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CO2 Emission Reductions

Greenhouse GasLifetime (Yrs)100 Years GWP
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)50-1001
Methane (CH4)15.2321
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)120310
Perfluorocarbons (PFC's)variesvaries
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)3,20023,900
There are many greenhouse gases that cause global warming. For further information on global warming, see our page on the environment. When considering global warming, it is important to consider the quantity of a particular gas emitted to atmosphere, its lifetime in the atmosphere, and its potential to warm the planet. To allow this comparison to be made, the '100 Years Global Warming Potential' of a gas is calculated. The Kyoto Protocol requires signatories to use the 1995 IPCC GWP values shown here.

Because carbon dioxide (chemical formula: CO2) is emitted in such large quantities, and because our civilisation is so dependent on the burning of fossil fuels (which release CO2), it is this gas that has become synonymous with anthropogenic global warming.

It is common practice to show the effect of a greenhouse gas on the environment by quoting carbon equivalents. To calculate the carbon equivalent, multiply the amount of gas emitted by its GWP and then multiply by 12/44. For example, the emission of 1 tonne of methane is equivalent to 1 x 21 x 12/44 = 5.73 tonnes of carbon.

The ceramic industry is a major consumer of fossil fuels; either directly through the use of gas-fired kilns, or indirectly through the use of electric-fired kilns (in 2006, a massive 71% of the USA's electricity was generated from the combustion of fossil fuels). In 2005, the UK ceramics industry was responsible for 1.8 million tonnes of CO2: three quarters of one percent of the total UK emissions (figures for the EUETS - which only covers larger manufacturers).

By using Endeka Ceramics ThermECO products, ceramic producers can reduce their CO2 emissions by a substantial amount as the following examples illustrate. (These calculations use predictions from our ThermECO Energy Savings Calculator and data from the Carbon Trust web site.)

For those companies who are affected by one of the increasing number of carbon trading schemes such as the EU ETS, or for those companies subject to a direct carbon tax schemes, such as the CCL, the reduction of CO2 emissions can provide substantial benefits:

  • Reduced direct tax burden
  • Revenue from sale of unused carbon credits
  • Ability to increase production capacity without exceeding carbon cap
Amount of CO2 Saved by converting to ThermECO products Emitted by running a car Emitted in powering a 60 W light bulb
5.4 kg A 25 kg toilet fired in a gas kiln A petrol-engine car driven 15 miles 7 days
2.47 tonnes A typical housing development of 100 homes each with 2 toilets & 2 basins A diesel-engine car driven 10,347 miles 8.8 years
3,292 tonnes A typical sanitaryware factory producing a million pieces a year 1377 diesel-engine cars each covering 10,000 miles per year 11,663 years
104 g A 600 g plate fired in an electric intermittent kiln A petrol-engine car driven a third of a mile 3.2 hours

 

ThermECO Energy Savings Calculator

To see how Endeka Ceramics' ThermECO products could help you reduce your CO2 emissions, please use our Energy Savings Calculator.

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