Going Carbon Negative
In an era where every carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule counts, at Colorado-based Confluence Energy (CE), we’re making an impact in reducing our carbon footprint. By producing biochar and deriving approximately 50% of our energy from renewable, biomass sources, we’re making a green product even greener.
Reducing Carbon Emissions by 25%
In 2015, by developing and producing the product, TrueChar™, a biochar product, we reduced our atmospheric impact or “carbon footprint” by approximately 25%. To understand, it’s important to look at how CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Mother Nature, through photosynthesis, sequesters or stores carbon in biomass, like trees. When those trees burn or decompose, that carbon is released back into the atmosphere. At CE, we use a process to “fix” or sequester some of that carbon in a solid form that doesn’t get released into the atmosphere. That product, called TrueChar™, looks a lot like charcoal and acts like activated carbon. It has an extremely high surface area and is a high value filter medium for improving soils, filtering water, erosion control, odor control, air filtration and more.
One Example - EcoPett™ Cat Litter is Biochar at Work
One of our newest products, EcoPett™ Cat Litter, is an all-natural, pine-based cat litter featuring biochar to aid in absorption and odor control. EcoPett™ is a quick clumping, high performance cat litter. With the addition of the high surface area biochar product, odors are trapped and eliminated quickly and powerfully. EcoPett™ also is free of artificial ingredients and fragrances. When pet owners use this product, the fixed carbon (TrueChar™) within the product continues to be preserved and function in the environment as a filter medium and for moisture retention after its disposal. So cat owners can feel good buying an all-natural product that helps the environment long after their cat uses it.
Other Biochar Products by Confluence Energy
Confluence Energy’s natural pine-based products are derived from whole log applications from dead, beetle-kill trees harvested to prevent fires in Rocky Mountain forests. Whole log means they are cleaner than most pellets produced by other manufactures. They also are free from additives and chemicals which result from using treated lumber mill sawdust to produce pellets as many other manufacturers do.
Besides coming from cleaner and healthier material, these CE products also contain TrueChar™ biochar:
- EcoPett Cat Litter
- EcoPett Coop Bedding
- Nature’s Scoop Cat Litter
- Walden Organics Potting Soil
- Walden Organics Outdoor Garden Mix
- Pure Planet Potting Soil
- Pure Planet Garden Soil Builder
Confluence Energy – 50% Powered by Renewable Biomass Energy
Since we began operations, Confluence Energy has maintained a commitment to provide at least half of our energy usage from our own production process through thermal energy utilization within the facilities. That eliminates the requirement for additional fossil fuels to provide energy for the manufacturing process. We are a company committed to doing our part to fight climate change by producing environmentally sound products which preserve and improve the environment - driving the ecology of our economy.
Background
Confluence Energy, a manufacturing company based in Kremmling, CO, uses locally sourced biomass to produce products for individual, commercial and industrial use. As noted above, with the development of TrueChar™, Confluence Energy reduced its carbon footprint by an additional 25 percent. By utilizing the thermal energy created in its pellet production process, the company is able to get 50 percent of its power needs covered by renewable biomass. While TrueChar™ and the work done at Confluence Energy will not solve global warming on its own, Confluence Energy is committed to an innovative and environmentally conscious business model and to making green products even greener.
