Global Warming and Civil Engineering
Global Warming and Civil Engineering
Global Warming and Civil Engineering
Much has been written and debated over recent years about the and the
effect of climate change, global warming , worlds diminishing natural
resources and the increased use of energy in our day-to-day lives.
There are many components present in the atmosphere of the earth. 78%
of the atmosphere is Nitrogen gas and 21% of it is Oxygen gas. There are
so many other types of gases present in small quantities such as carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and water vapour,
which are recently known as greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases
have a vital role in maintaing the average temperature of the earth. But
the increase in the amount of these gases would cause a serious danger
to the earths atmosphere and could bring an end to living beings in the
world.
Global warming is a dramatic increase in temperature of the earth within a short
period of time because of several reasons .Earth receives radiations from sun.
The radiation from the sun that reaches the outer limits of the atmosphere is
mainly in the visible and ultraviolet regions. Part of this energy is absorbed by
the earth and its atmosphere, and part is reflected back into space. The part that
gets absorbed helps to heat the earth, and the earth in turn radiates energy back
into space. A steady state is reached where the earth is radiating energy as fast
as it absorbs it. Under such conditions, the average temperature of the Earth
remains constant. But this regular phenomenon is affected by several facts, and
one of the major fact is greenhouse gases such as Methane, CFCs, Carbon
dioxide. These gases absorb some of the infrared radiation emitted from the
surface of the earth and prevent it being re-radiated into space. The effect of this
makes the earth warmer. 1
Figure-1
Figure-2
1-THE CHANGING WORLD OF WEATHER (Clive Carpenter)
2-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
3- http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/ccs/occs/occs.aspx
accessed 2/12/2010
Figure-1-http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/global-warming2.htm
Figure-2- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
3- http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf
4- http://www.greenbeams.com/state.pdf
5- http://www.greenbeams.com/state.pdf
6- http://www.celsias.com/article/carbon-negative-encos-bricks/
7- http://www.pu-europe.eu/site/fileadmin/Reports_public/sustainability_a_guide.pdf
According to UKTFA If all new houses built in the UK since 1945 had been timber
frame, more than 300 million tonnes of CO2 would have been saved. At the
current building rates, it will take us another 200 years to achieve carbon savings
of this magnitude. 9
8- http://www.timberframesweb.com/environment.html
9- http://uktfa.com/the-environment/
Tradical Hempcrete 10 state that their products are unique, highly sustainable
construction products for creation of insulating walls as well as insulation layers
for floors and roofs. Hempcrete is a blend of specially prepared hemp shiv and a
special lime based binder. Together these products form a bio-composite building
material that can be used both for creation of buildings that have excellent
thermal and acoustic properties as well as creating a healthy living and working
environment. These type of building technologies are considered by many to be
a fundamentally renewable and if claims that these produts are carbon negative,
(due to the CO2 embodied in the growing and harvesting being greater than
emitted during in the firing processes) then it would have considerable
sustainability advantages over traditional building materials.
Although lime/crop based building materials generally have low load bearing
capacities when used conjunction with other sustainable construction methods
(such as timber), structural building envelopes can be created that are highly
thermally efficient as well as structural. These products can be delivered as
propriety units or mixed on site for fast track construction and can be easily be
made waterproof, fireproof and air-tight. In addition these products, do not rot,
are not susceptible to pest attack and are completely recyclable with many the
suppliers claiming fertilizer can be created from demolition processes.
Figure-3
Figure-4
10- http://www.limetechnology.co.uk/pdfs/CPD_Introduction_to_Hemcrete.pdf
Video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpbX45EYDs
Figure-5
11- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7948843.stm
12-http://www.eminnovation.org.uk/Page.aspx?SP=4389
Figure-5-http://www.strawbalenet.eu/attachments/063_1300268831Carol_Atkinson_edited_report3.pdf
successfully to the market. These bricks have also passed the tests in fire,
freeze, thaw and compressive strength13. And the report of Best food forward Ltd
states that these bricks made of sewage results reduction of 160% and 120%
respectively in greenhouse gas emmisions.
13- http://www.celsias.com/article/carbon-negative-encos-bricks/
http://encosltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Ecobuild2012.pdf
a relatively easy process. Additional benefits are the units arrive at site
completely weatherproof so that interiors work can commence immediately and
remain protected through the assembly process. In some instances factory
production has advanced to an extent that units can actually be complete fully
fitted out before arrival on site.
The main advantage of using shipping containers is energy management. As this
is being reused these shipping containers, they doesnt have to be melted in to
its raw material which requires an enormous amount of energy. Because
according to UK government energy management plays a vital role in reduction
of carbon emission , hence the reduction of global warming. 14
and in most case locally sourced, with the necessary additional measures to
meet the requirement to reach higher levels of the sustainable code for homes
easily incorporated without adding huge cost beyond that of brick and block.
These advantages are leading manufactures to see ICF as direct competition for
brick and block construction.
There are many more advantages in using Insulating concrete formwork such as
saving energy, fire safety, thermal efficiency and acoustic performance. And due
to its high performance in thermal insulation and air in filtration the carbon
emission from the building becomes significantly low. Because of materials such
as polystyrene which and unique cavity closures ICF has a greater insulation
property. This can reduce the energy consumption by 30%. 16
is for bathroom or kitchen areas (this way of working enables many of the reqired
fixtures and fittings to be assembled in the factory) although more instances are
occurring where modules making up the entire home are being fabricated. Off
site construction is the best suited and becomes more efficient when large
numbers of identical houses are required. The other main type of manufacturing
is panelised method 18 .This construction type involves prefabricating
components of the home such as the walls, floors and roofs again in specialised
factories before transporting the completed units to be assembled on site. As
previously mentioned timber frame walls are regularly constructed in this
manner although numerous other walling materials such as lightweight steels
and components concretes are now constructed in this manner. In terms of
walling panels the forms usually comprise either a structural insulated panels
(SIPS) these generally comprise a sandwiching an insulating material core
between two layers of a sheet material or open or closed panels: Open panels
are constructed and delivered to site where insulation, windows , services and
lining are fitted. Whereas closed panels are completed units with the required
wiring, doors and windows already fitted. I t is suggested that this type of house
building is future of house building due to the obvious economical and speed
benefits it offers and there are currently many companies involved in this type
production.
Total carbon dioxide emission of building a new house is about 56 tones. The offsite manufactured house has 17% lower emission than the houses which are
built on site.19
17- National House Building Council NHBC A Guide to modern Construction Methods.
18- Parlimentary Office of Science and Technology POST guidance (2003)
(http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn209.pdf)
19- http://www.censa.org.uk/docs/ISA-UK_Report_07-04_OSM_House.pdf
intent to address sustainability issues over recent years. The code for sustainable
housing is the Governments key for driving sustainability in the domestic
construction sector and although the CSH is at presents still a voluntary
document, there are signs that the government is progressing towards a
mandatory enforcement. With all new housing funded by Homes and
Communities Agency (HCA) homes supported by the Welsh Assembly and all selfcontained social housing in Northern Ireland already setting a required minimum
CSH level 3 rating to be met, with some local authorities pressing further by
setting CSH level 4 as a minimum standard to be achieved as a condition of
planning approval.
Whilst the CSH is predominantly aimed at improving the overall energy efficiency
and performance of a home, house builders that commit to using the CSH will
undoubtedly increase their overall understanding of the benefits of using other
sustainable construction products. This broader knowledge could lead to
alternative products being implemented that are than just measures to satisfy
the requirements set out in code but potentially more environmentally and
economically viable and in time could become a more financially beneficial to the
way in which homes are constructed. The prospect of the CSH as legislation
alongside Energy Performance Certificates could influence the way house
builders select and utilise their building materials.
Commissioned by government a review of the UKs housing supply was carried
out by barker in 2004 20 . The report found that there was an affordable housing
shortage which was creating a
widening social and economic divide
with in UK The government is now attempting to address this housing supply
shortage by setting the house building industry high targets to supply
approximately 3 million new UK homes by 2016 and has published the
sustainable Communities- Building for the Future 21report which outlines a major
new house building programme to help this meet growth. Contained within this
report are details advocating the use of MMC to get homes built more quickly,
more safely, and to a higher standard. It also specifies that a proportion of
dwellings procured using public funds will have to constructed using innovative
methods to create new affordable housing as well
20 -Barker K Review of Housing supply Delivering Stability: Securing our Future Housing Needs
(2004) (http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2004/03/17/Barker.pdf)
21- Office of the deputy Prime minister (ODPM)- Sustainable communities: Building for the future .
(http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/146289.pdf)
costs database that quantifies the actual cost of using alternative sustainable
product and methods in practice.
Taylor Wimpey report also highlights the financial implications of home buyer:
The cost of different levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes are significantly
higher than those published in the Governments Costs Analysis of Final Report
(July 2008) our experience to date suggests that customers would not be
prepared to pay the amounts required to reach the higher Code levels. 23
22-http://gse.cat.org.uk/public_downloads/research/hemp/building_with_hemp_and_lime.pdf
23- Taylorwimpey Analysing the Code for Sustainable Homes 2008
(http://plc.taylorwimpey.co.uk/Resources/Documents/code_for_sustainable_homes_analysis.pdf)
References
1-THE CHANGING WORLD OF WEATHER (Clive Carpenter)
2-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
3- http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/ccs/occs/occs.aspx
accessed 2/12/2010
3- http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf
4- http://www.greenbeams.com/state.pdf
5- http://www.greenbeams.com/state.pdf
6- http://www.celsias.com/article/carbon-negative-encos-bricks/
7- http://www.pu-europe.eu/site/fileadmin/Reports_public/sustainability_a_guide.pdf
8- http://www.timberframesweb.com/environment.html
9- http://uktfa.com/the-environment/
10- http://www.limetechnology.co.uk/pdfs/CPD_Introduction_to_Hemcrete.pdf
11- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7948843.stm
12-http://www.eminnovation.org.uk/Page.aspx?SP=4389
13- http://www.celsias.com/article/carbon-negative-encos-bricks/
14- http://moderngov.sthelens.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=10251 (page 7)
15-A.Tovey, J.Roberts, M.kilcommons - Design and Construction Using Insulated Concrete
Formwork. (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/22565259/Design-and-Construction-using-InsulatingConcrete-Formwork )
16- http://energyefficientbuilders.co.uk/how-green-is-icfhttp://www.icf-tech.com/
17- National House Building Council NHBC A Guide to modern Construction Methods.
18- Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology POST guidance (2003)
(http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn209.pdf)
19- http://www.censa.org.uk/docs/ISA-UK_Report_07-04_OSM_House.pdf
20 -Barker K Review of Housing supply Delivering Stability: Securing our Future Housing Needs
(2004) (http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2004/03/17/Barker.pdf)
21- Office of the deputy Prime minister (ODPM)- Sustainable communities: Building for the future .
(http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/146289.pdf
22-http://gse.cat.org.uk/public_downloads/research/hemp/building_with_hemp_and_lime.pdf
23- Taylorwimpey Analysing the Code for Sustainable Homes 2008
(http://plc.taylorwimpey.co.uk/Resources/Documents/code_for_sustainable_homes_analysis.pdf)
Challeneges
Straw- http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Straw_Bale_Construction/Print_version
Barriers page 38-More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide To Designing And Building With
Straw
By Chris Magwood, Peter MacK, Tina Therrien