NEWS
Breakthrough carbon-negative concrete passes initial tests at University of Oxford
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ab tests performed at the University of Oxford have confirmed that EarthCrete Cementless Concrete is carbon-negative. CarbonMeta Research released the news that EarthCrete
captures up to 10% CO2 by weight during production. A single project using 500 cubic metres (or 1,200 metric tonnes) of EarthCrete concrete mixed with water can absorb up to 132 atmospheric metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to 66 diesel vehicles each being driven 12,000 kilometres each year.
CarbonMeta Technologies received a $750,000
purchase order for the delivery of EarthCrete Cementless Concrete for use in commercial and residential solar panel projects in the United States and is reviewing potential sales orders for the next 12 months that could total over $2 million (1,6 million GBP). According to the International Environment Agency
concrete production typically contributes to eight per cent of global carbon emissions, showing a greater need for carbon-negative solutions.
Heating installers split on fitting heat pumps – report
This development follows CarbonMeta Technologies’
recent ‘plastic waste to hydrogen’ trial launch in partnership with Oxford University academics, commercialising a process to turn plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel and high-value carbon nanomaterials. Lloyd Spencer, chief executive of CarbonMeta
Technologies said: “We are confident that our positive trials of EarthCrete with Oxford University present opportunities for the energy and built environment to offset its carbon emissions.”
Sustainability study highlights major carbon savings through servicing
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sustainability report has highlighted the potential for significant carbon savings
T
he transition to low carbon heating is at a finely balanced tipping point with installers split on whether they will be installing heat pumps in their customers’ homes.
That’s the main finding of a new report
from heat solutions provider Baxi which assesses what would encourage installers to take the leap to low carbon sources of heat. Baxi’s research with installers found that nearly a third – equivalent to about 37,000 of the more than 130,000 of the UK’s heating engineers – are prepared to embrace heat pumps in the near future. By contrast, around 30% say they are extremely unlikely to install heat pumps. The Government is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations every year by 2028. That is 10 times the current market and represents a transformation from early adoption to a mass market proposition. It would require an army of low carbon heating installers to be assisting homeowners and encouraging to make the change.
Some of the findings of the report… · On training costs – 39% said they would be more likely to install heat pumps if they received help with training costs. They currently pay the full cost of training and forgo work in order to receive heat pump training
· On customer demand – 56% of installers said customer demand needed to be addressed and 38% of installers are concerned about lack of government support for the market. The current Boiler Upgrade Scheme which pays a max £5,000 grant to support air source heat pump installations ends in 2025. · On paperwork – 44% wanted support
Swegon qp BSEE July22.qxp_Layout 1 23/6/22 13:43 Page 1
to reduce the burden of paperwork, for example in applying for government assistance schemes Karen Boswell, managing director of Baxi UK & Ireland, said: “Installers will play an important role as we decarbonise the nation’s heating and it will be vital that the Government and industry support them with the right information, incentives and training.
through the application of effective cleaning and maintenance in industrial processes. The report by Alfa Laval explores a number of avenues through which various industries can reduce their carbon emissions in line with Net Zero targets. Among the major findings was that up to 2.5% of global CO2 emissions could be prevented if the heat exchangers currently installed in industrial processes are effectively cleaned and maintained. John Smith, service operations divisional manager UK & Ireland at Alfa Laval, said: “Our 2021 sustainability report has re- iterated the importance of two factors which we have long championed as crucial to the success of all industrial processes – cleaning and maintenance. “A healthy heat exchanger is able to
perform far more efficiently than its poorly- kept counterpart, which is not only critical to maintaining streamlined operations, but also reducing a company’s environmental impact. On an industry-wide scale, this
holds the potential for significant carbon savings, which will in turn prove key to falling in line with net zero targets.” This development compounds an earlier finding from the IEA Sustainable Development Scenario, which indicated that energy efficiency can deliver more than 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions savings in the next 20 years. Alfa Laval’s report also highlights the
role that a number of new technologies can play in achieving this goal. Compact plate heat exchangers, for instance, are 20-50% more efficient than conventional technology. Mr Smith concluded: “We have long advocated the adoption a strategy of preventative maintenance across all applications of heat exchangers. However, the potential carbon savings highlighted in our 2021 sustainability report put this into an entirely new light.
“By keeping components such as heat exchangers in peak working order, operators can benefit from both improved performance and a reduced carbon footprint for their industrial processes.”
GEYSER SKY Reversible heat pump with natural refrigerant
• Ideal for boiler replacement • High comfort thanks to the variable speed technology • Propane (R290), future proof refrigerant • No Ozone layer impact & close to zero global warming potential • Meets the highest seasonal efficiency standard
Visit:
www.swegon.com/uk to find out more Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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