Role of civil engineering to

prevent global warming

Global warming introduction

According to government survey 27% of nations

carbon output is from UK households
[1]

MODERN METHODS of CONSTRUCTION

(MMC)
Concrete is the most commonly used material in the world- 1
ton of carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere for every
ton of production of bricks made of cement
Methods that are used as alternative to the traditional bricks
and blocks methods
Sustainability, quality and efficiency are the main attributes of
MMC.

SUSTAINABLE MODERN METHODS OF

COSTRUCTION- Construction Materials

Straw based technology

Timber Frame
Lime based technology
House bricks made of sewage

Timber Frame

[3]

Organic and naturally renewable building

material.

A tree absorbs tons of carbon dioxidescarbon neutral

Green construction

High insulation property

24.4% of all new housing in the UK

There is an excess production of softwood in

Europe, therefore increased stock of timber
each year.

Fast construction process- Reduced by 20%

of the working days of building a masonry
house.

Straw based technology

Building method that uses UK

agricultural by product straw (mainly
wheat)

More sustainable than brick-built

properties.

External load bearing walls are made

using tightly packed straw bale tied
together with hazel stakes

House built with straw

http://
www.self-build.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/homes_image/public/Graham1.png?i
tok=7IKqVQfs
Figure 1 ,2
http://designedtobreathe.blogspot.co.uk/2010_08_24_archive.html - Figure 3

Lime based technology

[4]

raw material for lime products: Sedimentary

rock limestone

more versatile than its predominant use as a

mortar, render or putty

Hempcrete: A mixture of hemp hurds and

lime .

Carbon negative

20 tonnes lower than a traditional brick and

block house

fire resistant

thermal stability

fast track construction

House built using Hempcrete

Three bedroom house: 75000

Masonry home : 160,000 for a three bedroom

http://
news.domain.com.au/domain/green/housing-on-a-green-high-20120319-1veh7.html figure 1,2

House bricks made of sewage

Blocks made of ash from burned sewage with vegetable oil

reduce the greenhouse gas emissions 160% for blocks and 120%for bricks

Carbon negative

No water is consumed at any stage of the process

passed the tests in fire, freeze, thaw and compressive strength [5]

Conclusion

Increase in green house gases such as carbon dioxides causes Global warming

Buildings account for 50% of CO2 (27% from households)

Cement production releases tons of CO2 to atmosphere

Modern Methods of Constructions:

- Timber Frames

- carbon neutral

-Straw based technology

-carbon neutral

-Lime based technology

-carbon negative

-Bricks made of sewage

-carbon negative

References
1. http://www.theccc.org.uk/tackling-climate-change/the-legal-landscape/global-action
-on-climate-change/
2. http://
www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf
3. UKTFA Market Report 2009 prepared by Timber trends, Issue 8, October 2010
4. http://www.limetechnology.co.uk/index.php?page=hembuild-system
5. http://www.smartwaste.co.uk/filelibrary/brick_incinsewagesludgeash.pdf