Concrete as a Carbon Sink

Concrete Technology: The topic of global climate change is frequently in the news. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that the increase in the concentration of many compounds in the atmosphere will impact global climate. The most notable of the long-lived greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane. Using concrete for building structures and infrastructure can contribute to the emission of carbon dioxide. Almost all construction processes from manufacturing, to transportation of materials and installation, use energy, and much of this energy may come from the burning of fossil fuels. What most people do not realize is that the release of CO2 from calcination in the manufacture of Portland cement may be part of a cyclic process and is partially carbon neutral in smaller timeframes such as decades. Read more…