Development of interactive facade elements on base of waste materials of water companies

Abstract

As the materials of a building are responsible for more than half of energy use of that building over the whole lifetime, low carbon materials are, in the framework of climate change, a necessity for future building. Within this framework a new material based on (bio-based) waste streams has been developed and demonstrated. The new material has a high bio circular content of >82%. It consists out of: waste fibers like toilet paper and roadside grass giving strength to the material; Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), a waste material from drinking water companies, transporting all materials while compressing; Bio-based polyester resin, for 50% produced out of waste glycol of biodiesel production, made from animal waste and frying fat.

The material was demonstrated as façade elements in a very low-energy housing project participating in the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 challenge in Dubai. In addition a proof of concept of an interactive façade has been realised.