Carbon Neutral Concrete launched to fight Climate Change

As pressure to reduce carbon emissions increases worldwide, a unique Irish initiative has been announced to tackle the issue. The environmentally friendly cement firm Ecocem has launched Carbon Neutral Concrete, a zero CO₂ version of the world's most widely used building material, together with major Irish construction industry partners Treasury, Pierse, McNamara and Durkan Group.

The initiative will see Carbon Neutral Concrete used in flagship projects including The Convention Centre Dublin and the new Department of the Environment Headquarters in Wexford.

Treasury Holdings will use Carbon Neutral Concrete in the €380 million Convention Centre Dublin, due to open in 2010. Building the centre involves a carbon footprint of 9,358 tonnes of CO₂. Treasury will save 4,608 tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere using Ecocem cement in its concrete and will purchase carbon credits to offset the balance of 4,750 tonnes.

Carbon Neutral Concrete will also be used by Pierse Construction to build the Department of the Environment's new Wexford headquarters. McNamara Construction says it will use the product for assorted new projects and the Durkan Group has already earmarked Carbon Neutral Concrete for two residential developments at Arkle Road and Harcourt Terrace in Dublin.

The carbon offsets will be supplied by CarbonAided. Each project is compliant with at least one of the key standards for offset projects (i.e., the Kyoto Protocol, Voluntary Carbon Standard or the Gold Standard).

Carbon Neutral Concrete is achieved when the carbon footprint of the concrete is reduced as much as possible by using low carbon cement, with the remaining footprint being neutralised using carbon offsets. An organisation's carbon footprint is measured in the CO₂ emissions arising directly and indirectly from its operations.

The Irish construction industry uses 15 million cubic metres of concrete every year, yielding emissions of 5 million tonnes of CO₂. 90% of these emissions arise in the production of the cement used by the concrete industry.

Ecocem 'Green' cement produces 16 times less CO₂ than ordinary cement. Since its introduction to the market in 2004 it has resulted in a cumulative reduction of 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ . This is the equivalent of taking 170,000 cars - or 10% of Ireland's cars - off the road for a year.

Ecocem MD Donal O'Riain commented: "Ireland has become the first country in the World to use Carbon Neutral Concrete. This is a watershed in the history of Irish construction and a huge contribution to the fight against global warming. It is an example that will be emulated across Europe and further afield."

"With our launch partners, we have started something very important for our planet. The firms who have immediately endorsed this concept are displaying an exemplary recognition of the urgent need to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. They deserve great praise for their leadership and commitment to sustainable development. I am confident that many more organisations will see the benefits of this innovative approach towards environmental sustainability in the construction sector."

"The combination of low carbon cement and carbon offsets has a significant role to play in helping Ireland to comply with its Kyoto obligations. Ecocem green cement is one of the most important, low carbon technologies now in use in Ireland.," said O'Riain.

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