Source: Fixing cement’s carbon problem | Canary Media
Concrete is an incredible material. It’s essentially pourable rock, and we use it in almost every part of the built world. We also use more of it than any other manufactured material in the world — about 3 tons per person annually.
And the secret ingredient in all this concrete? Cement. Think of it as the glue that binds the crushed rocks in concrete together.
But here’s the problem. Making cement emits lots of carbon. The cement industry alone produces 8% of global CO2 emissions.
Why? First, the process happens at 1,500 degrees Celsius, a temperature so hot that companies often burn coal to reach it. Second, the chemical reaction used to produce cement releases carbon dioxide.
So what are the solutions?
In this episode, Shayle talks to Leah Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Sublime Systems, a startup that has developed a novel way to produce cement at room temperature without releasing carbon dioxide. Shayle’s venture capital firm Energy Impact Partners is an investor in Sublime.
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