Improvements in cement manufacturing
A Duke University study prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the cement industry reduced its energy intensity by 13 % during the 10-year study period, averaging more than one percent per year of improvements, a significant achievement. These energy savings equate to a reduction of almost 1.5 million metric tons of energy-related carbon. The study examined data collected from the industry and the Department of Commerce for the period of 1997-2007. It showed that the gap between top-performing cement plants and others narrowed and that the performance of the industry as a whole improved. “The decade studied by Duke was one of unprecedented growth for the cement industry, yet PCA members demonstrated their commitment to environmental stewardship by building sound strategies for energy management and investing in their facilities with state-of-the-art technologies that significantly improved the industry’s energy efficiency and reduced emissions,” said Brian McCarthy (Fig.), Portland Cement Association (PCA) CEO and president.
