There are two ways to mimic natural materials. Either you can mimic the composition of the material itself, or you can copy the process by which the material was made.
— Michelle Oyen
As the world grapples with climate change, we urgently need to find ways of reducing our CO₂ emissions. Sectors which rely heavily on fossil fuels, such as energy and aviation, are commonly held to be the worst offenders. But what most people don’t realise is that there’s another culprit, hiding in plain sight; on the streets of our cities, and in the buildings where we live and work.
In 2007 alone, steel and concrete were each responsible for more CO₂ emissions than the entire global aviation industry. Before reaching the construction site, both steel and cement must be processed at very high temperatures – and this takes a lot of energy. So how can we reduce our dependence on these “dirty” materials, when they play such a crucial role in construction?
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Reproduced courtesy of University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering
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