Cement Production and Greenhouse Gases

Check out this article from New Scientist.com:

"CEMENT kilns contribute more to the world's output of carbon dioxide than aircraft and could soon be responsible for 10 per cent of all emissions of the greenhouse gas. New calculations by an industry scientist reveal that cement manufacturers already produce 7 per cent of global CO2 emissions—almost three times previously published estimates—and that CO2 output is increasing faster from cement works than from any other industrial source."

Thank you, Sandy, for the sending this to me!  Got an interesting story, bit of trivia or a cool Civil 3D tip or trick?  Send it to me.

Comments

[Tom Brown]

When you make lime for cement you take CaC03 and remove CO2 to make CaO. Then you mix the CaO with sand, gravel and water and let it cure. In the curing process it absorbs the same amount of CO2 that it released in making it. The overall reaction is CO2 neutral.

[Hans Erens]

@ Tom Brown: You are forgetting the immense heat needed to make CaO (1450°C), which is responsible for most of the emissions. Even so, concrete compares favorably to most other common construction materials, such as steel.