8 Sustainable Innovations that are Shaping the Construction
Sector
protectionsupplies.co.uk
With the UK construction, operation
and maintenance industry accounting for 48% of the UK’s carbon emissions,
the focus of many innovations in construction is now on reducing the
construction sector's CO2 output.
Protection Supplies have uncovered
the cutting-edge yet conscious building materials of the future before
revealing how these materials are changing the way that buildings are now being
constructed.
The UK's construction industry also
needs to build 300,000 homes a year to overcome the current housing shortage.
As the industry is failing to do
this, materials which can shorten the time it takes to build homes and make
them more affordable are crucial for revolutionising the industry.
Some of the benefits of these
innovative materials include:
· Speeding up housing production
· Improving the longevity of buildings
· Helping buildings to adapt to their surroundings, such as in the
event of earthquakes
· Increasing natural light
· Reducing fuel bills
· Making construction more environmentally friendly by lowering
CO2 production
1. Transparent Wood
What it does: Researcher
Lars Berglund creates the transparent wood by compressing strips of wood veneer
in a process similar to pulping. This removes the lignin and replaces it with
the polymer, making the wood 85% transparent.
Benefits: This material
will create a strong and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic and
glass. The material has the strength of lumber but is far lighter. It can be
used in the construction of homes to bring more light in and reduce the need
for artificial light which can quickly use up a lot of power. It is as
environmentally friendly and biodegradable as normal wood.
2. Hydrogel
What it does: Bubbles of
Hydrogel are layered between two ceramic panels. These can then be installed
into already constructed walls.
Benefits: Hydrogel is
able to absorb water when the air around Hydrogel heats up it evaporates and
cools the room down by up to 5°C. The mechanism is inspired by the way the
human body cools itself down. Once installed in buildings it will act as an
alternative to the overuse of air conditioning which is detrimental to the
environment, producing 100 million tonnes of CO2.
3. Cigarette Butt Bricks
What it does: The bricks
made with the addition of cigarette butts, require less baking time than
traditional bricks. This means they are cheaper and more eco-friendly to
produce.
Benefits: As the
cigarettes within the brick reduce the time of baking bricks, they reduce the
energy required to produce them by up to 58%. Additionally, the bricks are
better insulators than those without cigarette butts within them and solve an
ongoing pollution problem of what to do with discarded cigarettes to prevent
contamination.
4. Super-hydrophobic Cement
What it does: The cement is
able to absorb and reflect light, offering an alternative to street lighting as
the ground would be lit up using this luminescent cement.
Benefits: Often cement
needs to be replaced within thirty to fifty years, however, this alternative
product is far more durable and will last for up to hundred years. It also
offers power free lighting and therefore can reduce the energy consumed and CO2
produced by lighting the streets of the world.
5. Synthetic Spider Silk
What it does: The synthetic
spider's silk is created at room temperature using water, silica and cellulose
which are all easily accessible. The finished product could be used as a
biodegradable alternative to nylon and other tough fabrics.
Benefits: The material
will offer an alternative to the textile industry which is currently one of the
biggest producers of CO2 in the world. The product will be used as an
alternative to an array of strong materials such as parachutes and eventually
it is hoped the Synthetic Spider Silk will be used in creating building
materials such as blocks as well as in mechanics, making super strong car
parts.
6. Breathe Bricks
What it does: Composed of
two key parts, concrete bricks and recycled plastic coupler, the aligned bricks
create a route from the outside into the brick’s hollow centre. The surface of
the bricks themselves helps to direct airflow and a cavity removes pollution.
Benefits: This is a
cost-effective way to reduce air pollution as it requires no further
maintenance once installed. It would be particularly helpful in developing
countries where air quality is poor and other solutions could be too expensive
to maintain.
7. Bamboo-reinforced Concrete
What it does: The use of
bamboo rather than steel to reinforce concrete is more environmentally friendly
and creates flexibility within the concrete that can better withstand
earthquakes.
Benefits: Bamboo grows
at a high rate, meaning it absorbs a lot of CO2 as it grows and therefore
increased production of bamboo would benefit the environment. It is also a
great alternative to materials which cause harm as they are produced. Bamboo
also has a higher tensile strength than
steel because its fibres run axially and it is flexible so
is great for use in earthquake-prone areas.
8. Super Wood
What it does: The
compressed wood is far stronger and more durable than wood in its natural
state, therefore it can be used in a greater range on construction projects.
Benefits: As this
product relies on the already abundant and natural material of wood, it is
still affordable and can be created in an environmentally sustainable way
according to its creators at University of Maryland, College
Park. The wood is so strong it can stop bullets but is far
lighter than comparable materials of the same strength.
The diversity of these
materials showcases how much the industry is starting to consider the
environment and the affordability of construction.
The construction industry is revolutionising the way that we live. Even the materials that make up our homes are increasingly innovative and futuristic.
About Protection Supplies
Protection Supplies
are here to help protect your home, work or building site. From floor to
ceiling and all those important bits in between, we have a protection solution
that will suit you and your budget.
At Home
No matter what job
it is you are undertaking at home be it DIY, decorating or some larger building
work, we can protect floors, doors, kitchens and bathrooms. Our floor
protection solutions are ideal for party’s’, ensuring you have peace of mind
and can enjoy the party as much as your guests. Are you moving soon?
Protection supplies can help with protecting those important items during the
move too.
The Trade
Are you in the
trade? Whether you are a joiner, plumber, decorator or just general building we
have the protection products that you will need. Make tidying up after that job
much easier, and be safe in the knowledge that you are protecting your clients
home.
We pride ourselves
on our product availability and we can deliver UK wide. Our friendly team are
on hand to help and we can get our technical experts to talk you through any
specific protection solutions.
https://www.protectionsupplies.co.uk/blog/innovative-materials-shaping-construction/
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