• Eheran@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    It is about CO2, one of the absolute last things relevant for a bridge. But of course there is a monetary reason for this person to do that:

    Cross is also programme manager on Network Rail’s Flow Bridge project. Flow stands for fibre reinforced polymer

    • zerakith@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      We need decarbonisation across all sectors so minimising lifetime CO2 of infrastructure - even public transport infrastructure is absolutely a priority.

      • Eheran@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Things like bridges have other priorities. They should last 100 years or so, the CO2 footprint is simply irrelevant. The relevant parameters are safety, longevity and a reasonable price. Stop paying attention to green washing nonsense. Focus on the important parts.

        • zerakith@lemmy.ml
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          3 months ago

          I think you misunderstand what a whole life CO2 assessment is. It factors in the carbon per longetivity. Often you will also be assessing other factors like cost per co2 too.

          Rail is a predominantly upfront CO2 cost in infrastructrue for much lower operational CO2 costs and as such these questions are quite important if your job is decarbonisation of Rail.

          • Eheran@lemmy.world
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            3 months ago

            This is pure green washing, the guy wants to make money with his “alternative” product.

            Obviously transportation as a whole emits a lot of CO2. But not so much the infrastructure, since that lasts a long time, so even high initial emissions are quickly irrelevant compared to the emissions of using the infrastructure. Rails, being electric a lot and with low friction, are the best case(?) scenario “against” this. I would still assume that due to the decades of use that the initial upfront CO2 of making railways is somewhat irrelevant.