Advancing Net Zero via Embodied Carbon Assessment of Retrofitting and New Build Homes

This project (funded by EPSRC, CNCA and GMCA) explores the use of waste and bio-based materials in new build and retrofitting together with a carbon calculator for making decisions on low carbon solutions for real-life applications. Bio-based materials require significantly less energy for production and the absorbed CO2 during growing can be trapped-in when used in construction. The use of waste-based materials ensures circular economy in the supply chain and provides a solution for sustainability, environmental and societal issues associated with linear use of the materials. Despite the obvious carbon and sustainability benefits, many challenges remain to be overcome prior to wider adoption of the waste and bio-based materials in homes (e.g. durability and fire performance, standards for producing and characterising). The UoM team is currently leading research on the development of waste and bio-based construction materials. In collaboration with GMCA and CNCA, the UoM team will explore the adoption of these materials in retrofitting and new build homes.