Jump to main content.

Research Project Search
 Enter Search Term:
   
 NCER Advanced Search

Growing Alternative Sustainable Buildings: Bio-composite Products from Natural Fiber, Biodegradable and Recyclable Polymer Materials for Load-bearing Construction Components

EPA Grant Number: SU832512
Title: Growing Alternative Sustainable Buildings: Bio-composite Products from Natural Fiber, Biodegradable and Recyclable Polymer Materials for Load-bearing Construction Components
Investigators: Giles, Harry , Adams, Robert , Kim, Kyoung-Hee , Robertson, Richard , Skerlos, Steven J.
Institution: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
EPA Project Officer: Nolt-Helms, Cynthia
Project Period: September 30, 2005 through May 30, 2006
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity, and the Planet (2005)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

The project is an integrative educational and research project that will revolutionize design and construction methods towards more sustainable buildings. The project will develop and test new product design concepts using bio-composite materials in load-bearing and façade elements in buildings, derived from natural fibers combined with bio-polymers or thermoplastic recyclable polymers to form matrix materials that result in a product that is derived from biodegradable, renewable and recyclable resources. The challenge will be to develop alternative and innovative design concepts that optimize on the unique properties of these materials.

These building components are targeted as the main products for construction in the context of economy, manufacturing, energy conservation, thermal performance, structural strength, durability, construction, end use and disposal. The project will integrate the disciplines of architecture, structural engineering, environmental technology, materials science, industrial engineering and natural resources, in order to address the interdisciplinary nature of buildings and their environmental impact. We have included practitioner partners from the automotive, architecture and manufacturing industries to collaborate on product development. The design concepts will be evaluated through professional practice peer review, materials and manufacturing analysis, prototyping, laboratory testing, computational simulation and life cycle analysis. The positive implications for P3 will be to encourage non-food farming to supply materials for ‘growing’ buildings, serving to preserve the planet’s natural resources, promote agricultural diversity and increase prosperity for agricultural communities across all nations. The pedagogical value of this project will be translated to hundreds of students through the different disciplines into a number of senior capstone engineering and architecture technology courses in each of the associated colleges.

Supplemental Keywords:

ecological effects, bioavailability, ecosystem, habitat, integrated assessment, green chemistry, life-cycle analysis, alternatives, sustainable development, clean technologies, innovative technology, renewable, waste reduction, waste minimization, cost benefit, public good, conservation, environmental assets, engineering, ecology, analytical, EPA regions, agriculture, industry, building construction, manufacturing methods, technology transfer, product design , INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Energy, Environmental Engineering, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Chemistry and Materials Science, clean technology, pollution prevention design, clean manufacturing designs, cleaner production, green design, environmentally preferable products, sustainable development, modular panelized construction system, hydraulic cement, product life cycle, natural pozzolans, alternative materials, energy efficiency, environmentally conscious design, green home building, recyclable polymer material, construction material

Top of page

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.