 Just how porous is cement?
I thought asphalt was the ground material with the most give other than dirt, but scientists overseas have been working on cement with some "green" properties; carbon absorber properties to be exact.
Novacem, a fresh new startup company has actually concocted a cement that eats up carbon as it hardens! Novacem's revolutionary technology is based on magnesium silicates rather than limestone (calcium carbonate) as is used in traditional Portland cement.
The company has raised 1 million pounds ($1.7 million) to fund its work, underscoring the growing interest in eco-friendly construction ventures.
Novacem, a spin-out from Imperial College London, is one of a number of young companies tapping new technologies to reduce the cement industry's notoriously large carbon footprint.
Stuart Evans, Chairman of Novacem, said: "We are delighted to welcome our new shareholders. They will help us position the company as a dominant provider of carbon negative cement to the construction industry. We are assembling a world-class team and these funds will help us grow the team, complete an initial pilot plant before the end of 2009 and accelerate development and commercialisation."
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More information can be found at ScientificAmerican.com
Big thanks to Michael Chrobak for the tip, you're a rock star!Labels: carbon emissions, carbon offsets, cement, novacem |
