materials science
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
01PQKPQ Cusco Sun City: an experimental territory on the site of the Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport
Laboratorio materiali
3rd lesson_ introductory notes on sustainnability Simonetta Pagliolico Politecnico di Torino
“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Report, 1987) The three main pillars of sustainable development include Economic growth, Environmental protection and social Equality: the triple-E-rule
Sustainable development
Economic growth Social Equality Environmental protection
Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: http://conspect.nl/pdf/Our_Common_Fu ture-Brundtland_Report_1987.pdf
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
"... cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature� and it becomes: “ one of the roots of development understood not simply in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence".
sustainability
Art 1 and 3, The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, UNESCO, 2001
The fourth pillar of sustainable development: cultural diversity
economic social environmental cultural diversity
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT
it is implicit in the definition that it should be transferred to future generations the capital that we ourselves have inherited and the polluted Gulf of the Mexico? the global warming? the hole in the ozone?
a new way to address the issue:
WE HAVE BORROWED FROM FUTURE NATURAL CAPITAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TO RETURN WITH AN INTEREST RATE
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT
resources are managed for the benefit of the Earth and future generations and not only for profit maximization
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT
further evolution of the concept of sustainability: transition from an
ANTHROPOCENTRIC POINT OF VIEW
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT
to an ECOCENTRIC VISION
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT
Adam and Eve … they are so small!
Jan Brueghel the Elder. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 1615. Oil on copper. Royal Collection, UK
is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area necessary to supply the a human population consumes, and to assimilate associated waste. Using this assessment, it is possible to estimate how much of the Earth (or how many planet Earths) it would take to support humanity if everybody followed a given lifestyle.
average ecological footprint of the inhabitants of the earth should not exceed 1.8 hectares per person, while today it is already 2.2 hectare (9.5 for USA, 4.5 for Germany, 4.2 for Italy, 1.5 for China, 0.8 for India and 0.3 for Eritrea)
1970
2000
IN ONLY 30 YEARS THE ECOLOGICAL WEIGHT OF MAN ON THE PLANET HAS INCREASED BY 30%
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
I am below italian average, I’m vegetarian, I buy local food, I don’t use car, I use energy saving features, I have water saving features and habits in my home, I recycle waste… but if everyone lived the same lifestyle of mine we would require the regenerative capacity of 1.47 planets each year !!!
http://myfootprint.org/en/your_goods_and_services_footprint/
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
MINDMAP (http://learningfundamentals.com.au)
WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE OUR ECOLOGICAL FOOT PRINT?
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
THE FUNDAMENTAL BENCHMARKS OF SUSTAINABILITY: “WHAT ARE WE USING?” “HOW WELL ARE WE USING IT?”
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
10 GUIDELINES
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Search for a harmonious and sustainable land use, urban environment and building intervention Protect the historical identity of the city and promote the maintenance of historical characters and typologies linked to the tradition of the buildings Contribute with actions and measures to the energy saving and use of renewable sources Design building which ensure a safe and healthy Search and apply sustainable building technologies in terms of environmental, economic, and social life Use certified quality materials and eco-friendly Designing differentiated solutions to meet the different requirements of quality of living Ensuring aspects of "safety" 'and "security" of the building Apply the automation for the development of a new quality of living Promote vocational training, participatory planning and taking informed about the decisions in construction
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
a sustainable building should be: "capable of maintaining constant its performance over time with a reduced consumption of energy and materials.“
The sustainability of a building involves:
ENVIRONMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY THE CONSUMPTION OF WATER THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE OCCUPANTS THE DURABILITY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COSTS AND BENEFITS
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
It could be helpful to categorize the aspects of green in 2 categories:
Resource management Environmental impact
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
THE ASPECTS OF GREEN
perpetual (solar, wind, tidal energy) renewable (timber, soil, grasses, etc.) non-renewable (oil, coal, aluminum, etc.).
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Source: OECD, based on SERI (2006), MOSUS MFA database, Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Vienna,
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
A resource management hierarchy
perpetual (solar, wind, tidal energy)
renewable (timber, soil, grasses, etc.) nonrenewable (oil, coal, aluminum, etc.).
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT_ Reduce
Prevention
can be done by a combination of several strategies. Especially mentioned is the development of clean technologies, eco-labels, environmental management systems, information, training and awareness raising and incentives, voluntary agreements, public and corporate procurement or promotion of reuse and/or repair. Prevention programs include appropriate measures to promote high quality recycling by separate collections of waste. A focus is put on paper, metal, plastic and glass and on C&D.
Reduce
the amount of products means that fewer resources are consumed (including the fuel and energy required to manufacture, package and ship those goods), and fewer resources are required to recycle, or dispose of, what we discard. Reducing what we consume reduces the amount of garbage that litters the land and occupies space in community landfills. It also cuts down on the amount of transportation that is required to have our goods delivered to our communities, and for our recyclables to be shipped elsewhere to be transformed.
Re-use is defined as any operation by that products or product components which are not waste are used again. The “preparing for re-use” includes checking, cleaning or repairing recovery operations of products or product components in order to re-use them without further pre-processing.
Recycling
is any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes. Recycling includes composting (reprocessing of organic material). It neither includes Energy Recovery nor the reprocessing into materials to be used as fuels or for backfilling.
Recovery comprises any operation of which the principal result is waste serving a useful purpose by replacing other materials that would otherwise have been used to fulfil a particular function, or waste being prepared to fulfil that function, in the plant or “in the wider economy”. Using a variety of processes, we can transform waste into energy. For example, MSW incinerators, by capturing and combusting gases emitted by the decomposition of organic materials in a landfill to produce electricity.
Disposal
means any operation that is not recovery, e.g. deposit into or on to land (e.g. landfill, etc.), permanent storage (e.g. emplacement of containers in a mine, etc.), incineration etc.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT_ waste hierarchy
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Reduce
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Reuse
http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-blog/blogs/wobo.jpg
When a product is recycled into something of greater quality than its original form, it is called ‘upcycling’. Conversely, when a product is recycled into something of lower quality than its original form, it is called ‘downcycling’. A plastic bottle that is recycled into a fleece sweater would be an example of upcycling, while that same plastic bottle mixed with other plastics to make a lower quality plastic would be an example of downcycling.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling_downcycling
ďƒź the materials go down in quality over time, they are downcycled to a point where it is no longer economically or chemically feasible to transform them,
ďƒź products made from recycled materials can have harmful additives and toxins. When plastics are melted together, chemical or mineral additives may be used to recoup the clarity and strength of the original plastic
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling_downcycling
?
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling_upcycling
Case study 1_RECICLYNG ASPHALT •
asphalt waste was used for the production of new asphalt
•
broken asphalt can be bonded with cement and used in place of sand or cement sub-bases
•
old asphalt materials are crushed for recycling as asphalt aggregate, mixed with sand and binder. The binder can be either cement or a liquid in the form of a bituminous emulsion; a combination of cement and a liquid binder are used as well
•
only a limited proportion of asphalt can be reused in highly pervious road surface, as the composition of these mixtures is highly critical.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling
Case study 1_RECICLYNG ASPHALT Several recycling technologies have been implementing in recycling asphalt materials: •
Cold recycling, water and stabilizing agent, such as cement, foamed bitumen and emulsified bitumen are added recycled asphalt
•
Heat generation results in a rearrangement of the original physical properties and chemical compositions of the bitumen asphalt aggregate
•
Minnesota process the old asphalt is heated at above normal temperature (180 ◦C) to restructure the old materials asphalt aggregate
•
Parallel drum process is undertaking preheating in a separate dryer and heater drum asphalt aggregate
•
Elongated drum process includes drying and heating of the aggregate, adding asphalt aggregate, followed by adding filler and bitumen, and finally, mixing of all components asphalt aggregate
•
Microwave asphalt recycling system includes de-ironing and crushing the asphalt rubble asphalt aggregate
•
Finfalt process can produce the recycled asphalt immediately prior to dosage by a mobile plant treating the materials asphalt aggregate
•
Surface regeneration refers to all techniques where asphalt in the road is heated to a depth of several centimeters below the surface and is subsequently processed again in situ asphalt aggregate.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling
Case study 2_C&D CONCRETE •
Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste constitutes a major portion of total solid waste production in the world, and most of it is used in land fills.
•
Research by concrete engineers has clearly suggested the possibility of appropriately treating and reusing such waste as aggregate in new concrete, especially in lower level applications.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling
Case study 2_C&D CONCRETE Recycled concrete aggregate could be produced from: (a) recycled precast elements and cubes after testing, (b) demolished concrete buildings. In the former case, the aggregate could be relatively clean, with only the cement paste adhering to it, in the latter case the aggregate could be contaminated with salts, bricks and tiles, sand and dust, timber, plastics, cardboard and paper, and metals. It has been shown that contaminated aggregate after separation from other waste, and sieving, can be used as a substitute for natural coarse aggregates in concrete. As with natural aggregate, the quality of recycled aggregates, in terms of size distribution, absorption, abrasion, etc. also needs to be assessed before using the aggregate.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recycling
capturing and combusting gases emitted by the decomposition of organic materials in a landfill.
combusting wastes.
The Maishima waste treatment center in Osaka, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, transform waste into energy by combusting wastes and uses heat for power generation.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Recover
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Resource management_LCA
supply of raw materials: minerals and stones extraction, dredging, excavation derived from gas and oil drilling, pumping and pipeline transport, cellulosebased materials: the collection may involve the consumption of non-renewable fuels
transport of raw materials to the manufacturing industries involve the use of means such as train, truck, ship consuming non-renewable fuels
manufacturing processes of materials and building components: primary processing, secondary processing and product manufacturing may involve the consumption of non-renewable fuels
Distribution: involves the use of means such as train, truck, ship consuming non-renewable fuels
Put in work: may involve the consumption of nonrenewable fuels
Usage stage and maintenance: may involve the consumption of non-renewable fuels
End of life and disposal: may involve the consumption of non-renewable fuels
Calkins M., Materials for sustainable sites, Jhon Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2009
Environmental concern
Connections to construction materials
Global Climate Change
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy use, non-fossil fuel emissions from material manufacture (e.g. Cement production, iron and steel processing), transportation of materials, landfill gases
Fossil fuel depletion
Electricity and direct fossil fuel usage (e.g., power and heating requirements)
Stratospheric ozone depletion
Emissions of CFCs, HCFCs, halons, nitrous oxide (e.g., cooling requirements, cleaning methods, use of fluorine compounds, aluminum and steel production)
Air pollution
Fossil fuel combustion, mining, material processing, manufacturing processes, transport, construction and demolition
Smog
Fossil fuel combustion, mining, material processing, manufacturing processes, transport, construction and demolition
Acidification
Sulfur and NOx emissions from fossil fuel combustion, smelting, acid leaching, acide mine drainage and cleaning
Eutrophication
Manufacturing effluents, nutrients from nonpoint source runoff, fertilizers, waste disposal
Habitat alteration
Land appropriate for mining, excavating, and harvesting materials. Growing of biomaterials, manufacturing, waste disposal
Loss of biodiversity
Resource extraction, water usage, acid deposition, thermal pollution
Water resource depletion
Water usage and effluent discharges of processing and manufacturing
Ecological toxicity
Solid waste and emissions from mining and manifacturing, use, maintenance and disposal of construction materials
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CONNECTION TO BUILDINGS
A long-term fluctuactions in temperature, precipitation, wind, and other aspects on the Earth’s climate have a potential impact to many aspects of life on the planet: rising sea levels, melting glaciers, more violent storms, loss of biodiversity, reduced food supplies, and displaced population. Global Climate Change -- Earth Science Communications Team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology (data from NOAA)
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CONNECTION TO BUILDINGS
The IPCC (http://www.ipcc.ch\)
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND CONNECTION TO BUILDINGS
GHG related to the production, use and waste management of building materials
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide. GWP is calculated over a specific time interval, commonly 20, 100 or 500 years and is expressed as a factor of carbon dioxide: GWP (CO2) = 1. substance
GWP [kgCO2-ekv/kg]
possible occurence
CO2
1
Processes based on fossil fuels, cement and lime production, waste treatment (incineration)
Cloromethane
16
Plastics, syntetic rubbers, insulation foams
Dichloromethane
15
Paints, insulation foams
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
Insulation foams
- HCFC22
1700
- HCFC 141b
630
- HCFC 142b
2000
Hydrofluorocarbons
Insulation foams
- HFC 134a
1300
- HFC 152a
140
- HFC 245
950
- HFC 365
890
Berge B., The ecology of building materials, 2nd ed., Elsevier, Architectural Press, Oxford, 2009.
GHG related to the production, use and waste management of building materials substance
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
embodied carbon GWP [kgCO2-ekv/kg]
Possible occurrence
CH4
21
Animal materials (ruminants), steel and concrete production (coal mining), waste treatment (landfills, incineration)
NOx
310
Plant materials (artificial fertilizer), waste treatment (incineration)
Pentane
11
Insulation foams
23900
Double glazing
Sulfur exafluoride Perfluorocarbons PFCs
Aluminium production
- perfluoromethane
6500
- perfluoroethane
9200
Berge B., The ecology of building materials, 2nd ed., Elsevier, Architectural Press, Oxford, 2009.
The term “embodied carbon” is defined as “embodied CO2 ” emitted at all stages of a product’s manufacturing process, from the extraction of raw materials through the distribution process, to the final product provided to the consumer. It is noted that “embodied CO2 ” can be referred to in two ways: CO2 only and CO2 equivalent which includes CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). CO2 emissions that are related to building material production
different methodologies produce different understandings of the scale and scope of application and the type of energy embodied.
precautions when comparing embodied energy analysis results
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
is the sum of all the energy needed to manufacture a good including raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition. It may or may not include the feedstock energy (heat of combustion of raw material).
Energy MJ per kg 0.083 1.11 3
Carbon kg CO2 per kg 0.0048 0.159 0.24
Density kg /m3 2240 2400 1700
Concrete block (Medium density)
0.67
0.073
1450
Aerated block Limestone block Marble Cement mortar (1:3) Steel (general, av. recycled content) Stainless steel
3.5 0.85 2 1.33 20.1 56.7
0.3
750 2180 2500
Timber (general, excludes sequestration)
10
0.72
Glue laminated timber
12
0.87
Cellulose insulation (loose fill)
0.94 – 3.3
43
Cork insulation
26.00*
160
Glass fibre insulation (glass wool)
28
1.35
12
Flax insulation Rockwool (slab)
39.5 16.8
1.7 1.05
30 24
Expanded Polystyrene insulation
88.6
2.55
15 – 30
Polyurethane insulation (rigid foam)
101.5
3.48
30
Wool (recycled) insulation Straw bale Mineral fibre roofing tile Slate Clay tile
20.9 0.91 37 0.1 – 1.0 6.5
2.7 0.006 – 0.058 0.45
25 100 – 110 1850 1600 1900
Aluminium (general & incl 33% recycled)
155
8.24
2700
Bitumen (general) Medium-density fibreboard Plywood Plasterboard Gypsum plaster Glass PVC (general) Vinyl flooring
51 11 15 6.75 1.8 15 77.2 65.64
0.38 - 0.43 0.72 1.07 0.38 0.12 0.85 2.41 2.92
680 – 760 540 - 700 800 1120 2500 1380 1200
0.116 0.208 1.37 6.15
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
Material Aggregate Concrete (1:1.5:3) Bricks (common)
7800 7850 480 - 720
Selected data from the Inventory of Carbon and Energy ('ICE') prepared by the University of Bath (UK)
http://www.canadianarchitect.com
BUILDING MATERIALS
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
MATERIALS according to Webster’s dictionary, materials can be defined as substances of which something is composed or made any object or finished good that has mass and takes up space cannot be realized without making use of materials
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS materials used for the construction of buildings and infrastructures
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
BUILDING MATERIALS
STRUCTURE
“[…] any assemblage of materials which is intended to sustain loads” everything is a structure, buildings, bridges, machinery, aeroplanes, ships, plants and animals …
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
BUILDING MATERIALS
IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MATERIAL AND STRUCTURE? different scales:
chemical bonds
atomic and molecular structure
microstructure
macrostructure
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
BUILDING MATERIALS
CATEGORIES metals
Ceramic materials
Polymeric materials
crystalline
crystalline/amorphous
crystalline/amorphous
opaque
transparent/opaque
transparent
strong and ductile
brittle
ductile/brittle
Composite materials RECENT ADVANCES IN MATERIALS AND FUTURE TRENDS Smart materials: they have the ability to sense external environmental stimuli and respond to them by changing their properties, structure, or functions. Nanomaterials: are those materials that have a characteristic length scale smaller than 100 nm (1 nm = 10-9 m).
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
MATERIALS
principal properties of metals, polymeric and ceramic materials. properties
metals
ceramics
polymers
Density (g/cm3)
2-16
2-17
1-2
Melting point
variable
high (1400°C) low
Hardness
mean
high
low
Workability
good
poor
good
tensile
2500
400
120
compression
2500
2500
350
Thermal conductivity
mean
mean-low
low
Electrical properties
conducting
nonconducting
nonconducting
Chemical resistance
low-mean
excellent
generally good
Strength (MPa)
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
MATERIALS
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
“what are the green building materials?” the response is not “black“ or “ "shade of
- or of
” but a "
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
BUILDING MATERIALS SELECTION LEED for Schools rating system
checklist
Maximum score
Maximum score affected by the choice of materials
Sustainable Sites (SS)
24
2
Water Efficiency (WE)
11
0
Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
33
19
Materials and Resources (MR)
13
13
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
19
4
Innovation in Design (ID)
6
3
Regional Priority (RP)
4
0
110
41
Total score
Certifications are awarded according to the following scale: Certified 40–49 points Silver 50–59 points Gold 60–79 points Platinum 80 points and above
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
BUILDING MATERIALS SELECTION CHECKLIST Sustainable Sites (24 possible pts)
Regional priority (4 possible pts)
Water Efficiency (11 possible pts)
Innovation in Design (6 possible pts)
Energy & Atmosphere (33 possible pts)
Indoor Environmental Quality (19 possible pts) Maximum score
Materials & Resources (13 possible pts)
Maximum score affected by the choice of materials
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
The main environmental impacts of new buildings – such as office buildings or dwellings – are related to the use stage although other stages are not negligible.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
It could be helpful to categorize the aspects of green in 3 categories: Environmental impact and resources management health, toxicity/IAQ Performance
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
TOXICITY/IAQ
• •
IEQ INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IAQ INDOOR AIR QUALITY Building materials play a major role in determining the IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) due to their large surface areas and permanent exposure to indoor air.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
TOXICITY
•
THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES (TLVS) of a chemical substance is a level to which it is believed a worker can be exposed day after day for a working lifetime without adverse health effects. Strictly speaking, TLV is a reserved term of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). However, it is sometimes loosely used to refer to other similar concepts used in occupational health and toxicology. TLVs, along with biological exposure indices (BEIs), are published annually by the ACGIH. The TLV is an estimate based on the known toxicity in humans or animals of a given chemical substance, and the reliability and accuracy of the latest sampling and analytical methods. It is not a static definition since new research can often modify the risk assessment of substances and new laboratory or instrumental analysis methods can improve analytical detection limits.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)
The variety of chemical substances present in modern building products, household products and furnishings, provides potential for chemical reactions in the material, on the material surface and in the gas phase. It is an ‘‘indoor chemistry’’. BUILDING MATERIALS MAY RELEASE A WIDE VARIETY OF POLLUTANTS, ESPECIALLY, THE VOC, WHICH COULD CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS. Indoor air contains many highly reactive molecules and radicals such as ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydroxyl radicals (OH) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), that are either introduced from the outside air or generated directly indoors by human activities (gas cookers, UV lighting, etc.).
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
VOCs (VOCs) are a group of organic chemical compounds that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature due to a low boiling point (from about -50 °C to about 260°C), which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. An example is formaldehyde, with a boiling point of –19 °C, slowly exiting paint and getting into the air. VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both man-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. VOCs are typically not acutely toxic, but instead have compounding long-term health effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop. Major sources that contribute to the indoor pollution are human activities, building product emissions, and infiltration of the outdoor air. For new or renovated buildings, the primary emission of VOCs (e.g., solvents) from building products generally dominates for a period of up to some months. Ageing of building products, by chemical (e.g., ozone, moisture) or physical (e.g., heat, weariness, UV-light decomposition) may result in secondary emissions (from building products), which contribute to the pollution indoors, in some cases continuously (Wolkoff, 1999).
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
VOCs
Wolkoff, P., How to measure and evaluate volatile organic compound emissions from building products. A perspective. The Science of the Total Environment 227, 197–213, 1999.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
PERFORMANCES
Energy efficiency Durability Installation method Maintenance materials and processes The ability of the product to be recycled or reused at the end of the usefull life
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
NEEDS
Security Wellness Usability Appearance Integrability Management Environmental Protection
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
REQUIREMENTS
Sound Absorption Mechanical Resistance Waterproofing Workability Finishing Control Manteinability Cleanability Interstitial And Surface Condensation Control Thermal Insulation Fire Reaction Fire Resistance
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS PERFORMANCES_CHEMICAL Durability
Health Controltoxicity
Environmental Impact Control
PHYSICAL
Acoustic insulation Waterproofing Thermal inertia Transmittance
HYGROTHERMIC
Mass condensation Surface condensation vapour and gas permeability
MECHANICAL
Resistance Hearthquake resistance Typhoon resistance
FIRE REACTION
Fire reaction Fire resistance
BIOLOGICAL
Asepticity Toxicity Cleanability
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
PERFORMANCES_PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL
stratification: each layer is capable of performing certain functions
additional costs of processing and problems in the reuse or disposal
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
PERFORMANCES_STRATIFICATION AND COMPOSITES
which is the best material? 1. Cost 2. Technical performance 3. Aestetics 3. Sustainbility
5. ………………
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
COMPETITION AMONG MATERIALS
which is the best structural form?
the choise of the structural form is narrower even if there is space for the fantasy in the details
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
COMPETITION AMONG GEOMETRICAL FORMS
which is the best type of working, which type of stress?
suspended bridge
arch bridge
compressive or tensile?
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
COMPETITION AMONG STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
plants and the animals have developed in many various forms and materials, but equally efficient the ability of a material to satisfy the needs and requirements, ensuring safety, durability, and sustainbility depends on the list of its technical and functional performance
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Gordon, J.E., Structures, or why things don’t fall down, Da Capo Press, London,1978. Wolkoff, P., How to measure and evaluate volatile organic compound emissions from building products. A perspective. The Science of the Total Environment 227, 197–213, 1999. Sartori I., Hestnes, A.G., Energy use in the life cycle of conventional and low-energy buildings: A review article, Energy and Buildings 39, 249–257, 2007. Berge B., The ecology of building materials, 2nd ed., Elsevier, Architectural Press, Oxford, 2009. Calkins M., Materials for sustainable sites, Jhon Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2009. Spiegel R., Meadows, D., Green building materials, 3rd ed., Jhon Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, 2012.
INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON SUSTAINABILITY
REFERENCES