New York City Code Encourages Lower Emissions Concrete » Yale Climate Connections

One of the largest sources of carbon dioxide pollution in the environment is concrete.

In large part, this is because the cement that holds concrete together is made by heating rocks like limestone to more than 1,000 degrees.

This chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide and the production process consumes large amounts of energy, mainly from fossil fuels.

Jang: “We know that the concrete industry is a huge carbon emitter.”

Mariane Jang works on sustainability at the New York State Office of General Services.

To reduce emissions from concrete, producers can replace some of the cement with industrial waste, such as slag and fly ash, or other alternative ingredients, she said.

To encourage the use of lower-emission concrete, New York State recently passed new regulations.

Starting next year, concrete used in large projects in New York state will have to meet certain emissions standards. And the state plans to raise those standards over time.

The new rule applies only to government projects.

Jang: “But… the state is building a lot of highways and infrastructure, roads, bridges, airports, ports.”

Jang says cleaner concrete will help New York City accelerate its transition to lower-carbon concrete.

Source: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media

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