Cement, which is the main component of concrete, is responsible for approximately 7% of global CO2 emissions.
The goal of the new Matériaux cimentaires éco-efficaces (MC²E) laboratory, a collaboration between the CNRS, l’ENS Paris Saclay et Ecocem, is to develop alternative low-carbon-impact cements.
Researchers at the MC²E have managed to reduce the amount of cement in concrete by a factor of five.
They have also developed a new (patented) cement based on waste residues from the steel industry that has an 80% smaller carbon impact than conventional cement. The new cement is already on the market.
It might thus be possible to achieve carbon neutrality quite quickly in this area without having to resort to so-called disruptive techniques.
Research Director for the Environmental Research Lab at MINES ParisTech
Key takeaways
Researchers are developing novel software to help design more environmentally-friendly buildings. This “eco-design” approach is becoming ever more popular in the building sector.
The goal is to make relevant decisions as early as possible in the design process of a building, as these are the ones that will have the greatest impact on the environmental performance of a project.
Such software works for both renovating existing buildings and constructing new buildings.
One of the optimisation techniques developed by the Mines ParisTech team, based on “genetic algorithms”, has been particularly popular with house builders.
Founder of Lab Ingénierie and Co-founder of Mobius Réemploi
Key takeaways
The company, mobius réemploi, is proposing a way to integrating reused materials originating into new or rehabilitated buildings.
Their approach involves carrying out in-depth study, from the design phase onwards, to evaluate whether reused materials are better in terms of environmental impact than completely new materials.
While reuse of construction materials is good for the environment, at present, it remains more expensive than using new materials.
That said, from 2022 onwards the construction sector will be subject to regulations requiring the limitation of carbon emissions, so the question of materials from reuse will become important.
The advantage of reuse is that it does not depend raw material markets, so prices can remain stable over time.
In order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the manufacture of construction materials, opting for biosourced materials (derived from animal or plant biomass) seems to be a good alternative.
Unlike conventional materials, biobased materials not only avoid depleting soil carbon but also store atmospheric CO2 for decades.
Biobased materials offer many opportunities, both in terms of overall comfort and carbon footprint, provided that the biomass extracted is offset by the production.
However, biobased materials currently account for only 12% of materials used in the building industry: the arrival of new regulations could change this.
Contributors
Isabelle Dumé
Science journalist
Isabelle Dumé holds a PhD in physics. She collaborates with various scientific magazines and media, public and private institutions, and actors in higher education and research in France and worldwide.
