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The Cool Climate Concrete^® (C3) Program is a monitored and verified greenhouse gas (GHG) offset program based on replacing portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete for construction and civil works projects. The objective of C3 is to encourage participants to use SCMs as a portland cement replacement strategy, and to verify 200,000 GHG offsets by October 2013 as a result of participants’ reductions in portland cement use. Participants are compensated $4 for each metric ton of CO2 avoided (known as an offset) as a result of decreasing portland cement use beyond established baselines.

This strategy for reducing GHG emissions was developed because the majority of emissions related to concrete come from the production of its key ingredient, portland cement. For every metric ton of portland cement produced nearly one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2), a GHG, is produced. With sound technical advice based on the specific project and location, SCMs such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and fly ash can be used to replace a portion of portland cement in a concrete mix, reducing overall portland cement content and the associated GHG emissions.

The second phase of the C3 Program began October 1, 2009 and is administered by West Main Consultants. The Program is funded by The Climate Trust, a nonprofit organization promoting climate change solutions.