Posted on 12/17/2018 1:10:07 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
Concrete is the most widely used man-made material in existence. It is second only to water as the most-consumed resource on the planet.
But, while cement - the key ingredient in concrete - has shaped much of our built environment, it also has a massive carbon footprint.
Cement is the source of about 8% of the world's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to think tank Chatham House.
If the cement industry were a country, it would be the third largest emitter in the world - behind China and the US. It contributes more CO2 than aviation fuel (2.5%) and is not far behind the global agriculture business (12%).
So, how did our love of concrete end up endangering the planet? And what can we do about it?
A mix of sand and gravel, a cement binder and water, concrete is so widely embraced by architects, developers and builders because it is a remarkably good construction material.
"It's affordable, you can produce it almost anywhere and it has all the right structural qualities that you want to build with for a durable building or for infrastructure," explains Felix Preston.
It is the process of making "clinker" - the key constituent of cement - that emits the largest amount of CO2 in cement-making.
What the industry really needs to do is plough efforts into producing new types of cement, he argues. In fact, low-carbon cements and "novel cements" might do away with the need for clinker altogether.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Portland Cement, plotting to destroy the world since 1756.
Use the ancient Roman formula for concrete. Much greener.
Incredibly durable. Problem solved.
What about using Roman concrete?
Global Warming, it’s the Roman Empire’s fault:
“Roman concrete, also called opus caementicium, was a material used in construction during the late Roman Republic until the fading of the Roman Empire. Roman concrete was based on a hydraulic-setting cement. Recently, it has been found that it materially differs in several ways from modern concrete which is based on Portland cement. Roman concrete is durable due to its incorporation of volcanic ash, which prevents cracks from spreading. By the middle of the 1st century, the material was used frequently, often brick-faced, although variations in aggregate allowed different arrangements of materials. Further innovative developments in the material, called the Concrete Revolution, contributed to structurally complicated forms, such as the Pantheon dome, the world’s largest and oldest unreinforced concrete dome”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_concrete
I think everyone should kill themselves tomorrow. Problem solved.
Sheesh.
5.56mm
Isn’t that what I said?
Once these eco-friendly cements are mandated, expect to see more bridge and building collapses. Remember what the eco-freakos did to the Challenger?
Exactly.
Exactly correct. At present we are far below CO2 levels for maximum growth of plants. We are far closer to extinction levels (it has happened in the past) than maximum life on earth. CO2 is plant food and the oceans may rise and it does not have one damn thing to do with man. It is a function of the sun and orbital mechanics.
When the earth is cold glaciers kill life. When the earth is warm life flourishes and the sea levels do change over thousands of years and we retreat over thousands of years from the sea as we did in the past and are doing so today. Pray "global warming" continues as we will prosper.
Geological history tells us this most prosperous time of "inter glacial warming is brief" and we will soon descend into full glacial and life will perish. By definition we are still in an ice age as the polar caps have not melted. This has happened many times in the past.
I hope this is not just an inter glacial warming period and a true end to an ice age. It probably is not. Yes the seas will rise and life on earth will flourish as we slowly recede from the rising shore lines. Otherwise it is back to full glacial and life perishes.
cpdiii cane cutter, deckhand, roughneck, geologist, chemist, pharmacist, I am not ignorant of science.
IIRC, after the Romans demise, civilization lost the ability to make “concrete” for a little over 1000 years. Wonder if that made a dent in the climate global change warming equation?
And how many of the politicians on the “climate change” agenda team are also big promoters of massive new expenses for “infrastructure”? and why? Why; becuase they are idiots, led from behind, and know not what they do.
I’ve sold tons and tons of coal to cement makers.
No one ever complained...
So they are talking about an 8% increase to .04%
Is that even measurable?
With a few million in research grants I could even manufacture the data to prove it. Sound familiar?
SS1
Thanks for the correction
Hope you got my point
I am also a Chemist!
I convert Beer and Wine into Uric Acid.
“Great plan...eliminate calcining of Calcium Carbonate. What might go wrong? “
Good post with pics. The Roman Colosseum still stands as they understood calcining.
“Cane cutter”? Before mechanization, that used to be the most miserable job on the face of the earth. There’s a great description of the discovery of cane and the refining of sugar in “The Case Against Sugar” by Gary Taubes.
l8r
“So they are talking about an 8% increase to .04%”
CNN Newscaster: “A new study shows that continued use of concrete will raise CO2 levels from .04% to 8.04%!!!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.