A family-run brickyard near Bogotá is
fighting one of the main causes of climate change and providing important jobs
at the same time. More than 50 years of civil war in Colombia have left their
mark.
Millions of domestic refugees migrate
to the cities, where unemployment and social conflicts are increasing. The
production of bricks for the many new houses being constructed requires
enormous amounts of energy which is generated by burning coal.
Thisis extremely cheap in Colombia, where coal is one of the main exports, but it
is also one of the largest sources of CO2. Despite financial
hurdles, a small brickyard near Bogotá has opted for a climate-friendly
alternative and has invested in the conversion to efficient kilns that require
40% less fuel.
The company is also implementing the
switch for the heating of furnaces from coal to biomass, such as wood and paper
waste. One brick represents a total of 1 kg less CO2, and a
completed house saves 1.5 tonnes. The factory's biomass use will be increased
from a bit more than 40% currently to 80%. For this purpose, it needs machines
to crush the fuel, which are expensive and not available in Colombia.
The financing provided by the climate
protection project, which has proven that it will decrease greenhouse gases, is
essential to achieve this goal and to continue the project successfully.
The Ladrilla Santander brickyard is
located in the town of Soacha, which borders the Colombian capital city of
Bogotá, in the province of Cundinamarca.
You can find additional convincing
information and impressions (photos and videos) of this new climate protection
project on the Climate Partner* website through the following link: www.climate-project.com/1070
*Climate Partner is an independent
company that Trodat supports with climate protection advice.