By Jason Straka Reducing net carbon dioxide emissions in finished concrete is a critical endeavor for the industry. As portland cement production accounts for a measurable percentage of global man-made CO2 emissions, stakeholders are under a microscope to change the way they finish binders and develop new approaches that are more sustainable through the entire cycle of concrete production. From…
Read MoreSources: Concrete.ai, Los Angeles; CP staff Mix design optimization specialist Concrete.ai has launched a beta version of its pioneering data science platform that reduces the cost and embodied carbon intensity (CO2e) in concrete construction. The new Software as a Service product debuted at AI DevWorld, a late-October conference in San Jose, Calif., and was selected as one of the top…
Read MoreSources: Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V., Monterrey, Mexico; CP staff Cemex has announced a proprietary technology, dubbed “Spider Tracker,” that monitors concrete during placing and hardening to measure strength development in real-time. It enables contractors to remove formwork at precisely the right moment and make informed decisions about the concrete specified for their jobs. Such actions can result in time and…
Read MoreSources: Global Cement and Concrete Association, London; Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff Portland Cement Association Chairman Ron Henley (GCC America) told a New York Climate Week gathering that U.S. producers have exceeded expectations outlined nearly one year ago with release of the PCA Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality. The document offered specific carbon dioxide emissions reduction opportunities along a…
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Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete proves ideal partner as Facebook operator applies artificial intelligence to low-carbon mix designs The spotlight on buildings’ life cycle carbon dioxide emissions is driving recognition of Environmental Product Declaration-defined Product, Construction Process, Use and End-of-Life Stage benchmarks. After methodically lowering the Use Stage CO2 factor for its 14 operational, energy-intensive data centers in North America, Silicon…
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Lehigh Hanson Inc. has marked placement of the final segment of the steel stack abutting a new preheater tower at the Lehigh Cement Mitchell Plant in Indiana. Management, construction team members and local dignitaries assembled late last month for a ceremonial topping out. “We are another step closer to realizing completion of this monumental project,” said Lehigh Cement Plant Manager…
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Executives of National Cement Company of Alabama Inc., parent National Cement Company Inc., and ultimate parent Vicat Group, Paris, staged a late-July dedication of a new production line at their Ragland, Ala. plant. A Kiln 2 ribbon cutting capped a two-year, $300 million project that brings annual Ragland capacity above 2 million short tons and assures a sharp reduction in…
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Investors targeting reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions factor in portland cement and concrete have focused on methods capturing, using or storing the greenhouse gas, plus new means of generating the high temperatures fossil fuel-fired cement kilns need to convert limestone and other raw feeds to clinker. A Longmont, Colo. startup has garnered backing for technology paving a different path…
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Holcim US has spec’ed Hyliion Hypertruck ERX electric powertrains for 10 tractors serving Texas and Oklahoma cement and concrete operations, plus sister roofing product businesses. Batteries powering the Hypertruck ERX draw from an onboard generator running on compressed natural gas (CNG) or renewable natural gas (RNG), consumption of which compares favorably against diesel fuel when measuring carbon dioxide emissions. Holcim…
Read MoreExamples of carbon dioxide emissions reporting by public cement, concrete and aggregate producers accompany an overview of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-proposed “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors” rule (pages 12-13). Through guidance detailing environmental metrics, operators like Charah Solutions, Holcim Ltd., Summit Materials and Vulcan Materials rise to a familiar position: Ahead of the regulatory…
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