In the heart of Italy, a groundbreaking study led by Valentina Vecchi, a researcher at the Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of L’Aquila, is revolutionizing how we think about construction waste and energy efficiency. The research, recently published in the journal Buildings, introduces a novel component called the “sustainable big bag,” designed to enhance the thermal performance of building envelopes while repurposing construction and demolition (C&D) waste.
The construction sector is a significant contributor to environmental degradation, accounting for over 30% of the EU’s environmental footprint and generating the largest waste stream, excluding extractive waste. Vecchi’s study addresses this dual challenge by focusing on both waste reduction and energy efficiency. “The sustainable big bag allows for construction advantages, facilitating site operations both in the construction and waste disposal phases, energy advantages by improving the heat capacity of the envelope, and increases in the sustainability of the intervention through the reuse of waste materials,” Vecchi explains.
The sustainable big bag is a dry, fast, and low-cost construction solution that reuses demolition waste without the need for reprocessing. This innovation is particularly relevant in the context of Italy, where the increase in intense atmospheric events linked to rising temperatures due to environmental pollution is creating a vicious circle of waste and energy inefficiency.
The big bag is designed to improve the thermal inertia of vertical walls, a crucial aspect in creating “thermally safe” buildings. This is especially important as the average global temperature continues to rise, with cities experiencing increasingly hot climates. By 2050, the number of cities experiencing extreme heat for at least three months of the year is expected to triple, according to the UCCRN report.
Vecchi’s research goes beyond theoretical models by prototyping and verifying the sustainable big bag through laboratory tests and software analysis. The results show that the big bag can decrease the temperature of the internal air by up to 4.4°C in summer compared to lightweight systems, all while using recycled materials and simplifying construction processes.
The commercial implications of this research are vast. As energy costs continue to rise, the global building market is under pressure to move towards greater sustainability. The sustainable big bag offers a solution that aligns with the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) approach, reducing waste and optimizing energy use. “It is a matter of improving the eco-design strategies of products by evaluating five certification criteria: the healthiness of materials, reuse, the evaluation of the energy necessary for production, the management of water resources, and social responsibility,” Vecchi notes.
The research also highlights the potential for integrating the sustainable big bag with Building Information Modeling (BIM) platforms, which can identify recyclable and recycled elements within construction models. This integration could further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of construction projects.
As the construction industry grapples with the challenges of waste management and energy efficiency, Vecchi’s research offers a beacon of hope. By repurposing C&D waste and enhancing thermal performance, the sustainable big bag could reshape the future of construction, making it more sustainable and economically viable. The implications for the energy sector are significant, as buildings become more energy-efficient, reducing the demand for cooling and heating.
This research, published in Buildings, is a testament to the innovative spirit of the construction industry and its commitment to sustainability. As we look to the future, the sustainable big bag could become a cornerstone of green construction, driving the industry towards a more circular and energy-efficient future.