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Sand mafias are no joke

Paula Melton

Editorial Director

BuildingGreen, Inc.

LEEDuser Expert

159 thumbs up

October 7, 2020

Hello, folks! We recently had contact with Northeastern University about sand. I know it sounds ... dry. But sand shortages are a serious issue globally and are leading to criminal activity everywhere and even "sand mafias" in poorer nations without resources to enforce mining laws.

The ask from Northeastern is that BuildingGreen amplify its efforts to both learn and educate about sand alternatives in concrete. They are doing online surveys and interviews with people from the U.S. and Canada. (Apparently they're having a hard time finding Canadian participants, so keep that in mind, those of you in the north!)

Easiest way to help is to fill out a 10-minute survey. If you'd be interested in a more in-depth interview, you can contact Paul Wallace, paulwallace@pwallace.ca.

Thanks for considering, everyone!

Post a reply

Blake Jackson

Director of Sustainability

NORR

LEEDuser Expert

7 thumbs up

Wed, 10/07/2020 - 15:39

Team, I participated in thisresearch a whileback - beginning of the pandemic - and found it to be a really interesting opportunity. The survey is quick, and if they chose to collowup with you, it canallbedone via Zoom from the convenience of your phone/laptop. I strongly urge the brain trust of this group to contribute! Best, -Blake

Jean Carroon

Principal

Goody Clancy

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Wed, 10/07/2020 - 16:50

I highly recommend The World in a Grain, by Vince Beiser (Order it though your local bookstore or Powells) I first heard about it during a Kate Simonen interview. (Hi Blake and Paula:) Jean Carroon, FAIA, LEED Fellow Principal - Design, Preservation and Sustainability Goody Clancy 617 850 6651 (direct) 617 285 5936 (mobile) [Goody Clancy] “Building reuse is climate action!” – Lori Ferriss https://www.architects.org/news/the-new-net-zero https://www.architects.org/programs/embodied-carbon 12 part Carbon 101 program begins on June 1 From:

Martine Dion

Director of Sustainable Design

Symmes, Maini & McKee Associates

LEEDuser Premium Member

0 thumbs up

Wed, 10/07/2020 - 20:33

Paula, Are you looking for Canadian SD Leaders only to respond to the survey? I can connect you with a network of a small network of green architects and designers if of interest :) [and will try my best to take the survey...]

Steven Burke

Senior Director, Sustainability

Suffolk Construction

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Thu, 10/08/2020 - 01:43

For those of you millennials like me who have the attention span of a goldfish and haven’t gotten through a book since you graduated college there’s also this longform article on the topic from Wired circa 2015 that I found equally enlightening and frightening: https://www.wired.com/2015/03/illegal-sand-mining/ Steven Burke. LEED & WELL Faculty Director Of Sustainability m: 774.462.2044 consigli.com Fro

Paula Melton

Editorial Director

BuildingGreen, Inc.

LEEDuser Expert

159 thumbs up

Thu, 10/08/2020 - 13:47

Martine, they want replies from both U.S. and Canada, but they have been trying to get Canadian respondents in particular because the percentage so far is low. Paula Melton, LEED AP BD+C Editorial Director | BuildingGreen paula@buildinggreen.com My pronouns are she/her/hers Connect with us: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn