Low-carbon construction materials encompass a broad class of building products engineered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and environmental impact across their life cycle. Approaches include alternative binders such as geopolymers and low-clinker cements, incorporation of recycled aggregates and industrial by-products, and development of bio-based and engineered living materials that can self-heal or sequester carbon. These materials are applied in concrete, masonry, pavements, insulation, and structural components, often integrating circular economy principles and digital design or AI tools for performance optimization.
Robotics
New research led by Imperial College London and co-authored by the University of Bristol, has revealed that aerial robotics could provide wide-ranging benefits to the safety, sustainability and scale of construction.
Apr 24, 2025
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44
Engineering
For centuries, innovations in structural materials have prioritized strength and durability—often at a steep environmental price. Today, the construction industry accounts for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, ...
Apr 18, 2025
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69
Engineering
Engineers have developed a building material that uses the root-like mycelium of a fungus and bacteria cells. Their results, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, show that this material—which is manufactured with living ...
Apr 16, 2025
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55
Engineering
Preparing a new recipe from a cookbook usually means a trip to the grocery store for fresh ingredients, but a new recipe book created by a postdoctoral fellow at The University of New Mexico School of Engineering calls for ...
Apr 16, 2025
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28
Engineering
When seawater penetrates concrete in road tunnels, a biofilm is formed that breaks down the concrete. This can lead to high costs and the risk of damage if stone and concrete drop from the tunnel roof. In a new study, led ...
Apr 15, 2025
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324
Electronics & Semiconductors
A waste gum produced by trees found in India could be the key to unlocking a new generation of better-performing, more eco-friendly supercapacitors, researchers say.
Apr 11, 2025
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77
Engineering
Wooden shingles characterize the appearance of roofs and facades in the Alpine region and have been hand-crafted for generations. This centuries-old craft inspired researchers at Empa and ETH Zurich to use this very efficient ...
Apr 10, 2025
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39
Engineering
The construction sector is one of the world's biggest polluters. It is responsible for the enormous consumption of natural resources and the emission of large quantities of greenhouse gases. At the same time, it generates ...
Apr 7, 2025
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31
Engineering
A new method to recycle wind turbine blades without using harsh chemicals resulted in the recovery of high-strength glass fibers and resins that allowed Washington State University researchers to repurpose the materials to ...
Apr 3, 2025
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47
Engineering
A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed "fungi tiles" that could one day help to bring the heat down in buildings without consuming energy.
Apr 2, 2025
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136
