Recycled aggregate concrete for nearly zero-energy buildings

Abstract

This paper examines the possibility of using crushed brick and recycled concrete as a partial replacement of natural aggregates in a production of prefabricated wall panels used for constructing nearly zero-energy buildings.Replacement ratios of natural aggregates by 40%, 50% and 60% were investigated. Mechanical, durability and thermal properties of recycled aggregate concrete were tested. The test results indicate the possibility of manufacturing concrete with recycled concrete aggregates and recycled brick aggregates, which can find wide use in the building construction process. In addition, energy efficiency and sustainability parameters of recycled aggregate concrete can be coupled with an exigent need to improve energy performance of the building stock in the European Union and neighbouring countries. It is shown in this paper that around 46% of embodied energy and around 39% of embodied carbon per panel can be saved for a life span of 50 years, compared to conventional structural concrete insulated panels.

Towards Zero: A Review on Strategies in Achieving Net-Zero-Energy and Net-Zero-Carbon Buildings

“…The choice of materials is crucial when considering the carbon emissions associated with construction. Due to the significance of materials in carbon emissions, many of the researchers also focused on discovering the feasibility of innovative materials, such as recycled aggregate concrete [26], natural materials of straw bale and earth [27], advanced building components [28], and timber [29], with the aim to decrease embodied energy in the process of building construction, operation, and end-of-life treatment when compared to conventional materials.…”

A holistic and smart carbon footprint NUKOSI tool for calculating the economic efficiency, energy efficiency, and environmental impact of construction measures

“…Potential for optimization exists. For example, Pečur et al (2015) prove that we can save 46% of the embodied energy and 39% of the carbon in each panel of crushed and recycled bricks compared to conventional structural concrete insulated panels over a 50-year life span. Regardless of the method used to calculate the carbon footprint, Joensuu et al (2022) show that the design for disassembly (DFD) of building components in LCA could be a potent climate protection strategy.…”

Preliminary monitoring results of ventilated heavyweight building envelope from recycled aggregate

“…With surface mass of 458 kg/m 2 , building constructed with this type of envelope system can be classified as a heavyweight building. Based on thorough research of mechanical and durability properties (Banjad Pečur et al 2015), replacement ratio of 50 % natural aggregate with recycled one deemed as the most favourable. As shown in Figure 1b), observed panel consists of four characteristic layers: outer RAC facade layer (6 cm), ventilated air cavity (4 cm), thermal insulation (20 cm), and inner self-loadbearing RAC layer (12 cm).…”

“…Contrary to that, its hygrothermal behaviour as an important aspect of overall performance, has only been scarcely investigated. There are fragmented research findings on thermal and hygric properties of different types of RAC at material level (Banjad Pečur et al 2015;Fenollera et al 2015;Zhu et al 2015). Having in mind the influence that building envelope's hygrothermal behaviour has on buildings energy needs, service performance, indoor thermal comfort and air quality which is directly related to the health of occupants (Feng and Janssen 2016), obviously there is a strong need to predict hygrothermal behaviour of RAC at component and ultimately at entire building level.…”