[GSBN] embodied energy and sequestration

[martin oehlmann]

Dear all,

Thank you for your insights. I am still that sort of hobbyist like 15 years ago ;-)))
If the PCF calculation is that specific with the origin on the cementbased products, like Paul explains, that seems to be excellent. I doubt if cheap Italian cement here on the market in Brittany is of the same procedure as from Germany. So we miss a proper PCF label...
How straw and wood is seen as neutral however, even without analysing the purpose/use and different sorts of wood, says there are no such differenciations yet in the calculations. Those computerprograms seem to produce too simple results on their simple input. One of the arguments of the Oekoinstitut in Darmstadt of not getting into straw as Carbon negative is: its rarely used in buildings. We might need a lot of big-bale buildings for being heard. Isn't it fun to stimulate better research approaches and ... tools?

CO2 is again just one facet for product comparisons, another is SO2 and of course water. The waterfootprint of straw is 0, isn't it?

Greetings from Brittany,

Martin Oehlmann
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Olivier 
  To: (private, with public archives) Global Straw Building Network 
  Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 10:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [GSBN] embodied energy and sequestration


  Since 1990 I spent a lot of time designing separators for the cement industry. These dense medium separators at times could handle up to 80 tons per hours of automobile and industrial shredder residue. Multiple separations were required to meet the highest safety requirements within Europe as set by the German government. Instead of putting this organic material in landfill or incinerating it, it was used to make cement. The BTU content of this material reached as high as 12,000. When burning this fuel, the cement kilns were able to make cement at a negative energy cost. The ash from this organic waste was vitrified and remained harmlessly in the cement.

  The heat and residence time in a cement kiln are very high, and the cement kiln has to be one of the best means of disposing of many types of liquid and solid wastes. Dumping these wastes in a landfill or incinerating them are totally inadequate. Cement kilns take in a lot of waste that should go nowhere else.

  I can assure you all that I spend all of my time in the development of technologies that benefit the environment, and I can state  unequivocally that a cement kiln is not always a bad thing.

  Thanks.
  Paul
  -- 
  Paul A. Olivier
  Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)
  Mobile: 063 399 7256 (in Vietnam)
  Skype address: Xpolivier
  http://www.esrla.com/
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