Displaying items by tag: academic

UK: Researchers at Newcastle University have developed a new mortar using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from plastic bottles and silica aerogel. The team says that the mortar conforms to construction standards 413-1:2011, ASTM C270-10, and AS 1012/AS 3700. They added that it additionally reduces heat loss in the spaces between blocks or bricks by 55%.

Team leader Lidija Šiller said “For the next step, we wish to find collaborators such as a construction company to apply for funding and build the house with our ‘recipe’ for mortar. This will allow us to provide the direct evidence of potential energy savings and assess the economics for masonry buildings applications.”

US: A joint study by the University of Colorado Boulder and Pennsylvania State University has demonstrated a lack of ‘granularity’ to regional benchmarks for the use of reduced-CO₂ concrete, while recognising the benchmarks as a ‘promising starting point.’ The team found that regional global warming potential (GWP) targets may be less attainable outside of metropolitan areas. The researchers noted that two cities – Los Angeles and New York – hold 41% of concrete environmental product disclosures (EPDs). In addition to a lack of access to concrete with EPDs, builders outside of the country’s cities face an increased burden of emissions due to transport.