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.
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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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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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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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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Engineering
Advanced carbon fiber materials could be used in applications from wind turbine blades to biomedical implants following the development of a low-cost carbon fiber feedstock.
Apr 1, 2025
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Engineering
Every year, some 5.6 million metric tons of plastic packaging winds up in household waste in Germany after being used just once. So far, less than a third of it can be recycled. Working in partnership with Hochschule Bremen—City ...
Mar 31, 2025
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Engineering
As Americans struggle under backbreaking rental prices, builders are turning to innovative ways to churn out more housing, from 3D printing to assembling homes in an indoor factory to using hemp—yes, the marijuana cousin—to ...
Mar 26, 2025
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Engineering
Concrete is everywhere. As the world's most widely used construction material, it forms bridges, buildings, roads and other infrastructure. But concrete, and its primary ingredient, cement, are responsible for roughly 8% ...
Mar 24, 2025
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Engineering
A new method inspired by coral reefs can capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform it into durable, fire-resistant building materials, offering a promising solution for carbon-negative construction.
Mar 22, 2025
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Engineering
Giving a second life to construction materials after demolition, engineers at the University of São Paulo and Princeton have developed an approach for recycling cement waste into a sustainable, low-carbon alternative that ...
Mar 20, 2025
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