Reducing Global Temperatures Through Sustainability

The importance of taking steps to reduce global temperatures is at the forefront of many people’s minds.  Sustainable building practices are one way the rise in global temperatures can be combated, and the risk of harmful man-made situations—such as urban heat islands—can be reduced.

Image courtesy of Green Ribbon.

What is an Urban Heat Island?

An urban heat island occurs in cities when the natural landscape is replaced by pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.  As a result, the materials create a hotter environment than rural areas.  Temperatures can range from one to three degrees hotter during the day, and from three to seven degrees hotter at night!  This “heat island effect” leads to increased energy costs, air pollution levels, and heat-related illnesses.

These temperatures are influenced by the materials used, as each has an associated Solar Reflectance value.

What is a Solar Reflectance (SR) Value?

Also known as its albedo value, a material’s SR value is a way to measure its ability to stay cool by reflecting⁠—rather than absorbing—solar heat.  It’s measured on a scale from 0 to 1.  The higher a material’s SR, the lower its contribution to the heat island effect.

What Are Other Ways to Reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect?

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a few strategies for reducing the urban heat island effect.  One strategy is using paving materials that tend to remain cooler than conventional pavements, such as permeable ones.  Permeable paving materials are generally lighter in color, are able to absorb and filter water, and have open pores—all features that contribute toward a cooler paving material. Permeable paving materials are also an excellent solution because they are not a one-trick pony.  They can also lower tire noise, provide better traction, and aid stormwater management.

There are a handful of permeable paving options available, including our personal favorite: GraniteCrete.  GraniteCrete has long been a champion for the environment, and we are proud to offer a product that puts it—and sustainability—first.

Carmel’s Scenic Walkway and Overlook

Running alongside Carmel Beach, the Scenic Road Walkway attracts nearly thousands of visitors each year.  The three-mile path offers pedestrians a chance to bask in the crisp ocean breeze while soaking in breathtaking views of the coastline.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Carmel Scenic Outlook on June 4, 2024.

The Walkway’s History

Despite its timeless appeal, the walkway is a relatively recent addition to Carmel’s landscape. It was designed by Hall Landscape Design and installed in late 2005 by Graniterock’s construction division.

As a material that is both durable and aesthetically-pleasing, GraniteCrete was chosen to pave the walkway.  Nearly twenty years later, the walkway’s transitions are still stable, and the Natural Gold color of the GraniteCrete continues to enhance the area’s natural beauty.


An Overlooked Overlook

Recently, Carmel Cares proposed the restoration of an adjacent overlook not initially part of the original GraniteCrete installation. The 2024 class of Leadership Carmel took up the initiative, spending months crafting a plan to transform the overlook into an “accessible and inviting viewing patio.”  GraniteCrete paving material was chosen to help provide a seamless transition from walkway to outlook, and to prevent the erosion issues that had previously plagued the outlook.

The collaborative effort between Leadership Carmel, Carmel Cares, and the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 4, 2024, marking the completion of the project. GraniteCrete’s leadership was honored to attend, celebrating their role in creating this serene outlook destined to bring joy to visitors for years to come.

Ohana: A Beacon of Hope and Healing

Nestled in a picturesque landscape, the Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health serves as a beacon of hope and healing.

Aerial photos of Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health in Monterey, CA.  Photos provided by Montage Health.

Designed by the Seattle-based firm NBBJ, Ohana integrates nature into every aspect of its design.  The graceful curves of the building mimic the surrounding landscape of rolling hills, and the comforting embrace of a cocoon.  High ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows welcome natural light and offer breathtaking views. These intentional design choices create a serene environment.

The center’s treatment wing offers sixteen, dormitory-style rooms. Patients choose the art to decorate the walls of their room during their stay, have access to a kitchen stocked with snacks, and can watch movies in a circular living room.

The center provides a host of services.  Therapy rooms offer spaces for counseling and support. Quiet rooms provide space to reflect and relax.  Patients can take part in music and art classes, and engage in everything from basketball to yoga in the gym.

The beautiful outdoor areas at Ohana were designed by BFS Landscape Architects.

Ohana also features amenities that support the well-being of both patients and families. Community meeting spaces provide opportunities for education and connection. And, a family resource center offers guidance and support for loved ones.  

The outdoor spaces at Ohana were designed by BFS Landscape Architects, and are as essential to its healing environment as the indoor areas. Installed by JC Macias Inc, GraniteCrete pathways allow patients to connect with nature as they move throughout the campus to enjoy gardens, sunshine, and an amphitheater. Although only a small part of the campus, GraniteCrete is grateful and proud to support Ohana’s commitment to the mental well-being of Monterey County’s youth.

Come See GraniteCrete at the NorCal Landscape & Nursery Show!

The 2024 NorCal Landscape & Nursery Show is just A FEW WEEKS AWAY!

Held at the San Mateo County Event Center, this one-day, regional trade show is not to be missed! 
It’s packed from start to finish with educational opportunities (including continuing education credits,) and features exhibitors offering everything from landscaping equipment, to landscaping materials, to decorative fixtures — and more!

GraniteCrete is thrilled to be returning for the second year in a row.  We will be in Booth #341 — stop by and see us!

Happy Holidays from GraniteCrete!

As the year winds down and we turn our sights toward the one to come, we’d like to express our gratitude to everyone who chose to include us in their projects this past year. We appreciate your support, and look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.  Before we gear up for the new year, we’d like to take a moment to share a few highlights from 2023:

  • We were an exhibitor at the Nor Cal Landscape & Nursery Show in February.  We enjoyed it so much, we will be back again in 2024; come visit us at booth #341!
  • At The Landscape Expo in September, we enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by our booth and learning more about what landscape professionals are looking for in a permeable paving material.  We look forward to exhibiting at the Expo again in 2024!
  • Our retailer network in southern California grew by seven locations, as we welcomed Southwest Boulder & Stone as a retailer.
  • We continued to support the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) through membership in our local chapter, and through partnerships with a few other chapters in southern California and the Bay Area.
  • Taking feedback from architects into consideration, we revised our Specification Guide.  Not only did we strive to make the content more clear, we split it into three different Guides depending on the intended final application.
  • We’ve been developing a new Quality Control program.  Look for that announcement from us in the coming months!
  • Due to our continued growth, we are hiring for the following positions: Quality Assurance Field Supervisor (northern California, and southern California) and Sales Account Manager (southern California).  Interested in more information about these positions?  Shoot us an email at hiring@granitecrete.com

We cannot wait to see what exciting new developments GraniteCrete will experience – or be part of – in 2024!

We would like to thank landscape architect, Kathy Strickland, for including GraniteCrete in several designs throughout 2023 (one in Los Altos Hills above left, and one in Atherton above right).  Kathy chooses to use GraniteCrete in her designs for a few key reasons:

1. Environmentally friendly product (natural and sustainable material, reduces runoff, replenishes groundwater).

2. Practical (works on slopes with little erosion, low long term maintenance costs, lower material cost than other paving types, reduces load on stormwater management infrastructure, great customer support).

3. Good design choice (credit for impervious coverage calculations, crunchy feel and sound for a more organic vibe). 

Come See GraniteCrete at The Landscape Expo!

GraniteCrete is excited to be attending this year’s The Landscape Expo in southern California.  Our Senior Account Manager, Dave Ventura, will be overseeing our booth #382 during the Expo.  Please stop by to say hello, learn more about our product, and to enter to win a special, The Landscape Expo-exclusive giveaway!

We can’t wait to see you there!

From:The Landscape Expo:

“The Landscape Expo is a regional trade show and educational conference for landscape professionals from all facets of the industry. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees every fall for the past 60 years, the Landscape Expo is the premier event for landscape professionals in the western United States.”

Introducing GraniteCrete’s New Specification Guides

GraniteCrete’s Specification Guide has long acted as a “catch-all” document.  It addressed every application of GraniteCrete, and every installation variable.  It became difficult to navigate as we added – and expanded on – information.

To simplify it, we took that singular guide and transformed it into three separate ones.  Each guide contains only the pertinent information for the intended application of GraniteCrete:

Now, it’s easier than ever to find and use the guide to best serve your project!

Send Us Your Favorite GraniteCrete Installation, and You Could Win!

GraniteCrete is looking for fresh, exciting content and are inviting YOU to submit an image – or a short video – of your favorite GraniteCrete installation!

We’re preparing a video display for our retailer locations.  We’ll select images/videos from this contest for that video, with full credit given to the architect/installer.  We will also declare an overall winner, who will receive a $50 Starbucks gift card!

Requirements

  • High-definition images – minimum 1,000×1,000 pixels preferred
  • Include the GraniteCrete admixture color that was used
  • Include the architect and/or installer for the project


Optional: Include two to three sentences explaining why it’s your favorite GraniteCrete installation.

Simply send an email to info@granitecrete.com with your submission(s) by Saturday, April 15 2023.

A winner will be chosen and announced by Monday, May 1.

We look forward to seeing your favorite GraniteCrete installations!

Happy Holidays from GraniteCrete!

As the year winds down and we turn our sights toward the one to come, we’d like to express our gratitude to the architects, installers, retailers, and customers who chose to include us in their projects this past year. We appreciate your support, and look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.  Before we gear up for the new year, we’d like to take a moment to share a few highlights from 2022:

  • We experienced record sales, up nearly 80% from 2022.  We could not have accomplished this without the hard work and support of our retail partners.
  • We added five pre-mix facilities to our retail network.  Customers and retailers have mutually benefitted from this decision.
  • In the fall, we held several GraniteCrete Demo Days at our retail locations across California.  These involved an on-site, live GraniteCrete installation. We thank our retailers for partnering with us on these, providing the space, and promoting the event.
  • We brought on Brian Milligan as our dedicated Quality Assurance person – a position that has been a long time coming!
  • We attended the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Conference on Landscape Architecture for the first time! We enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by our booth, and learning about the current landscape architecture environment.
  • Work began on the largest GraniteCrete installation to date!  This installation is part of the Foster City Levee Improvements Project.  We are thrilled to have been included in this project by BFS Landscape Architects, and we commend Chago Rarmirez of Graniterock Construction’s  Watsonville location for brokering this deal.

We cannot wait to see what exciting new developments GraniteCrete will experience – or be part of – in 2023!

GraniteCrete Demo Days are Coming This Fall

GraniteCrete has been working closely with our retail partners to set-up product demo days up-and-down California!

A past GraniteCrete Demo Day.

What is a Demo Day?

A Demo Day involves the physical installation of a permanent section of GraniteCrete at our retail partner’s location.  If there isn’t sufficient space for a permanent installation, an alternative of a moveable installation completed on a wooden pallet might be done instead.

What can be expected from a Demo Day?

A GraniteCrete representative will be on-site for approximately three to four hours – for the installation itself, and for a Q&A afterward.

The representative will give a 15-minute overview of the product prior to the demonstration.  They will go step-by-step through the installation process while the retailer gives the live demonstration of a typical GraniteCrete installation. 

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the GraniteCrete installation process and to ask any questions you might have!

When and Where are the upcoming GraniteCrete Demo Days?

  • September 14: KRC Rock, San Marcos 
  • September 16: Tri-State Materials, Winchester
  • September 23: Graniterock, Salinas
  • September 28: Custom Architectural Stone, Solvang
  • October 4: Sonoma Materials, Sonoma
  • October 6: Peninsula Building Materials, Santa Clara

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest information on Demo Days – including newly-scheduled locations, dates, and times.