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Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2020) | Viewed by 51090

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pilar Mercader-Moyano

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Guest Editor

Departamento de Construcciones Arquitectónicas I, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
Interests: artificial intelligence and sustainability; sustainable renovation of buildings; neighborhood regeneration; circular economy; decarbonization of the construction sector; sustainable construction; eco-efficient constructive solutions; resource efficiency in architecture, engineering, and urbanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Paula M. Esquivias

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Guest Editor

GIR Termotecnia, Departamento de Ingeniería Energética y Fluidomecánica, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce nº 59, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
Interests: sustainable renovation of buildings; neighborhood regeneration; circular economy; decarbonization of construction sector; sustainable construction; eco-efficient constructive solutions; resource efficiency in architecture; engineering and urbanism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the building sector has been turning towards intervening in the existing city building stock. In fact, it is generally accepted that the refurbishment of buildings and urban regeneration based on sustainability must form the axis of reformulation of the building sector. At present, achieving sustainable urban development inevitably involves improving existing buildings, thereby preventing the need for city growth, and for the emptying of established neighborhoods. Furthermore, considering the whole life cycle, the great amount of greenhouse emissions derived from the construction sector is well known; thus, in order to reach a decarbonized society, it is important to provide eco-efficient construction materials and solutions, adding the principles of the circular economy and resource efficiency.

Therefore, the theme of this Special Issue is the “Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods” in response to the objectives not only raised in the Horizon 2020 but by all the people who seek a more sustainable world. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on, but is not limited to:

Obtaining an overview of the environmental problems that arise from construction activity, focusing on refurbishment as an alternative to the current crisis in the construction sector, as well as on actions designed to minimize environmental effects on the environment;
Searching for new alternatives to conventional construction solutions that minimize the environmental impact of the construction activity, improve indoor environmental quality of buildings, build or refurbish, always from a rentable and optimal cost in time, and implement a circular economy and an efficient resource and waste management;
Minimizing the consumption of material resources, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in construction and looking for the proper management of construction and demolition waste and the opportunities for their recycling and reuse;
Sustainable planning and urban development, for an ordered and sustainable growth.

Prof. Dr. Pilar Mercader-Moyano
Dr. Paula M. Esquivias
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

circular economy
decarbonization of construction sector
refurbishment of buildings
neighborhood regeneration
eco-efficient construction solutions
construction and waste management
indoor environmental quality
resource efficiency

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

6 pages, 204 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighbourhoods

by Pilar Mercader-Moyano and Paula M. Esquivias

Sustainability 2020, 12(19), 7914; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12197914 - 24 Sep 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4016

Abstract

In recent years, the building sector has been turning towards intervening in the existing city building stock. In fact, it is generally accepted that the refurbishment of buildings and the urban regeneration based on sustainability must form the axis of reformulation of the building sector. Nowadays, achieving sustainable urban development inevitably involves improving existing buildings, thereby preventing the need for city growth, and for the emptying of established neighbourhoods. Furthermore, considering the whole life cycle, it is well known the great amount of greenhouse emissions derived from the construction sector, so in order to reach a decarbonized society it is important to provide eco-efficient construction materials and solutions, adding the principles of circular economy and resource efficiency. The articles of this special issue show different aspects to be considered in order to reach a decarbonized and circular building stock. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

14 pages, 959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reversibility and Durability as Potential Indicators for Circular Building Technologies

by Ernesto Antonini, Andrea Boeri, Massimo Lauria and Francesca Giglio

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187659 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4677

Abstract

According to the Circularity Gap Report 2020, a mere 8.6% of the global economy was
circular in 2019. The Global Status Report 2018 declares that building construction and operations
accounted for 36% of global final energy use and 39% of energy–related carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions. The Paris Agreement demands that the building and construction sector decarbonizes
globally by 2050. This requires strategies that minimize the environmental impact of buildings
and practices extending the lifecycle of their constituents within a circular resource flow. To ensure
that eective measures are applied, a suitable method is needed to assess compliance in materials,
processes, and design strategies within circular economy principles. The study’s assumption is that
synthetic and reliable indicators for that purpose could be based on reversibility and durability
features. The paper provides an overview of building design issues within the circular economy
perspective, highlighting the diculty in finding circular technologies which are suitable to enhance
buildings’ service life while closing material loops. The results identify reversibility and durability as
potential indicators for assessing circular building technologies. The next research stage aims to further
develop the rating of circularity requirements for both building technologies and entire buildings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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20 pages, 3720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Circular Economy for the City of Seville: The Method for Developing a Guide for a More Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism (GAUS)

by Milagrosa Borrallo-Jiménez, Maria LopezdeAsiain, Rafael Herrera-Limones and María Lumbreras Arcos

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7421; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187421 - 09 Sep 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4940

Abstract

The article outlines the creation of a method for the development of tools to incorporate sustainability criteria in the field of architectural design. The aim of the research is to provide society with scientific knowledge related to sustainability, evaluating the environmental impact of their actions within the building sector, in a simple and direct manner through specific and contextualised tools. A specific tool is experimentally developed for the context of Seville, called Guide for a more Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism (GAUS), in its first document, GAUS-D1. Based on national and international documentary references, the method principles are defined, and an approach is adopted that prioritises communicative actions with the aim of reaching citizens, professionals, and researchers in the building sector. The specific experiment is developed with GAUS-D1, and an initial evaluation is made of its suitability and the validity of the proposed method. The approach followed ensures that the experience of developing this type of tool is internationally transferable to any other place. Further statistical verification of the use of the tool (which implies a defined testing strategy) is necessary so that the method can be consolidated as a national and international reference. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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25 pages, 4365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Importance of the Participatory Dimension in Urban Resilience Improvement Processes

by Maria LopezDeAsiain and Vicente Díaz-García

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187305 - 06 Sep 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3154

Abstract

This article discusses the approach adopted by the researchers into citizen participation in urban regeneration actions and projects. It describes the concepts of sustainability and habitability in relation to the urban environment and architecture within the framework of improving the resilience of our cities through the circular economy and decarbonisation processes in architecture. The authors review the participatory dimension of different urban regeneration actions carried out in Spain and the impact of this dimension on the results obtained by environmental, economic and social urban improvements. They then define possible strategies and methodological tools for integrating this dimension into traditional urban regeneration processes. The article presents case studies and their specific characteristics, and draws conclusions about their effectiveness and relevance. It also compares citizen-led interventions with interventions led by public administrations. Lastly, the authors analyse the potential reasons for success in these processes and projects, identifying weaknesses and proposing possible strategies for future development by researchers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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13 pages, 2629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation of the Potential of a New Fabric-Based Evaporative Cooling Pad

by Eloy Velasco-Gómez, Ana Tejero-González, Javier Jorge-Rico and F. Javier Rey-Martínez

Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 7070; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177070 - 30 Aug 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3377

Abstract

Direct evaporative coolers are energy-efficient, economic solutions to supplying cooling demand for space conditioning. Since their potential strongly depends on air hygrothermal conditions, they are traditionally used in dry and hot climates, though they can be used in many applications and climates. This work proposes a new direct evaporative cooling system with a fabric-based pad. Its design enables maximum wetted surface with minimum pressure drop. Its performance has been experimentally characterized in terms of saturation efficiency, air humidification, pressure drop, and level of particles, based on a full factorial Design of Experiments. Factors studied are air dry bulb temperature, specific humidity, and airflow. Saturation efficiencies obtained for a 25 cm pad are above the values achieved by other alternative evaporative cooling (EC) pads proposed in the literature, with lower pressure drops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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22 pages, 4462 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Footprint of Dwelling Construction in Romania and Spain. A Comparative Analysis with the OERCO2 Tool

by Patricia González-Vallejo, Radu Muntean, Jaime Solís-Guzmán and Madelyn Marrero

Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 6745; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12176745 - 20 Aug 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2850

Abstract

CO₂ emissions due to the construction sector represent 40% of the total, either directly by the use of the building or indirectly by the emissions incorporated in construction materials and products. It is important to achieve a change in this sector to introduce these concepts in a simple way. There are various tools for evaluating emissions in construction projects. In the present work, the OERCO2 tool is used. This work studies housing projects in two European countries belonging to significantly different regions, Spain (Andalusia) and Romania (Bucharest and Transylvania). Although concrete or masonry structures are mainly used in Romania, due to an increased demand for residential buildings in recent years, a new niche has appeared in the construction sector: metallic and mixed (metal–concrete) structures for multi-storied buildings. For these reasons, a comparison between concrete and metallic buildings can be made in order to highlight their environmental impact. Twenty-four projects are selected from Romanian projects with metallic structures, and Spanish projects with concrete structures. They are also differentiated according to the type of foundation used. As expected, buildings with a metallic structure have more economic and environmental impact than reinforced concrete. The materials with greater impact are metal, concrete, cement, and ceramic products. The potential of the tool for the evaluation of various construction solutions, materials, and project phases is demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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13 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implications of BREEAM Sustainability Assessment on the Design of Hotels

by María M. Serrano-Baena, Paula Triviño-Tarradas, Carlos Ruiz-Díaz and Rafael E. Hidalgo Fernández

Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6550; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166550 - 13 Aug 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4396

Abstract

This original research paper analyses the actual and important topic of the implications of BREEAM sustainability assessment on the design of hotels and it is a personal response to “The Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development” and its influence on the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. The paper aims to examine the influence of the sustainable assessment method BREEAM on the design of hotels by using seven case studies and studying the changes that were implemented in order to achieve their targets. Qualitative data were obtained by conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing the supplied documentation. The authors notice that the results revealed that a BREEAM approach might limit the design of the hotels but, including the right measures at the early design stage of the project, the target can be easily achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

18 pages, 2756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment Model of End-of-Life Costs and Waste Quantification in Selective Demolitions: Case Studies of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings

by Eduardo Vázquez-López, Federico Garzia, Roberta Pernetti, Jaime Solís-Guzmán and Madelyn Marrero

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 6255; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12156255 - 03 Aug 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3000

Abstract

Innovative designs, such as those taking place in nearly zero-energy buildings, need to tackle Life Cycle Cost, because reducing the impact of use can carry other collateral and unexpected costs. For example, it is interesting to include the evaluation of end-of-life costs by introducing future activities of selective dismantling and waste management, to also improve the environmental performance of the demotion project. For this purpose, it is necessary to develop methods that relate the process of selective demolition to the waste quantification and the costs derived from its management. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of end-of-life parameters allows different construction types, waste treatment options, and waste management costs to be compared. The assessment of end-of-life costs in the present work is developed by a case-based reasoning. Cost data are obtained from three actual studies which are part of the H2020 CRAVEzero project (Cost Reduction and Market Acceleration for Viable Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings). Results show that end-of-life costs are similar to traditional building typologies. The most influential materials are part of the substructure and structure of the building, such as concrete and steel products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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18 pages, 5411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Revaluation of Uninhabited Popular Patrimony under Environmental and Sustainability Parameters

by Begoña Blandón, Luís Palmero and Giacomo di Ruocco

Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145629 - 13 Jul 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3137

Abstract

Abandoning rural areas requires promoting their repopulation. In Europe, wealth and life in these enclaves are valued. However, the current state of these houses does not meet actual needs and requires interventions to actualize current standards. Therefore, decisions in the design and execution of the works will generate a volume of construction and demolition waste (CDW), which must be managed sustainably out of respect towards its origin, the architecture, and the surrounding environment. This paper examines the prevention and management of CDW, providing control strategies and actions to monitor and plan them from the rehabilitation project itself. Some of the interventions carried out in recent years on this type of housing have been analyzed and the existing management protocols within the European Union have been reviewed, specifying their application in Mediterranean popular housing. As a result, we herein show a representative case that observes the existing reality regarding the destination of generated CDW and delves into their possibilities for use. We present these findings in order to reduce the energy cost resulting from manufacturing new materials and meeting the established sustainability and energy efficiency parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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35 pages, 2079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy and Economic Life Cycle Assessment of Cool Roofs Applied to the Refurbishment of Social Housing in Southern Spain

by Antonio Dominguez-Delgado, Helena Domínguez-Torres and Carlos-Antonio Domínguez-Torres

Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5602; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145602 - 12 Jul 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3068

Abstract

Energy refurbishment of the housing stock is needed in order to reduce energy consumption and meet global climate goals. This is even more necessary for social housing built in Spain in the middle of the last century since its obsolete energy conditions lead to situations of indoor thermal discomfort and energy poverty. The present study carries out a life cycle assessment of the energy and economic performance of roofs after being retrofitted to become cool roofs for the promotion of social housing in Seville (Spain). Dynamic simulations are made in which the time dependent aging effect on the energy performance of the refurbished cool roofs is included for the whole lifespan. The influence of the time dependent aging effect on the results of the life cycle economic analysis is also assessed. A variety of scenarios are considered in order to account for the aging effect in the energy performance of the retrofitted cool roofs and its incidence while considering different energy prices and monetary discount rates on the life cycle assessment. This is made through a dynamic life cycle assessment in order to capture the impact of the aging dynamic behavior correctly. Results point out significant savings in the operational energy. However, important differences are found in the economic savings when the life cycle analysis is carried out since the source of energy and the efficiency of the equipment used for conditioning strongly impact the economic results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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24 pages, 7055 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Energy Retrofit of Social Housing with Cultural Value in Spain: Analysis of Strategies Conserving the Original Image vs. Coordinating Its Modification

by Belinda López-Mesa, Marta Monzón-Chavarrías and Almudena Espinosa-Fernández

Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5579; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145579 - 10 Jul 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3251

Abstract

Two renovation strategies were considered and compared in this paper for the energy renovation of social housing in condo buildings built in 1945–1969, situated in residential estates that have been declared urban areas of interest. One of the strategies, named here the image conservation approach, consists of renovating the building with very efficient solutions, except for the brick-facing walls, which will only have insulation in the existing cavities. The other strategy, the image coordination approach, consists of renovating the whole building with efficient solutions, including external insulation for existing brick-facing walls, and drawing up coordination plans for each of the residential estates in order to guarantee a coordinated new image of the residential estates. By means of three case studies in the city of Zaragoza and four scenarios of improvement, the two strategies are compared regarding the regulation compliance, the energy use, the emissions reduction, the thermal comfort, and the cost-effectiveness of the measures. The results show that the image coordination approach is the best strategy in regard to the studied aspects, achieving a 69%–79% reduction of CO₂ emissions and a 75%–97% reduction of heating use, as well as being the only one capable of transforming these buildings into nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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30 pages, 2951 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Environmental Impact in Foundations and Structures through Disaggregated Models: Towards the Decarbonisation of the Construction Sector

by Pilar Mercader-Moyano and Jesús Roldán-Porras

Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 5150; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125150 - 24 Jun 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3088

Abstract

Having a tool in Spanish regulations to evaluate the sustainability of the construction process in a simple and efficient way (Annex 13 of the Structural Concrete Instruction EHE-08) means an advance with respect to regulations in other countries. However, the complexity of homogenising the conditions that affect the execution of each structure, which are of a very heterogeneous and variable nature, in order to be able to evaluate their contribution to sustainability within the same reference framework, is the greatest obstacle and can have a great influence on the representativeness of the obtained results. However, there are variables that, given their specificity and nature, are not contemplated in this methodology (dust, noise and vibration emission, transportation). This paper proposes a complementary disaggregated model to evaluate the sustainability of variables that are not considered, namely the transportation of materials to the worksite, the commute of workers, the construction process, the emissions of dust, noise and vibrations, as well as the necessary load tests. The results of the application of this model to the real case of the foundations of two singular buildings, show the importance that these previously unexamined variables can have when choosing the most sustainable technical solution in terms of CO₂ emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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15 pages, 5366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecofibers for the Reinforcement of Cement Mortars for Coating Promoting the Circular Economy

by Carolina Piña Ramírez, Alejandra Vidales Barriguete, Julián García Muñoz, Mercedes del Río Merino and Patricia del Solar Serrano

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2835; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072835 - 02 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3621

Abstract

Nowadays, nobody can deny that climate change is a reality and that the life cycle of buildings contributes greatly to that reality. Therefore, proposals such as the circular economy must be integrated into the construction sector. This article shows part of the results of a research project whose objective is to introduce circular economy criteria in building materials, seeking new uses for construction and demolition waste from buildings. In particular, this article analyses the possibility of replacing fibres currently used to reinforce cement mortars with recycled fibres. After consulting the bibliography, we can conclude that some studies analyse the behaviour of cement mortars reinforced with different types of fibres, but none has been found that analyses the behaviour of these mortars for the application of continuous coatings. For this purpose, a two-stage experimental plan is designed to test cement mortar samples with different types of fibres, recycled fibres and commercial fibres, taking into consideration the characteristics that these mortars have to comply to be applied as continuous coatings. Moreover, a detailed study about the porosity of these mortars and its influence on how the mortars behave with regard to compression, water vapour permeability and impermeability has been conducted. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the mortars containing recycled fibres have very similar resistance, absorption and permeability values to those containing commercial fibres, so that they might be suitable for application as external coatings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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15 pages, 5727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Development of Human Society in Terms of Natural Depleting Resources Preservation Using Natural Renewable Raw Materials in a Novel Ecological Material Production

by Cătălina Mihaela Grădinaru, Radu Muntean, Adrian Alexandru Șerbănoiu, Vasilică Ciocan and Andrei Burlacu

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 2651; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072651 - 27 Mar 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2875

Abstract

In the last few years, the building industry experienced a significant development as a response to the demographic growth of human society and to the increasing demand for housing. Their construction involves the traditional use of concrete as a material that provides added strength to the finished building. This is manufactured respecting standard recipes depending on the way of its use. Anyway, all concrete recipes involve the use of mineral aggregates extracted from the riverbed, as is happening in Romania, or rock blocks crushing, as reported in other countries. Under these conditions, the rationalization of the use of natural mineral resources and the identification of new possibilities to reduce their consumption through their replacement with vegetal waste has become an important research issue. In this study, two types of vegetal waste—namely, shredded corn cobs and sunflower stalks—were used to manufacture novel ecological concretes. The vegetal wastes, both in untreated and treated forms (with 20% and 40% of sodium silicate solution), were used to replace 50% of the river (mineral) aggregate volume. The obtained concretes were tested, and the values of some important parameters in the concrete characterization (such as bulk density, water adsorption capacity, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength) were compared with the concrete contains cement CEM II/A-LL 42.5R. The obtained results show that these vegetal wastes have the potential to be used in the manufacturing of new ecological concrete. In addition, this alternative material meets the requirements for the sustainable and healthy development of the environment, offering low-polluting solutions in the context of an increasing demand for constructions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods)

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