The　carbon　emission　and　energy　consumption　of　using　slag　as　a　secondary　raw　material　in　cement　production　was　quantified　and　analyzed　in　this　study.　Moreover,　the　carbon　emission　reduction　and　energy　saving　potential　of　slag-based　cement　(SBC)　production　were　identified　based　on　the　comparative　analysis　between　SBC　and　traditional　Portland　cement　(TPC).　The　results　showed　that　the　carbon　emission　of　SBC　is　about　6.73%,　which　was　lower　than　that　of　TPC.　Compared　with　TPC,　the　energy　consumption　of　SBC　is　slightly　increased　by　2.05%.　In　addition,　it　was　found　that　the　combustion　of　coal　and　the　power　generation　were　the　main　sources　for　carbon　emission　in　the　life　cycle　of　slag　utilization,　which　account　for　83.39%　and　10.16%　of　the　total　carbon　emission.　Therefore,　reducing　the　consumption　of　energy　and　increasing　the　recovery　rate　of　waste　heat　in　cement　production　were　the　most　effective　methods　to　improve　the　environmental　performance　of　SBC.　In　addition,　the　improvement　potential　analysis　was　carried　out　for　SBC.　The　results　indicated　that　if　the　recovery　rate　of　waste　heat　could　reach　to　that　of　the　international　advanced　level　(15.6%),　the　carbon　emission　and　energy　consumption　of　SBC　would　be　reduced　by　about　2.20%　and　5.71%,　respectively.　If　the　proportion　of　renewable　energy　utilizationin　power　generation　increased　to　that　of　the　average　international　level,　the　carbon　emission　and　energy　consumption　of　SBC　would　be　declined　by　5.26%　and　9.35%　respectively.　©　(2015)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.