scholarly journals Assessment of moisture and mould of hempcrete and straw panels

2021 ◽  
Vol 2069 (1) ◽  
pp. 012194
Author(s):  
Jane Raamets ◽  
Laura Lokko ◽  
Aime Ruus ◽  
Targo Kalamees ◽  
Karin Muoni
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Wheat Straw ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Critical Moisture ◽  
Structural Engineers

Abstract At present buildings contribute a third of total greenhouse gas emissions. There is a need for sustainable solutions and natural materials, which offer low-embodied energy and their low impact has a promising potential as construction alternatives. Hempcrete is a lightweight insulation material, which provides natural, airtight, and vapor-permeable insulation. Straw panels are also natural construction materials and they consist of extruded wheat straw and are surrounded with recycled paper on all sides. There are some risks, which can be associated with the use of such materials - infestation, biological degradation, presence of moisture, and structural degradation. The aim of the study is to determine the critical moisture level and mould resistance of hempcrete and straw panels. The results of this study are valuable to both scientists and structural engineers.

Agriculture—Things That Are Grown

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Rez
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yields ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Recycled Paper ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
Energy Inputs

Timber has the lowest embodied energy of any of the construction materials. Paper production from trees requires much more energy. There is some energy saving in recycling, as recycled paper substitutes for pulp derived from wood chips. Growing crops for food also requires energy. The energy required for plants to grow comes from the sun, but there are additional energy inputs from fertiliser and farm machinery to speed up the growth process and vastly improve crop yields. If grains are used as animal feed, then the energy inputs are much larger than the dietary energy output—the larger the animal and the longer it is fattened up before slaughter, the more inefficient the process. The use of crops to make fuel for electrical power generation or for processing into liquid fuels is horribly inefficient. The problem is simple—the plants do not grow fast enough!

scholarly journals Selecting Insulating Materials for Building Envelope: A Life Cycle Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 312-316
Author(s):  
Surnam Sonia Longo ◽  
Maurizio Cellura ◽  
Maria Anna Cusenza ◽  
Francesco Guarino ◽  
Ilaria Marotta
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Cellulose Fibers ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Life Cycle Approach ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Building Envelopes

This paper aims at assessing the embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) of two building envelopes, designed for a two floors semi-detached house located in the Central Italy. The analysis is performed by applying the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, following a from cradle-to-gate approach. Fixtures (windows and doors), external and internal opaque walls, roof and floors (including interstorey floors) make the building envelopes. Their stratigraphy allows for achieving the thermal transmittance values established in the Italian Decree on energy performance of buildings. The two examined envelopes differ only for the insulation material: extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) or cellulose fibers. The results shows that the envelope using cellulose fibers has better performance than that using XPS: it allows for reducing the embodied energy and the GHGs of about 13% and 9.3%, respectively. A dominance analysis allows to identify the envelope components responsible of the higher impacts and the contribution of the insulating material to the impacts. The study is part of the Italian research “Analysis of the energy impacts and greenhouse gas emissions of technologies and components for the energy efficiency of buildings from a life cycle perspective” funded by the Three-year Research Plan within the National Electricity System 2019-2021.

scholarly journals Fungal Based Biopolymer Composites for Construction Materials

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2906
Author(s):  
Iuliana Răut ◽  
Mariana Călin ◽  
Zina Vuluga ◽  
Florin Oancea ◽  
Jenica Paceagiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Bacterial Spores ◽  
Fungal Mycelium ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Low Costs ◽  
Microscopy Images

Environmental contamination, extensive exploitation of fuel sources and accessibility of natural renewable resources represent the premises for the development of composite biomaterials. These materials have controlled properties, being obtained through processes operated in mild conditions with low costs, and contributing to the valorization of byproducts from agriculture and industry fields. A novel board composite including lignocelullosic substrate as wheat straws, fungal mycelium and polypropylene embedded with bacterial spores was developed and investigated in the present study. The bacterial spores embedded in polymer were found to be viable even after heat exposure, helping to increase the compatibility of polymer with hydrophilic microorganisms. Fungal based biopolymer composite was obtained after cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum macromycetes on a mixture including wheat straws and polypropylene embedded with spores from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy images showed the fungal mycelium covering the substrates with a dense network of filaments. The resulted biomaterial is safe, inert, renewable, natural, biodegradable and it can be molded in the desired shape. The fungal biocomposite presented similar compressive strength and improved thermal insulation capacity compared to polystyrene with high potential to be used as thermal insulation material for applications in construction sector.

Alternative Concrete – Geopolymer Concrete

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Fly Ash ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Building Material ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Geopolymer Concrete ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Alkali Activated

Concrete is the most versatile, durable and reliable material and is the most used building material. It requires large amounts of Portland cement which has environmental problems associated with its production. Hence, an alternative concrete – geopolymer concrete is needed. The general aim of this book is to make significant contributions in understanding and deciphering the mechanisms of the realization of the alkali-activated fly ash-based geopolymer concrete and, at the same time, to present the main characteristics of the materials, components, as well as the influence that they have on the performance of the mechanical properties of the concrete. The book deals with in-depth research of the potential recovery of fly ash and using it as a raw material for the development of new construction materials, offering sustainable solutions to the construction industry.

Embodied Energy of Construction Materials: Integrating Human and Capital Energy into an IO-Based Hybrid Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1936-1945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish K. Dixit ◽  
Charles H. Culp ◽  
Jose L. Fernandez-Solis
Keyword(s):  
Hybrid Model ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Embodied Energy

scholarly journals Resource harvesting through a systematic deconstruction of the residential house: a case study of the ‘Whole House Reuse’ project in Christchurch, New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atiq U. Zaman ◽  
Juliet Arnott ◽  
Kate Mclntyre ◽  
Jonathon Hannon
Keyword(s):  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
New Products ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Resource Conservation ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Market Condition ◽  
Residential House

This study analyses the case study of a deconstruction project called the ‘Whole House Reuse’ (WHR) which aimed, firstly, to harvest materials from a residential house, secondly, to produce new products using the recovered materials, and thirdly, to organize exhibition for the local public to promote awareness on resource conservation and sustainable deconstruction practices. The study applies characterization of recovered materials through deconstruction. In addition to the material recovery, the study assesses the embodied energy saving and greenhouse gas emission abatement of the deconstruction project. Around twelve tonnes of various construction materials were harvested through a systematic deconstruction approach, most which would otherwise be disposed to landfill in the traditional demolition approach. The study estimates that the recovered materials could potentially save around 502,158MJ of embodied energy and prevent carbon emission of around 27,029kg (CO2e). Deconstruction could eventually contribute to New Zealand’s national emission reduction targets. In addition, the project successfully engages local communities and designers to produce 400 new products using the recovered materials and exhibited to the local people. The study concludes that there is a huge prospect in regard to resource recovery, emission reduction, employment and small business opportunities using deconstruction of the old house. The socio-cultural importance of the WHR project is definitely immense; however, the greater benefits of such projects are often ignored and remain unreported to wider audiences as most of the external and environmental costs have not been considered in the traditional linear economy. It is acknowledged that under a favourable market condition and with appropriate support from local communities and authorities, deconstruction could contribute significantly to resource conservation and environmental protection despite its requirement of labour intensive efforts.

scholarly journals Reduction of Embodied Energy and Construction Cost of Affordable Houses through Efficient Architectural Design: A Case Study in Indian Scenario

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Deepak Bansal ◽  
V. K. Minocha ◽  
Arvinder Kaur ◽  
Vaidehi A. Dakwale ◽  
R. V. Ralegaonkar
Keyword(s):  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Construction Cost ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Individual Unit ◽  
Architectural Planning ◽  
Cost Of Construction

Embodied energy and cost of construction of any building depends upon the consumption of resources, more specifically construction materials. In housing clusters, the spaces provided for horizontal and vertical circulation of occupants such as corridors and contribute in the built-up area of individual unit without any increase in the usable/carpet area. Thus, an efficient architectural planning of common circulation spaces plays a major role in lowering the built-up-to-carpet area ratio of individual housing unit in clusters. This may, thus, result in lesser embodied energy and maximum area availability for occupant usage. In the present study, 30 clusters of Indian affordable housing units (IAHUs) of similar typology and different architectural designs are analyzed. The built-up and carpet area of each IAHU are estimated, and the ratio of the built-up to carpet area is calculated. Detailed estimates of construction materials for each IAHU is prepared, and cost of construction and embodied energy is calculated. The calculations of embodied energy and construction cost are done for major construction materials, viz., cement, steel, bricks, sand, and coarse aggregate and compared with different built-up-to-carpet area ratio. The study of IAHUs concludes that a variation of 1.30 to 1.62 in the built-up area-to-carpet area ratio results in variation in construction cost (INR 13,425.00 to 20,138.00 per m2 carpet area) and embodied energy (4–6.5 GJ per m2 carpet area). Analysis suggests that the IAHU with a lower built-up-to-carpet area ratio exhibits reduction in the cost of construction and embodied energy simultaneously. Thus, an efficient architectural design plays a major role in improving the sustainability of IAHUs and built-up-to-carpet area ratio is an important indicator of sustainability.

scholarly journals Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene

Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Cassandra Lafond ◽  
Pierre Blanchet
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Natural Fibers ◽  
Expanded Polystyrene ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Lower Amount ◽  
Vapor Permeability ◽  
Insulation Material ◽  
Insulation Materials ◽  
Technical Performance

The energy efficiency of buildings is well documented. However, to improve standards of energy efficiency, the embodied energy of materials included in the envelope is also increasing. Natural fibers like wood and hemp are used to make low environmental impact insulation products. Technical characterizations of five bio-based materials are described and compared to a common, traditional, synthetic-based insulation material, i.e., expanded polystyrene. The study tests the thermal conductivity and the vapor transmission performance, as well as the combustibility of the material. Achieving densities below 60 kg/m3, wood and hemp batt insulation products show thermal conductivity in the same range as expanded polystyrene (0.036 kW/mK). The vapor permeability depends on the geometry of the internal structure of the material. With long fibers are intertwined with interstices, vapor can diffuse and flow through the natural insulation up to three times more than with cellular synthetic (polymer) -based insulation. Having a short ignition times, natural insulation materials are highly combustible. On the other hand, they release a significantly lower amount of smoke and heat during combustion, making them safer than the expanded polystyrene. The behavior of a bio-based building envelopes needs to be assessed to understand the hygrothermal characteristics of these nontraditional materials which are currently being used in building systems.

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