof. Thicker more air-tight walls, fresh filtered air, and advanced window technologies, among many other features, ensure that our zero energy home is better protected and more durable than the average home.” While some may fear the prospect, and potential unreli- ability, of off-grid living, zero energy homes are grid-tied, meaning that energy is readily available just like any other home. However, due to a range of design, material and technological considerations, the end-user will be left with a net-zero energy bill and a carbon free home. According to those at Zero Energy Project, the benefits are innumerable. “A zero energy home is not just a “green home” or a home with solar panels. A zero energy home combines advanced design and superior building systems with energy efficiency and on-site solar panels to produce a better home. Zero energy homes are ultra-comfortable, healthy, quiet, sustain- able homes that are affordable to live in.” Similar to any other home, the price of these structures will vary, based on location. However, the Zero Energy Project is quick to allay fears that these homes will stand out negatively, in comparison to other houses in a community. With the technology being so embedded in the process, these houses can be built to any specification. “A zero energy home can fit your life and your style. Individuals, couples, and families, of all ages and incomes live in zero energy homes, from the warm, humid climate of Florida to the very cold regions of Alaska. These homes can range from mansions to develop- ment homes, to small cottages and tiny homes. Zero energy homes can look like any other home or have their own unique style. Across the U.S. and Canada, you will find many styles of zero energy homes – from colonial, to modern, to crafts- man, or ranch and everything in between.” For the Zero Energy Project, the goal is not to profit from these homes, however. The Project itself is not in the building trade. Its mission is to educate and inform, advocating for a sustainable alternative to traditional building practices. “The Zero Energy Project’s goal is to help home buyers, builders, designers, and real estate professionals take meaningful steps towards radically reducing carbon emissions and energy bills by building zero net energy homes and near zero energy homes. We envision the day when positive energy homes, which produce more energy than they consume, will power electric vehicles as well as homes, so that everyone can live well with less expense and without fear of energy price spikes, while greatly reducing our carbon emissions.” The need for these changes is patently clear. At the World Climate Action Summit, COP28, the Global Decarbonization Accelerator (GDA) was unveiled. This is a series of landmark initiatives designed to speed up energy transition. The GDA is working towards this by focusing on three key pillars —rapidly scaling the energy system of tomorrow; decarbonizing the energy system of today; and targeting methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs). This whole-scale plan for change is looking at both supply and demand simulta- neously and is being led by key stakeholders, including the international organizations, governments and policy makers, NGOs, and CEOs from every industrial sector. Dr. Al Jaber, | 94 FEBRUARY 2024President of COP28 made clear the rationale for this initiative. “The world does not work without energy. Yet the world will break down if we do not fix energies we use today, mitigate their emissions at a gigaton scale, and rapidly transition to zero carbon alternatives. That is why the COP28 Presidency has launched the Global Decarbonization Accelerator.” With global changes afoot, and an ever-increasing need to transition from emissions heavy energy sources, zero energy homes are a hugely important development. What began in Denmark in 1973 has grown and developed with the times. It is now a viable option for homeowners and, according to the Zero Energy Project, it is one of the wisest investments you could make. “A home is an important purchase in your life. Since today’s zero energy homes are built to tomorrow’s standards and cost less to own from day one, your invest- ment will pay off, from the very first day to the last.” zeroenergyproject.com/buy/zero-energy-homes “A zero energy home combines advanced design and superior building systems with energy efficiency and on-site solar panels to produce a better home.” | 95 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONSUPPORTED BY 16 OMNI PRECAST ECHELON ENVIRONMENTAL GRAN VAL NUMESH INC. ST MARYS CEMENT STELCRETE STEPCON INDUSTRIES LTD. TDS TECHNOLOGIES 24 Laurel Steel, A Nucor Company BRAMWOOD EVG JL METALS PROGRESS MASCHINEN & AUTOMATION AG 30 IECS FISHER PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION SALIT STEEL 40 Tri-Kon Precast RAINWATER MANAGEMENT 48 Menard Canada 4REFUEL TOROMONT CAT EQUIPMENT CORPORATION OF AMERICA 54 Central Painting DULUX PAINT PHX INDUSTRIES SHERWIN WILLIAMS 58 DBI Projects ENVIRONMENTAL LOGIC KSS ARCHITECTS 64 H & H General Excavating D.E. WILDASIN & SON SCHMUCK LUMBER SHIPLEY ENERGY YORK BUILDING PRODUCTS 82 Precast Unlimited EUCLID CHEMICAL 86 StructureCast CORNERSTONE COMPANIES ELITE EQUIPMENT & SERVICES EUCLID CHEMICAL| 97 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAN APEIRON MEDIA INC. PUBLICATION APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >