Cement industry seeks to reduce emissions - News - Brief Article

Concrete Producer, The, Jan, 2004

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has proposed to allow for the inclusion of up to 5% ground limestone in the portland cement standard designated as ASTMC 150.

"Such reductions would add significantly to the environmental gains already achieved by the cement industry, and are clearly in line with the nation's global climate policy of reducing greenhouse gas emission intensities," says Tom Chizmadia, PCA board member and chairman of the association's Environment and Energy Committee. "With the addition of ground limestone, our industry can provide the same quality product as we do under current ASTM standards."

The proposed change would bring U.S. standards into harmony with those used in both Europe and Canada, where the addition of limestone has been used successfully for decades. Environmental benefits include reducing the use of raw materials, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Assuming an average limestone use of 2.5%, the annual benefits include reducing:

* Raw materials use by 1.6 million tons.

* Energy use by more than 11.8 trillion BTUs. Carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2.5 million tons.

* Cement kiln dust by more than 190,000 tons.

Chizmadia made the announcement at the Greenbuild Conference and Exposition in Pittsburgh in November. For more information, visit the association's Web site at www.cement.org.