sustainable construction It’s becoming a top priority. According to some estimates, construction accounts for up to 40% of carbon emissions in developed countries. This is an area where there is plenty of room for improvement. One of the major contributors to emissions is the production of cement and concrete. In this field, research is already progressing, including recycled concrete, self-repairing concrete, and technology that uses carbon dioxide itself as a raw material. Another aspect of this sustainable philosophy is the recycling of construction materials through projects such as HISER. Many of these initiatives share the same DNA. circular economy and zero waste. Software developed at the Ecole Polytechnic Federal (EPFL) in Lausanne is one of his most recent contributions. In this case, it is necessary to reuse other buildings or already manufactured elements such as columns and beams to create a new structure.
Design optimization
This innovative tool has a clear and easy operation. Every time a project starts, the architect enters the design into the program. Also, he adds a database of reusable materials. Using this information, the first analysis establishes the minimum viable amount of material while maintaining structural integrity. Following this first step, the program offers more sustainable construction alternatives based on reusable materials. The program also analyzes your total carbon footprint and provides the best mix of new and used materials. In this way, the total mass of the building can be increased while reducing the carbon footprint. Researchers say the program can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60%. The key to these savings is that the elements are not processed by smelting or other techniques. Instead, it is reused in its original form.
Database of reusable materials
One of the development team’s proposals is the creation of a Europe-wide accessible database detailing all reusable parts and elements, regardless of whether the building has been refurbished or demolished. In this way, any architect could find the best materials for sustainable construction. Jan Brütting, one of his engineers behind the initiative, says such a database has already been created. He adds that the number of circular his economy-specific research projects in construction has increased significantly in recent years.
Circular Economy in Construction, International Commitment
Brütting’s words about his interest in this construction philosophy reflect a trend on a large scale. One example is the European Economic Area, which has made the circular economy one of its pillars in reducing construction waste. Today, one-third of the waste generated in Europe comes from this industry.
A recent document, Construction and Demolition Waste: Challenges and Opportunities in the Circular Economy, proposed strategies to mitigate the situation. The main priorities are extending the useful life of buildings and recycling and reuse of materials. All this was embodied in the creation of the European Circular Construction Alliance (ECCA). ECCA has developed a number of initiatives, such as the HISER project, as mentioned above, to sustainable construction.
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