Cement, Energy and Environment

Vehicles of communication To day, we 'relook at the old, first generation plants. The need to sustain the business until the end of the quarry life requires time to decide where to rebuild elsewhere. But is there still any elsewhere far from everything? Elsewhere will become a city sooner or later. Architectural design is now more often part of the programmes ... and budgets, even if the amount dedicated to architecture is still restrictive. No doubt we finally recognize that the constraint is also an extraordinary opportunity. Imagine how harmful a bad image can be for the landscape, the population and the industrialist himself. Imagine how profitable a good image can be for the same landscape, the same population and for the industrialist. The preheater tower which replaced the kilns as a symbol of the cement industry is a good example and because of its huge dimensions it is the best communication vehicle one could possibly have to the outside world . It can also be the worst for the same reason! For a company, the benefit of a good visual impact should need no explanation. For the plant manager and his staff, it is better to spend quiet evenings with his family rather than spend his time justifying a plant's existence to dissatisfied surrounding communities and associations. We could therefore think that the need for ambient quality is something we all desire. In a world where we begin to touch the boundaries, we should be sensitive to environmental quality and industrial desi!~n. just as when choosing a home or picking a new car. Much effort is still needed to generalize this approach. One gladly criticizes the past, but one is often more indulgent of the present. At present, a proposed plant has to be highly exposed and situated in a particularly sensitive environment for clients to commit time and resources to architectural planning. The economic reality The economic reality is a criteria of unquestionable importance and obviously crucial. Has anyone estimated the cost of a bad image, apart from the subjective view that it might spoil the landscape? For the industrialist who first began experiencing repeated criticism, who saw his operation (industrial development, to renew the operating concession ...) impeded by a climate of aggression and suspicion, when he was not asked to contribute financially to the development of local infrastructure to offset its 'bad behaviour'. For residents there is also a cost, the land can be fully depreciated or destroyed by the giant, unsightly and intrusive construction. For agglomerations, there have to be other parallel developments and alternatives (housing, employment, tourism) to industrial activity to preserve their potential attractiveness. Appearance of cities Port cities are rightly multidisciplinary and functional for their citizens, their jobs and their visitors. When cruise tourism grows, port cities are doing their utmost to become attractive stops, but for some existing ports, where industry is so pervasive and poor in appearance, you would not wish to land there. The cement industry is very concerned by the port environment: plants obtain supplies of raw materials and fuels by water, and they export their production by the same route. Today's distribution centres are developing in some prestigious sites. This is a real subject for reflection. Sustainability Environment qualities, attractiveness of cities and landscape, good branding of the company, established trust with local people, preservation of property values - is there any need to list more of the benefits of taking into account architectural quality in industrial construction for sustainable development? Becoming aware of the image you promote, the image perceived by the local environment and taking internal measures to improve public image is of great importance. A plant's framework and practice will directly benefit from this effort, which only amplifies the return on investment. Courtesy: International Cement Review, Jan. 2011 , Pp 51-54. 20