Nature & Spirituality Case Studies
Design Thinking in Lighting Design to Meet User Needs
Kamil Kubiak, MDPI “Sustainability” Journal
In the age of noticing the adverse effects of our activities on the climate, we pay more and more attention to designing sustainable solutions. Assumptions made during such sustainable designs often do not fulfil user needs. Therefore, we frequently encounter discrepancies, such as higher energy consumption and user modifications in the building systems compared to the design and use stages.
Optimizing Sustainability of Concrete Structures Using Tire-Derived Aggregates
Zeinab A. Younis & Maryam Nazari , MDPI “CivilEng” Journal
Tire-derived aggregate concrete (TDAC), or rubberized concrete, is gaining ground as an eco-friendly option in civil engineering. By substituting traditional coarse aggregates with recycled rubber tires, TDAC offers a greener choice with excellent energy absorption capabilities. This leads to robust structures and reduced upkeep expenses. Nonetheless, TDAC’s lower strength than regular concrete requires a delicate balance between energy absorption and strength.
A New Method for Proportioning Sustainable, Economic, and Resilient Concrete
Gokul Dev Vasudevan,Naga Pavan Vaddey, & David Trejo, MDPI “Construction Materials” Journal
The ordinary Portland cement (OPC) component of concrete is the highest contributor to concrete’s cost and carbon footprint. Historically, code-writing organizations have required a high volume of paste in concrete mixtures by imposing minimum limits on the OPC content for a given application. However, high paste contents can result in dimensional instability, higher costs, higher carbon footprints, and lower durability. Minimizing the OPC content in concrete can provide economic, durability, and sustainability benefits.
Environmental Impacts of Reinforced Concrete Buildings: Comparing Common and Sustainable Materials: A Case Study
Niyousha Fallah Chamasemani, Massih Kelishadi ,Hasan Mostafaei,Mohammad Amin Dehghani Najvani, and Mohammadreza Mashayekhi, MDPI “Construction Materials” Journal
This research examines the impact of material selection on the carbon footprint of reinforced concrete buildings, aiming to reduce embodied carbon. For this purpose, two reinforced concrete buildings are designed for their embodied carbon to quantify their environmental impact. The first building employs commonly used materials such as ceramics, clay bricks, stone, and plaster. In contrast, the second building incorporates sustainable materials such as cork, plywood, and rockwool.