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Tag: green construction

Recycling Cigarette Butts into Asphalt

Posted on by dishanth
Recycling Cigarette Butts into Asphalt

Cigarette butts are the most littered item worldwide. Over 4.5 trillion cigarette butts pollute our environment every year. They do not easily biodegrade and are full of chemicals that are toxic to the wildlife that may ingest them. They are small individually, but they add up to a big problem. A waste management company in Bratislava, Slovakia, has found a new way of recycling cigarette butts, and that is by transforming cigarette butts into asphalt.

The environmental effect of cigarettes

More than 6 trillion cigarettes are smoked yearly around the world. You are probably familiar with how cigarettes cause air pollution due to the burning of tobacco, which releases harmful chemicals into the air. But did you know the butts from cigarettes are the most common form of personal litter in the world?

In the world total, cigarette butts make up more than one-third of litter. While cigarette butts may look like cotton, they are made of plastic fibers which are tightly packed together. And because they are made from man-made materials, they won’t organically break down into the environment.

Moreover, because cigarette butts are made of toxic chemicals when they are disposed of improperly, these chemicals (such as nicotine, lead, cadmium, and arsenic) will leach into the environment. The toxic chemicals can find their way into rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming aquatic life and contaminating water sources. There is also a risk of wildlife mistaking cigarette butts for food, accidentally injesting them.

Transforming cigarette butts into asphalt

A municipal waste management company in Bratislava, Slovakia, is pioneering a new way of recycling cigarette butts. At the end of 2023, the company trialed special containers designed to collect standard cigarette filters and those found in modern heated tobacco devices like vapes. And placed them around the city.

In collaboration with companies SPAK-EKO and EcoButt, the Bratislava City Council will be recycling cigarette butts to use the discarded materials to create asphalt for roads. Once the filters have been collected from the specialized bins, they will undergo a cleaning process to remove toxins and any residual tobacco. The cleaned filters are composed of cellulose acetate from the filters, which are then transformed into fine fibers. The fibers are mixed with traditional asphalt materials, which help with the asphalt’s durability and longevity.

The final product can be used just like conventional asphalt for creating new roads or repairing existing ones.

This isn’t the first time Slovakia is recycling cigarette butts into asphalt to be used on their roads. Their first cigarette filter road is located in  Ziar and Hronom and was the first in the world.

With this program, cities in Slovakia can encourage people not only to stop throwing their cigarette butts on the ground, where they will do harm to the environment. But this project can also show people how they can participate in sustainable urban development.

Recycling cigarette butts into asphalt can also help reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. The production of asphalt involves heating and mixing aggregates with bitumen, a petroleum-based binder. This process releases greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, contributing to air quality issues and climate change.

Rainwater runoff from asphalt surfaces can carry pollutants, such as oil, heavy metals, and chemicals from vehicle exhaust, into waterways, potentially contaminating aquatic ecosystems. Recycling cigarette butts in the asphalt may help absorb and reduce many of these environmental harms and could change how we construct our roads.

Cigarettes might not be disappearing in the very near future, but we can find ways to make them less damaging to our planet and help cities be a little cleaner. Providing users with these specialized cigarette butt bins is one way to keep cigarette butts off the ground and out of our waters. And repurposing these butts is one way we can support a circular model and reuse and repurpose our resources.

Slovakia has a very innovative plan, and we hope it catches on around the world.

 

 

 

 

Source   Happy Eco News

Coffee Biochar Concrete Carbon Sequestration

Posted on by dishanth
Coffee Biochar Concrete Carbon Sequestration

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks worldwide; on average, 400 billion cups of coffee are consumed each year. As a result, approximately 18 million tonnes of coffee grounds are produced annually. Coffee grounds can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be used to fertilize your garden or added to compost. Coffee grounds can neutralize odors, can be used to exfoliate your skin, tenderize meats, and many other uses.

Despite all of these amazing uses for coffee grounds, the reality is that most of the coffee grounds produced actually end up in landfills; about 75% in fact. Rotting coffee grounds generate methane, a powerful greenhouse gas contributing to warming. Rotting coffee grounds also emit carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and ammonia. While there have been programs from coffee shops that will donate their coffee grounds to customers to use in their gardens (Starbucks has been part of the Grounds for Your Garden program since 1995), but most coffee shops are not implementing these initiatives.

Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Australia have found a way to use coffee grounds on a larger scale and to eliminate the risk of them ending up in landfills. And that is to use coffee biochar concrete in the construction industry.

The researchers have developed concrete that is almost 30 percent stronger than traditional concrete by mixing in coffee-derived biochar. The coffee biochar was created using a low-energy process called pyrolysis. The organic waste is heated to 350 degrees Celsius without oxygen to avoid the risk of generating carbon dioxide. Under pyrolysis, organic molecules vibrate and break down into smaller components, creating biochar. This is a similar process that is used to roast unused beans to enhance their taste, except without the use of oxygen.

In coffee biochar concrete, about 15 percent of the sand they would use to make concrete is replaced with the coffee biochar, thus creating new concrete. The coffee biochar is finer than sand, and its porous qualities help to bind to organic material. Reducing the total use of sand in concrete will minimize the construction industry’s environmental footprint. It is said that over 50 billion metric tons of natural sand are used annually in construction. Sand mining significantly stresses ecosystems, including riverbeds and riverbanks, coffee biochar concrete can relieve some of that pressure on the environment.

The cement industry is the third largest source of industrial air pollution, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. Moreover, cement currently accounts for around 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Turning coffee- biochar into concrete will reduce the construction industry’s reliance on continuous mining of natural resources, making the industry more sustainable.

When introduced into concrete mixtures, the coffee biochar concrete was found to act as a microscopic carbon repository within the concrete matrix. The alkaline conditions within hardened concrete enable biochar to mineralize and firmly bind carbon dioxide into its structure over time. Concrete containing even a small percentage of spent coffee biochar was shown to sequester meaningful quantities of CO2 from the curing process and surrounding environment.

Utilizing waste coffee grounds to synthesize biochar for carbon sequestration could offer a sustainable way to offset concrete’s sizable carbon footprint while giving new purpose to spent grounds. With further research, coffee biochar concrete could provide a feasible carbon capture pathway for the construction industry.

The researchers estimate that if all the waste grounds produced in Australia annually could be converted into coffee biochar, it would amount to roughly 22,500 tonnes. Compare that to the 28 million tonnes of sand that are required to produce over 72 million tonnes of cement concrete in Australia. Just think: Australia has over 13 thousand coffee shops, whereas the United States has over 38 thousand coffee shops. If this project expands outside of Australia, coffee biochar concrete could significantly impact the environment and waste.

The research on coffee biochar concrete is still in the early stages; there is still a lot of testing to be done, but it shows that there are innovative and unique ways to reduce and repurpose organic landfill waste. Once the researchers can account for things like durability, the researchers will collaborate with local councils on future infrastructure projects, including the construction of walkways and pavements. Just think, we are one step closer to adding sustainability into the construction industry and one step closer to walking on coffee biochar concrete!

 

 

 

 

Source   Happy Eco News

Using Bio-Based Materials to Build Cities

Posted on by dishanth
Using Bio-Based Materials to Build Cities

Did you know about 56% of the world’s population live in cities? The population numbers of urban dwellers are expected to double by 2050 when nearly 7 out of 10 people will live in cities. Cities are polluted due to industrial and motorized transport systems that rely on fossil fuels. The infrastructure that makes up cities is also constructed with carbon-intensive materials. As a result, cities account for over 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

We can’t eliminate these systems that make up our cities, but we can use bio-based materials to make them more sustainable. Carbon emissions could be significantly reduced if just a small percentage of new infrastructure in cities is constructed using sustainable bio-based materials. Moreover, these new buildings could also boost carbon storage and help us reach net zero.

Bio-based materials are catching on in the construction industry. They are materials that grow or are a natural part of the biosphere. Bio-based materials include Timber, straw, hemp, cork, clay, and earth. Besides being honest, these bio-based materials are renewable and have a lower, neutral, or negative embodied energy and carbon than traditional construction materials. Timber, for example, has around three times less embodied carbon than steel and over five times less than concrete.

The construction industry accounts for more than 39% of energy and process-related global carbon emissions. Using timber for building, it can store carbon rather than emit it. The Stockholm Wood City will be built in Sickla, Sweden, and is said to be the world’s biggest wooden city. Wooden construction means a significantly reduced climate impact during the construction phase and the whole life cycle. It also has a faster and quieter construction process.

Another bio-based material emerging in the construction industry is algae. Algae are being used in building facades as a sustainable way to generate heat and biomass for various purposes. The algae act like double glazing, but there is water and algae instead of air between the two panes. The algae will also absorb carbon dioxide and insulate the structure.

Hempcrete is a composite material made from hemp hurds, lime, and water. It is a strong, lightweight, and fire-resistant material that can be used for a variety of building applications, such as walls, floors, and roofs. Hempcrete is considered to be a carbon-negative bio-based material. It absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces during its production and use. Further, the production of hempcrete also requires less energy than the production of traditional building materials, such as concrete.

Because hempcrete is a good insulator, it can help to keep buildings cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. This means that less energy is needed to heat and cool buildings, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere.

Kenaf is a type of fiber that is made from the stems of the kenaf plant. It is a strong, durable, and lightweight fiber that can be used to make a variety of building materials, such as bricks, panels, and insulation.

Miscanthus is a type of grass that is grown for its biomass. It can be used to make a variety of building materials, such as boards, panels, and insulation.

Other benefits of using bio-based materials in the construction industry are that it helps to stimulate local economies, job creation, biodiversity and reforestation efforts. Using natural materials can help provide affordable and sustainable housing at scale.

While getting the entire construction industry on board with bio-based materials is challenging, some countries are trying to ensure this becomes the norm. The French government has ruled that any public construction financed by the state must contain at least 50% bio-based materials. Amsterdam requires that 20% of the city’s housing projects be constructed with bio-based materials starting in 2025.

As cities and population sizes grow, we will see a rise in carbon emissions. If the construction industry turns to using bio-based materials, there is a chance that we will see healthier cities and a healthier planet over time.

 

 

 

 

Source – Happy Eco News

 

Creating more roles for women in sustainable construction

Posted on by dishanth
Creating more roles for women in sustainable construction

Since being elected as the first female President of Morocco Green Building Council, Wiam Samir has played a vital role promoting sustainable construction
In 2017, a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) claimed that under a quarter of women in the Middle East and North Africa are employed – one of the lowest rates in the world. At the same time, the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report stated that women in the Middle East and North Africa will not see equal political representation with men until the year 2116.

However, the green building movement shows a promising future for women in leadership. Out of the nine Green Building Councils in the MENA region, six are led by women, each of whom dedicate their lives to overcoming the negative impacts of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa.

Wiam Samir, the first female President of Morocco Green Building Council from 2018-2020, is one of the women demonstrating exceptional leadership in the sustainability movement. Now, Samir is a Sustainability Consultant and Projects Manager for ALTO EKO, an environmental services company that strives to improve the sanitary quality and living comfort of spaces in Morocco.

“It is a truly great feeling to be part of the movement leveraging and leading the green sphere. Being an advocate for a topic that matters on different scales, from civil society to governmental entities, helps us realise the importance of our cause and double our efforts to make change happen,” said Wiam.

 

An advocate for a green and sustainable environment built on collaboration

After acquiring a degree in Engineering and Management Sciences from the Al Akhawayn University, Samir went on to gain experience as an intern for multiple manufacturing, supply chain and infrastructural companies. From there, she sought to gain a more permanent role as an engineer and consultant in environment, energy, and sustainable construction.

Between 2016-2018, Samir worked as a QHSE and LEED certification manager for the Casablanca Finance City Tower project. Designed to minimise ecological impact, the tower set precedents in building performance, scale, and technology throughout the MENA region.

In 2018, while serving as the first female President of Morocco’s Green Building Council, Samir decided to reinforce her engineering and technical skills with a Masters in Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment from Cambridge University. Since then, she has continued to collaborate with other sustainability pioneers to transform the MENA region’s construction landscape.

Speaking about her role at the 5th Edition Real-Estate Development Summit in Morocco, 2019, Samir said: “The targets of the project are to increase awareness and education, to achieve alignment between approach and certification schemes, and also to target the global market by showing examples of leadership. All of this started at COP21 for the Paris Agreement … the final objective is to limit global temperature rises below 1.5 degrees.”

A role model for female leaders pressing for progress around the world
Samir and other women leaders in the green building movement are not only addressing the issue of climate change; they’re also challenging gender inequality and fighting for equal opportunities in their countries.

Strict cultural rules in the MENA region mean that many women lack the same professional rights as men – including the freedom to pursue certain careers. Despite this, Samir’s dedication to collaboration and sustainable construction has given her a strong platform to demonstrate the important role women have to play in addressing environmental and social issues.

In 2022, Samir achieved WELL AP accreditation and received the community award from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). As Sustainability Consultant and Projects Manager for ALTO EKO, Samir continues to advocate for buildings, organisations and communities that support global health and promise a healthier future for all.

 

 

 

 

Source Sustainability 

Compostable plastic cutlery can be recycled into home-insulating foam

Posted on by dishanth
Compostable plastic cutlery can be recycled into home-insulating foam

Compostable plastic can be turned into a foam that functions as building insulation, creating a potential solution to difficulties in recycling the material.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a plastic made of fermented starch from corn or sugar cane. It is designed to break down into harmless material once used and disposed of, but doing so requires industrial composting, which isn’t available in all locations.

If PLA makes its way into the environment, it often won’t break down. Because of this, it is classed as compostable rather than biodegradable by the European Union.

Now, Heon Park at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and his colleagues have developed a method to convert plastic knives, spoons and forks made from PLA into a foam that can be turned into insulation for walls or flotation devices.

 

Foam structures of various sizes made from recycled PLA plastic. Source: Heon Park

 

The researchers placed the PLA cutlery into a chamber filled with carbon dioxide. As they increased the pressure inside the chamber, the gas dissolved into the plastic. When they released the pressure, the gas expanded rapidly and turned the plastic into a foam. The process is entirely mechanical and involves no chemical reaction.

“Tweaking temperature and pressure, there is a window where we can make good foams,” says Park. “We found what temperature or what pressure is the best to make those non-foamable plastics into foams.”

Each time plastic is recycled it loses strength, but turning plastic into foam avoids any problems with strength as it is an inherently soft material.

Making PLA plastics directly recyclable in this way could be a better way to alleviate plastic pollution than industrial composting. PLA requires up to 12 weeks of composting at 57°C to break down, and must be carefully separated from other plastic waste, so this may not be the best option.

“If you’ve taken all of the energy and resources to make something, any product or packaging, then the very best thing that you can do with that is to try and keep those resources and turn them back into another item of product or packaging,” says Helen Bird at UK waste and recycling charity WRAP. “From an environmental perspective, if you look at the hierarchy of what’s preferable for the environment, composting actually is a little bit below recycling.”

Journal reference: Physics of Fluids, DOI: 10.1063/5.0050649

 

 

Source New Scientist