Temperatures feel like they are rising every year, especially in places like South Florida.
There's data to prove it. July 22, 2024 marked the hottest day ever recorded, according to a NASA analysis of global temperature data. That exceeded the previous record set in July 2023.
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Excessive heat can be especially dangerous in cities and dense areas with heat-absorbing surfaces, such as dark pavement and concrete.
Boca Raton-based Carbon Limit says it has a solution.
The startup, the maker of a concrete additive that absorbs carbon dioxide, just debuted its newest innovation: CoolCrete, a cooling technology that improves concrete's ability to reflect sunlight to reduce overall heat absorption.The company reports early data shows the additive can reduce the temperature of concrete by up to six degrees Celsius.
“We’ve created an enhanced sustainable solution to directly address the heat crisis we’re experiencing across the globe," said founder and CEO Tim Sperry.
The company hopes its additive can be used to help combat the urban heat island effect, which can make cities feel significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. That leads to higher power bills and more heat-related illnesses and deaths.
CoolCrete can replace up to 40% of conventional cement and also reduces the carbon footprint of concrete production by 40%, the company reports. That's essential, as cement (a binding material used in concrete) is responsible for at least 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions produced by humans.
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“Concrete is the second-most used material in the world after water and global construction will only continue to expand," Sperry said. "Through CoolCrete, we can put our homes, offices and even roads to work in the fight against climate change.”
Founded in early 2021 by Sperry and co-founder Oro Padron, the company was previously based at the Florida Atlantic University Research Park. It raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round completed in 2022.
Carbon Limit is working with licensing partners NCP Industries, the maker of eco-friendly precast concrete solutions, and Bison Innovative Products to launch a new series of architectural design products that incorporate its concrete-cooling technology.
NCP Industries president Ryan Collison said the agreement "allows us to expand our support of the sustainable construction and design industry."
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