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Material Diets for Climate-Neutral Construction.
Olga Beatrice Carcassi1, Guillaume Habert2, Laura Elisabetta Malighetti1
1Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (ABC), Politecnico di Milano, Via G. Ponzio 31, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Environmental Science & Technology
|April 4, 2022
Summary
Climate-neutral construction is achievable using biobased insulation materials that absorb greenhouse gases (GHGs). This approach, particularly with timber and bamboo, meets energy standards, unlike concrete, which requires impractically thick insulation.
Area of Science:
- Building Science and Sustainable Materials
- Climate Change Mitigation in Construction
Background:
- The construction sector significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Embodied emissions from building materials present a major challenge for climate policies.
- Biobased insulation materials offer potential for GHG reduction and carbon sequestration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate material GHG neutralization using herbaceous biobased insulation.
- To assess the feasibility of achieving climate neutrality in building construction.
- To model different material strategies and building typologies for climate neutrality.
Main Methods:
- Modeling of various material diets and building typologies.
- Evaluation of biobased insulation requirements for climate neutrality.
- Analysis of net-global warming potentials (GWPs) of insulation materials.
Main Results:
- Climate-neutral construction is feasible with timber- and bamboo-based elements, requiring insulation thicknesses of 0.58-1.05 m.
- Concrete-based construction necessitates insulation sizes that are structurally and regulatorily unviable.
- A 20-year time horizon is suitable for evaluating the impact of material shifts towards biobased solutions.
Conclusions:
- Herbaceous biobased insulation with negative GWPs can compensate for unavoidable GHG emissions in construction.
- Timber and bamboo construction are viable pathways to climate-neutral buildings meeting current energy standards.
- Achieving climate neutrality in construction hinges on strategic material choices and policy decisions.
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