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The authors do mention approximately equivalent carbon footprints in their LCA, but they don’t really explain how they account for the energy involved in heatin
by szvsw 2y ago
The authors do mention approximately equivalent carbon footprints in their LCA, but they don’t really explain how they account for the energy involved in heating the corncrete. If they are assuming a clean grid or renewable source already, then there’s not much potential for reducing that carbon footprint. But if they are assuming a typical or dirty grid, then that’s one area where the footprint can come down a significant amount. I was only skimming but I didn’t see a mention of what assumption they used there.
- danans 2y ago> But if they are assuming a typical or dirty grid, then that’s one area where the footprint can come down a significant amount. Not sure I understand how, since regular concrete made from portland cement does require heating to cure - in fact it's exothermic. The vast majority of the emissions from traditional concrete come from the manufacturing of portland cement. It's not clear how a renewable grid would significantly lower the emissions of producing cornstarch, since the majority of emissions happen at the agricultural stage, via the petroleum based fertilizers.
- danans 2y agoOops typo, corrected: "regular concrete made from portland cement doesn't require heating to cure"