Friday, November 10, 2006
Creative (Partial) Solution
Studies report that, despite more stringent regulations in Europe and what regulations are left in the US, global carbon emissions continue their galloping rise. China is likely a major culprit, but American SUV's are not innocent at all. These rising emissions are having, and will continue to have, disastrous effects on the global environment and economy.Perhaps considering something that people seem to love almost as much as oversize vehicles - that is, paving things in and building ugly buildings out of concrete - Italian researchers have developed a catalytic cement. Called TX Active, the material contains a titanium dioxide mix that catalyzes CO, NOx, and other pollutants into less dangerous compounds. In one test, use of the material in street paving apparently produced a 60 percent (!!!!) reduction in local NOx levels. Assuming costs are not prohibitive, this would be a fantastic thing to start seeing all over the place.
