Articles tagged with "green-building-materials"
World's first bamboo structural manual targets low-carbon buildings
The University of Warwick, in collaboration with international partners including the University of Pittsburgh, Arup, INBAR, and BASE, has developed the world’s first structural engineering manual for bamboo. This comprehensive guide aims to fill a longstanding gap in engineering standards that has limited bamboo’s use in modern construction despite its strength, low cost, and sustainability. Bamboo, a fast-growing and effective carbon sink, has historically been sidelined as industrial building codes favored steel, concrete, and masonry. The new manual, published by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and freely accessible globally, provides detailed design principles for using bamboo poles as primary structural elements and introduces Composite Bamboo Shear Walls to enhance resilience in earthquake- and typhoon-prone areas. Targeted primarily at engineers working in tropical and subtropical regions where bamboo is abundant, the manual seeks to promote safe, durable, and low-carbon bamboo buildings worldwide. It addresses critical safety concerns such as fire performance and risk mitigation, although it does not cover scaff
materialssustainable-constructionbamboo-engineeringlow-carbon-buildingsstructural-engineeringbio-based-materialsgreen-building-materialsNew Carbon Negative Super Bricks Sucks Up Carbon
A research team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts has developed a bio-inspired concrete alternative that is carbon-negative, sequestering 6.1 kilograms of carbon per cubic meter during production compared to the roughly 330 kilograms of carbon emitted by conventional concrete. This breakthrough addresses the significant carbon footprint of traditional cement production, largely driven by the heating of limestone—a process responsible for about 66% of cement-related emissions. The WPI team’s innovation focuses on reducing reliance on limestone and lowering the energy-intensive steps involved in cement manufacturing. Earlier efforts by the team involved growing minerals on a polymer scaffold using the enzyme carbonic anhydrase to catalyze the formation of calcite, resulting in a material with moderate compressive strength (12 MPa) and some self-healing properties. However, this material’s strength diminished significantly under humid conditions due to its hydrophilic polymer base, a common issue in bio-based construction materials. To overcome this, the researchers developed a new approach using
carbon-negative-materialssustainable-constructionbio-inspired-concretecarbon-sequestrationgreen-building-materialscement-alternativesdecarbonization-technologyAustralian researchers make durable concrete from lithium mining waste
Australian researchers at Flinders University, led by civil engineering lecturer Aliakbar Gholampour, have developed a sustainable and durable concrete by using delithiated β-spodumene (DβS), a waste by-product from lithium refining, as an additive in geopolymer concrete. This innovation addresses environmental concerns by repurposing lithium mining waste, which is typically discarded in landfills, and offers a promising alternative to fly ash, another industrial by-product commonly used in geopolymer production. The team found that incorporating DβS enhances the compressive strength and long-term durability of geopolymer concrete, with an optimal alkaline activator ratio identified for its use. Geopolymer concrete is considered a cleaner substitute for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which is widely used but responsible for significant resource depletion and greenhouse gas emissions globally. With lithium refining expected to increase due to rising battery demand, repurposing DβS not only reduces industrial waste but also mitigates potential soil and groundwater
materialssustainable-constructionlithium-mining-wastegeopolymer-concreteindustrial-waste-recyclinggreen-building-materialsconcrete-innovationGreen roof tiles made of Coal ash and glass waste cut CO2 by 13%
RMIT University engineers, in collaboration with Bristile Roofing, have developed sustainable concrete roof tiles made from coal ash and recycled glass waste, two abundant Australian industrial byproducts that typically end up in landfills. By replacing 10% of cement with pond ash from coal-fired power stations and 10% of river sand with unwashed glass waste, the team produced lighter, fire-resistant roof tiles that meet Australian standards for strength and durability. A full life cycle assessment revealed these tiles reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 13% compared to conventional tiles, covering the entire production and disposal process. The project addresses significant waste challenges, as Australia produces around 12 million tonnes of coal ash and 1.3 million tonnes of glass waste annually. The innovative mix also demonstrated improved dimensional stability, reduced shrinkage cracking, and ongoing strength gain, making it suitable for roofing applications in Australia’s climate. Beyond roof tiles, the researchers adapted the mix to create eco-friendly bricks containing up to 35% waste materials,
materialssustainable-materialscoal-ashrecycled-glasseco-friendly-constructioncarbon-emissions-reductiongreen-building-materialsCanada must build homes that are clean, comfortable and meet the needs of Canadians - Clean Energy Canada
Clean Energy Canada’s Ollie Sheldrick-Moyle responded to the Government of Canada’s Build Canada Homes (BCH) initiative, emphasizing the need for the program to focus on constructing homes that are not only affordable but also clean, comfortable, and suited to Canadians’ needs amid climate change. Sheldrick-Moyle highlighted that affordability should encompass long-term cost savings, such as making homes EV-ready to reduce transportation expenses, and ensuring homes are resilient to increasingly hot summers by installing heat pumps for efficient cooling and heating. Additionally, the statement encourages the government to leverage BCH to support Canadian material producers, particularly by prioritizing low-carbon building materials like lumber and steel to enhance the competitiveness of these sectors. Aligning BCH with existing green government procurement standards could stimulate domestic industry growth and incentivize innovation in low-carbon investments. Overall, the federal government is urged to develop BCH investment criteria that ensure homes are safe, comfortable, affordable, and contribute to Canada’s clean material industries in the long term.
energyclean-energylow-carbon-materialsEV-ready-homessustainable-housingheat-pumpsgreen-building-materialsFrom Towers To Turbines: The Most Fascinating Mass Timber Projects Worldwide - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the significant advancements and growing adoption of mass timber—particularly cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam—in modern construction worldwide. Initially gaining attention about a decade ago as alternatives to concrete and steel for mid-rise buildings, mass timber has since evolved to enable the construction of skyscrapers, cultural landmarks, bridges, and even wind turbine towers. This shift reflects a broader reimagining of wood as a sustainable, low-carbon building material that addresses housing shortages, job creation, and embodied carbon reduction, with Canada positioned as a key player in this movement. Several landmark projects exemplify the potential and diversity of mass timber construction. Milwaukee’s Ascent tower, currently the tallest mass timber building at 25 stories, demonstrates the practicality of timber high-rises in urban America by combining a concrete core with timber framing above. Europe’s Mjøstårnet in Norway, an all-timber 85-meter structure, and Vienna’s HoHo tower, which integrates three-quarters timber with concrete
mass-timbercross-laminated-timberglulamsustainable-materialslow-carbon-constructiontimber-skyscrapersgreen-building-materialsThe engineered wood designed to beat steel and concrete
The article discusses the development of SUPERWOOD, an engineered timber created by Maryland-based InventWood to rival steel and concrete in construction. By restructuring cellulose fibers at the molecular level, SUPERWOOD becomes 12 times stronger and 10 times more durable than natural wood. This innovation builds on research from the University of Maryland, which highlighted the exceptional strength of cellulose nanocrystals in plants—stronger than carbon fiber but underutilized due to wood’s porous structure. Instead of inventing new synthetic materials, InventWood enhances wood’s natural properties, making it a sustainable, fire-resistant, and carbon-negative alternative for the construction industry, which currently contributes 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The manufacturing process of SUPERWOOD involves two key steps: a chemical treatment that modifies lignin and removes hemicellulose (the natural “glue” in wood), followed by hot-pressing to densify the wood by collapsing its cell walls. This densification increases the wood’s density up to four times
materialsengineered-woodsustainable-constructionsuperwoodcellulose-nanocrystalscarbon-negative-materialsgreen-building-materialsMass Timber’s Edge: Smaller Crews, Quicker Builds, New Floors Above - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the growing advantages of mass timber construction beyond its well-known environmental benefits, emphasizing its significant time and labor efficiencies. Mass timber projects consistently demonstrate faster build times and require smaller, more specialized crews compared to traditional concrete construction. For example, the nine-story Stadthaus building in London was erected by just four carpenters in 27 working days, whereas a comparable concrete frame would take five to six months with much larger crews. Similarly, Vancouver’s 18-story Brock Commons timber tower was completed in 66 days by nine installers, while a concrete equivalent would need six to eight months and 40 to 60 workers. Other projects like Minneapolis’s T3 office and Melbourne’s Forté building reinforce these findings, showing that mass timber can halve construction schedules and reduce onsite labor by 60 to 70 percent. This shift in construction methodology also changes workforce demands, concentrating labor into fewer, higher-skilled roles such as CNC operators, timber framers, and 3D modelers who work
materialsmass-timberconstruction-technologysustainable-buildingmodular-constructionCLTgreen-building-materialsNew method turns carbon emissions into solid cement ingredients
Researchers at the University of Michigan, led by chemist Charles McCrory, have developed a novel method to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and convert it into metal oxalates, stable solid compounds that can serve as precursors for cement production. This approach aims to transform CO₂, typically viewed as a waste product, into valuable building materials, potentially reducing the carbon footprint of construction. The work is part of efforts by the Center for Closing the Carbon Cycle (4C), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, which focuses on converting captured carbon into useful fuels and industrial products. The team’s innovation centers on using trace amounts of lead as a catalyst to convert CO₂ into metal oxalates via electrochemical reactions. By employing specially designed polymers, they reduced the lead catalyst to parts per billion—levels comparable to natural impurities—addressing previous environmental and health concerns associated with higher lead usage. In the process, CO₂ is electrochemically transformed into oxalate ions, which then combine with metal ions released from an electrode to form solid metal oxalates. These solids are stable and do not revert to CO₂ under normal conditions, making them promising for cleaner cement production. While electrolysis of CO₂ is already being scaled up industrially, the researchers note that further work is needed to scale the metal oxalate production step, but they remain optimistic about its feasibility. This breakthrough offers a potential pathway to reduce the environmental impact of traditional Portland cement manufacturing, which is energy-intensive and a major source of global carbon emissions. By turning pollution into building blocks, the research opens new avenues for sustainable construction materials and carbon capture utilization. The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Advanced Energy.
carbon-capturecement-productionsustainable-materialscarbon-dioxide-utilizationenergy-efficient-constructionmetal-oxalatesgreen-building-materials