Beating the Heat

 

Many years ago, on a blisteringly hot day in Granada, Spain I visited the 12th century Alhambra and

noted that when inside the buildings the heat, which was quite overpowering in the very beautiful gardens that

surrounded them, dropped to a comfortable temperature.  At the time I presumed that something about

the architectural layout had been incorporated to give them a natural cooling.

Given our recent report about ‘Adapting to Heatwaves’ and my experience at the Alhambra,

I thought this article by Dr Pandiri Harsha Bhargavi of the Hans News Service in India might be of interest to our readers.

 

How Bharat’s ancient architecture can cool us down today.

(Bharat, or, in the English language, India)

Contemporary architecture faces several challenges when it comes to dealing with heatwaves. Concrete structures, with their high thermal mass, tend to retain heat, making indoor spaces uncomfortably hot. Limited natural ventilation and the urban heat island effect further exacerbate the problem. Cooling these structures consumes a lot of energy, contributing to environmental degradation and climate change. Additionally, elevated indoor temperatures pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. By harnessing nature’s power, ancient architecture can create homes that naturally cool themselves.

Key elements include the courtyard, high ceilings, and strategically placed windcatchers (jalis) that channel cool air into the building. Water plays a vital role in cooling the surrounding air through evaporation, and buildings often use thick walls made of local materials like brick and terracotta.

Previously, houses with rainwater soak pits were designed to collect rainwater efficiently and recharge groundwater. These houses had sloping roofs to collect rainwater, and adjacent soak pits lined with permeable materials to store and infiltrate the water into the ground. This provided a sustainable source of water for communities in water-scarce environments.

Contemporary Bharat’s architecture is a blend of modern design principles and traditional elements, drawing inspiration from ancient Indian architecture. However, there are notable differences between ancient and contemporary architecture. Ancient architecture used materials like stone, brick, and wood, while contemporary architecture often uses concrete, glass, and steel due to their availability, strength, and ease of construction. The design philosophy of ancient architecture focused on harmony with nature, spiritual symbolism, and community integration, while contemporary architecture leans towards functionality, sustainability, and individualism.

Modern architects can integrate these principles into contemporary designs, such as reimagining courtyards as light wells or atriums in multi-story buildings, mimicking the function of jalis with louvers and operable windows. Water features can be incorporated for aesthetics and cooling effects. The benefits of these techniques extend beyond just beating the heat. By relying less on air conditioning, we can significantly reduce our energy consumption, lowering our carbon footprint and saving on electricity bills.

These designs often promote natural lighting and improved air quality, contributing to a healthier and more comfortable living environment. In a world grappling with climate change and rising energy demands, ancient Indian architecture offers a beacon of hope. By embracing the wisdom of the past and adapting it for the present, we can create buildings that are not only comfortable but also sustainable. In terms of scale and function, ancient architecture emphasized grandeur and religious significance, while contemporary architecture focuses on more versatile spaces catering to diverse functions and user needs. Technology and innovation in contemporary architecture allows for innovative structural designs, sustainable practices, and efficient construction methods.

As urbanization and globalization continue, contemporary Indian architecture faces challenges related to urban sprawl, environmental degradation, and cultural homogenization. Balancing modernization with preservation of cultural identity and heritage is a key concern. Some potential issues in contemporary architecture include loss of identity, overemphasis on commercialization, neglect of sustainability, lack of integration with context, and inadequate planning and infrastructure. To address these challenges, a holistic approach that balances modernity with tradition, prioritizes sustainability and cultural heritage, involves community participation, and promotes responsible urban development practices is needed. Auroville, a township in Tamil Nadu, uses stabilized compressed earth blocks (SCEBs) for affordable single-family homes, showcasing the beauty and practicality of earthen construction. These blocks provide excellent thermal insulation, keeping interiors cool naturally. Bamboo, abundant in India’s north-eastern states, is a game-changer in housing projects due to its strength, lightweight, and quick growth, making it a sustainable and affordable alternative to traditional building materials.

Ancient architectural features and structures have proven to be resilient to natural disasters. These include earthquake resistance, flood management, heat and sun protection, and fire resistance. The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, known for its intricately carved stone wheels and interlocking joints, provides stability during earthquakes. The Chennakesava Temple in Karnataka, known for its Hoysala architecture, is renowned for its flexibility and structural elements. The Harappan city of Mohenjo-Daro uses advanced urban planning and drainage systems to mitigate flooding from the Indus River. Stepwells in Gujarat and Rajasthan, like the Rani ki Vav in Patan, store water during the monsoon season and prevent flooding. The 800-year-old Ramappa temple of Telangana state with wet sand technology and floating bricks with marvellous architectural expertise. The Shore Temple in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, uses Pallava architecture with sturdy stone construction and sloping roofs to withstand coastal winds and cyclones. Chhatris in Rajasthan feature domed pavilions and wind-catching structures that provide shelter from strong winds while allowing natural ventilation. Kerala architecture features steep sloping roofs, extended eaves, and ventilated courtyards to promote airflow and mitigate heat in the humid tropical climate. Monsoon management involves deep stepwells like Chand Baori in Abhaneri, Rajasthan, and traditional wooden houses in Assam using lightweight and easily replaceable roofing materials.  Fire resistance is also evident in temples like Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, built using durable sandstone and granite. Ancient architecture offers passive cooling techniques for a more comfortable living experience. By leveraging these principles, affordable housing can be made more achievable.

Ancient Indian construction relied on local and natural materials like earth, bamboo, and stone, which eliminates high costs associated with long-distance transportation and requires less processing than modern materials like steel and concrete. Earthen construction offers excellent thermal regulation and can be surprisingly durable. Traditional building techniques in India often relied on skilled labour, minimizing the need for complex construction methods and specialized equipment. This approach can benefit affordable housing projects by reducing overall labour costs. Smart space planning and modular design can be used in ancient Indian architecture, maximizing usable space and minimizing unnecessary square footage. Courtyards can also serve as multifunctional spaces, reducing the need for dedicated rooms. Prefabricated components can streamline construction and reduce waste, particularly beneficial for large-scale affordable housing projects. Passive cooling techniques in buildings require less reliance on energy-intensive air conditioning, leading to significant savings on utility bills for residents.

The use of durable and locally sourced materials also translates to lower maintenance costs. By combining ancient architecture principles with modern technology, affordable housing solutions can be created that are not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly and comfortable, contributing to a more sustainable future for cities.

 

Source: Hans India

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SFS Highfix handles challenges of PV install on low pitch roofs

 

SFS Group Fastening Technology Ltd has drawn on its expertise in the field of fall protection to offer specifiers a foolproof and cost effective solution to mounting photo-voltaic (PV) systems on flat or low pitched roofs.  Importantly the Highfix product not only features the manufacturer’s  tried and trusted SOTER®II Horizontal Lifeline System base plate, but is fully adaptable to a variety of roof constructions.

 

As set out in a very visual installation guide, these include reinforced concrete decks, composites, standing seam systems, all the popular types of trapezoidal roof profiles and even green roofs and historic buildings.  The installation work is recommended to be undertaken by an experienced roofing contractor, drilling down into the deck to use the appropriate fixing, such as concrete screws, stainless steel gravity toggles, chemical resin anchors or special rivets; but specifiers and building owners can be reassured that each base plate is rendered weatherproof as soon as it is secured in place.

 

The Highfix range was originally launched with a choice of either 30mm or 50mm diameter supports, but this has now been extended to include the 100 mm alternative, while the corrosion resistant base plates are also available in several formats, including with a PVC coated version.

 

Product Manager Scott Kelly commented:

“We have been able to design the Highfix support column to interface with the same multi-hole SOTER II base plate we use for our fall prevention systems.  And because of the engineering that went into ensuring it can withstand high, dynamic loads, it means the supports for solar panels can be spaced further apart; therefore requiring fewer components and bringing down the total cost across a project.

“Also, importantly, the multi-hole base plate has been designed so that the fixings will align perfectly with the crowns to 90% of the roofing profiles currently used in the UK.  This means they are likely to be the right fit for the majority of retrofit contracts.  Then the Highfix support is designed to connect directly with typical PV bracketry.”

 

As well as Focus document for the product SFS Group Fastening Technology Ltd is able to provide specifiers with full details on the technical standards the Highfix system complies with, as well as its suitability for different, project specific applications.  Thanks to the fixing specialist’s long experience of working with OEMs, the Highfix system also carries approvals from the UK’s leading membrane manufacturers including Sika, Protum and Bauder.

CLICK. HERE for further information from SFS

 

OR CALL 0330 0555888

 

 

 

 

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Gove receives warning letter from Steel Giant

 

By Mark Kleinman City editor of Sky News

 

ArcelorMittal has told Michael Gove it may be forced to “cease operations in Britain” unless he blocks the redevelopment of Chatham Docks in a letter obtained by Sky News.

The world’s second-largest steel company has warned the government that a planning verdict due this week could lead to a key division quitting the UK.

Sky News has seen a letter sent by ArcelorMittal to Michael Gove, the levelling-up secretary, in which it says that a decision to allow the closure and redevelopment of part of Chatham Docks would have “seismic adverse consequences… [for] the British economy and multiple strategic industries”.

In the letter from Matthew Brooks, who runs ArcelorMittal’s construction solutions arm in the UK, the company urges Mr Gove to issue an urgent order to allow fuller government scrutiny of the redevelopment proposals ahead of Wednesday’s decision by Medway Council.

“This is highly time-sensitive – calling in the application after next Wednesday will not be possible,” Mr Brooks wrote.

He warned that if the proposals were approved, ArcelorMittal would “regrettably be left with no alternative but to leave Chatham Docks and, more than likely, cease operations in Britain, given the lack of suitable alternative sites”.

“This, too, would likely be the case for the majority of businesses at the Docks,” Mr Brooks wrote.

“This would have a significant impact on Britain’s manufacturing and construction industries, delay countless critical national infrastructure projects, come at a significant cost to the economy, and leave Britain vulnerable and exposed to the volatility of international supply chain shocks.”

The application, submitted by Peel Waters, part of the industrial conglomerate Peel Group, would see the site used to build housing and commercial facilities in place of part of the docks.

It has already been recommended for approval by local planning officers, according to reports last week.

ArcelorMittal uses the site in Kent to transport materials produced by its construction materials arm.

If the application was approved, it warned, it would

“spell the end of Chatham Docks and have a significant impact on the UK reinforcement industry, leading to serious, potentially irreversible long-term harm, with immediate consequences for the resilience and carbon intensity of the sector”.

ArcelorMittal, which has operations in more than 60 countries, is an integrated steel and mining company, serving the automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging industries.

The company, which is based in Luxembourg, is chaired by Lakshmi Mittal, the Indian businessman.

It is a significant supplier of steels in Britain, and has been involved in construction projects such as Wembley Stadium, Crossrail and the O2 arena in southeast London.

“Our concern is that Peel’s application to redevelop Chatham Docks is not only wrong for Britain but has proceeded with little scrutiny and a lack of public awareness,” Mr Gove was told in the letter.

“Many key stakeholders are therefore unaware of the consequences if it were to proceed.

“As the largest operator in the Docks, we of course believe that the application should be rejected.

“However, our sole request today is for an Article 31 holding direction so you can secure the time to assess whether to call in this application for consideration at the national level.”

According to ArcelorMittal, Chatham Docks – which it described as “a 400-year-old thriving commercial port with a proud naval heritage” – employs nearly 800 people and generates economic value equivalent to £112,000 per worker, which it argued was “considerably higher than the Medway average of £63,900”.

“This is in direct contrast to proposals put forward by Peel, whose economic proposition is unclear,” Mr Brooks wrote.

He added that the redevelopment plan would spell the end for £20m of new investment with the potential to create nearly 2,000 jobs.

“However, none of this can be realised while there is uncertainty about the future of our lease on Chatham Docks,” Mr Brooks warned, adding that £5m of investment had “already been delayed by Peel’s application”.

Source: Sky News

 

 

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PREDICTING THE POWER OF TIDAL ENERGY

 

Tidal and wave energy may be the largest untapped resources of renewable energy on the planet. But will they work?

By a quirk of geography, the Orkney Islands, located off the northern tip of Scotland, are unusually well-positioned to bear witness to the ocean’s might. On the archipelago’s western shores, waves crash relentlessly against the rocks. And within its numerous channels, the tides push an enormous volume of water from the North Atlantic to the North Sea and back again, twice every day, squeezing between and around the islands of Rousay, Westray, Eday, and a myriad of other ones.

No wonder the European Marine Energy Center, one of the world’s leading agencies for developing and testing wave and tidal power technologies, chose to set up shop here; the nonprofit agency hosts both wave and tidal power testing facilities on Orkney.

EMEC’s wave-energy testing site is at Billia Croo, located on the western shore of Orkney’s largest island. On a relatively calm day last spring, Lisa MacKenzie, EMEC’s marketing and communications manager, surveyed the gray waters from the Billia Croo site. “We get an average of 2-to-3-meter wave height,” she said, or roughly 6.5 to 10 feet. “But we’ve had waves of over 20 meters” — more than 65 feet — during “really extreme conditions over the winter.”

The surrounding landscape is windswept and nearly treeless. Were one to sail directly west from this spot, “the first bit of land that you would hit is Canada,” MacKenzie said.

EMEC was founded in 2003 following a recommendation by the U.K. House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (now known as the Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee). To date, it has received about $53 million in public investment; its funders include the European Union, the U.K. government, the Scottish government, and the Orkney Islands Council. More than 20 corporate clients have used EMEC’s facilities, and more ocean energy converters have been tested at the center than at any other site in the world.

The Billia Croo facility opened in 2004 on land rented from a local farmer. An array of transformers, housed in green bins, each the size of a compact car, lines the perimeter of the site’s small parking lot. A modest stone-wall hut, which blends into the landscape, houses the facility’s control center and is filled with electronic switching equipment. The testing berths are offshore, where EMEC’s clients can test all manner of wave-energy conversion devices, with cables running along the seabed to the control hut. Any electricity produced can also be fed directly into the U.K. national grid.

Waves, like the wind that produces them, are not a constant; both are inherently variable. And they are linked: Wind imparts energy to the ocean, which then dissipates as waves over a longer time scale. As MacKenzie puts it, waves are the aftermath of wind.

Harnessing the energy of waves is one way to draw power from the oceans; another is to exploit the energy of the tides. Of the two energy sources, tidal is more constant, given the tides’ regular-as-clockwork response to the push and pull of the moon and sun.

EMEC runs a grid-connected tidal energy test facility located off the southern tip of Eday. “We get a peak tidal flow over 4 meters per second, which is about 8 knots,” MacKenzie said. “So about half a billion tons of water passes through there, every hour, at peak tide.”

As MacKenzie puts it, waves are the aftermath of wind.

And that flow is comparatively predictable — far more so than, say, wind or solar, which are stymied by calm or cloudy conditions.

“We can predict the tides 200 years into the future,” MacKenzie said. “Which means that we can predict how much power can be derived from the tides, 200 years into the future.”

There is no question that the planet’s oceans contain enormous amounts of energy. According to a 2021 study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A, tidal stream energy alone could provide the equivalent of 11 percent of the U.K.’s annual electricity needs. Power from the oceans is “the largest untapped resource of renewable energy on the planet right now,” said Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe, the world’s largest network of ocean energy professionals.

The question is, can that energy be harnessed economically — or is the idea of pulling watts from the water doomed to be a mere sideshow in the quest for green energy? After decades of testing at tidal energy facilities like EMEC and other smaller-scale facilities around the globe, only a handful of commercial wave and tidal power facilities are online, and they contribute a minuscule amount to the world’s energy production. Even in Orkney, a leader in the quest to extract energy from the ocean, wave and tidal power account for just a fraction of the islands’ energy consumption.

“We can predict how much power can be derived from the tides, 200 years into the future.”

Notably, wave and tidal lag behind other forms of renewable energy. “It’s fair to say that we’re nowhere near a wind or solar industry at this point,” says Carrie Schmaus, a marine energy technology manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.

Still, for the technology’s supporters, the ocean is seen as a virtually limitless source of energy waiting to be tapped if only governments step up with the public investment needed to kick the industry into high gear. “There’s an energy resource there,” says Andrew Scott, CEO of Edinburgh-based Orbital Marine Power Ltd. “The question is, what are you prepared to pay to extract that energy?”

On paper, the power of the world’s oceans is indisputable: Tidal stream energy is estimated to represent a global resource of some 1,200 terawatt-hours (a terawatt is one trillion watts) per year, while wave power is even more abundant, adding up to almost 30,000 terawatt-hours per year — enough, in theory, to meet all of humanity’s energy needs 10 times over.

As promising as tidal and wave energy may seem, the list of obstacles to widespread adoption is significant: the formidable cost of scaling up the technology; bureaucratic hurdles; environmental concerns, including possible effects on fish and sea mammals; and, in the case of tidal power, geographical restrictions. There are also fears that rising sea levels could substantially alter ocean movements in a way that could impact current or planned tidal power facilities. In a 2022 paper published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Danial Khojasteh and his co-authors noted that “long-term management decisions associated with harnessing the potential of tidal energy schemes within estuaries should be made with caution.”

The question of cost is paramount. Even though the cost of tidal and wave energy may be dropping, the cost of wind and solar are dropping even faster, said Brian Polagye, a University of Washington mechanical engineer who studies marine renewable energy. That means tidal and wave energy can be seen as succeeding and failing at the same time.

“Until your price comes down to the point where you’re competitive with other forms of generation — either because you’re directly competitive, or you’re being subsidized until you get to that point — the technologies really can’t take off,” Polagye said. Nonetheless, he added, “I do feel these are technologies that have a long-term role to play in our energy systems.”

Schmaus, at the Water Power Technologies Office, describes wave and tidal power as a nascent industry (as did others interviewed for this story). By way of comparison, she pointed out that in the early days of the wind power industry, all manner of turbine designs were tested. “And then, at some point, that technology converged,” she said. “Now we have the three-bladed turbine we all know and love. Marine energy is still in that ideation kind of area. We have not had technology convergence yet.”

For the technology’s supporters, the ocean is seen as a virtually limitless source of energy waiting to be tapped.

One of her department’s goals, she says, is to learn from small-scale demonstration projects, scale up designs, and bring down costs. This scaling-up is just what Scott’s Orbital Marine is trying to achieve in Orkney. They’re the company behind the O2 tidal stream energy generator — the world’s most powerful such device — located in the Fall of Warness, south of Eday, and connected to the grid via EMEC’s tidal energy test site. (MacKenzie described the project as “one of our biggest success stories.”) The O2 is a 240-foot-long structure shaped like a submarine (though it stays on the surface), with two submerged arms, each supporting a twin-bladed turbine. In an interview in a cavernous exhibition hall at the annual All-Energy conference in Glasgow last spring, and later by email, Scott spoke of his vision for the company and the potential of tidal stream power. He said that Orbital Marine hopes to add another six turbines to the Fall of Warness site over the next few years and, in time, perhaps another dozen.

Scott acknowledges the forbidding technical challenges — especially the difficulty of designing machinery that can withstand seawater’s salt and grime for months or years on end. And he has seen his share of unrealistic proposals over the years. At times “it was a bit of a joke,” he recalled. People saw how much traction wind energy was getting, he says and figured wind’s success could be readily duplicated beneath the waves.

“People would say, ‘Just go and ‘marinize’ it, and it will be equally successful in the tidal application,” he continued. “It was as naïve as that.”

But many of those early challenges have been overcome, Scott said. He noted that O2 is currently providing about 10 percent of Orkney’s electricity, enough to power about 2,000 homes. Because the islands are sparsely populated and rich in wind energy, Orkney actually produces more energy than is needed locally, which means the islands are already a net contributor to the U.K. grid — and some of that energy comes from O2. Scott said he foresees Orbital Marine generating about $17.5 million from electricity sales per year over the turbine array’s projected 20-year life.

“We’re effectively at that critical stage where we start to grow commercial revenues and profits,” Scott said.

SOURCE: Inverse

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Olivine Minerals: Making Waves in Concrete

Olivine a primary component of the Earth’s upper mantle, it is a common mineral in Earth’s subsurface

In our ongoing quest for sustainability, innovative solutions like olivine-based cement are making waves in the construction industry. With a unique ability to transform traditional cement into an environmentally friendly material, the use of olivine not only opens a pathway to carbon-negative concrete but also presents a robust approach to global manufacturing and resource sustainability.

Impact of Traditional Cement Production

Before delving into the groundbreaking benefits of olivine in cement production, it’s crucial to grasp the environmental footprint of traditional cement manufacturing. Widely recognized as one of the significant contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions, traditional cement production involves two primary emission sources: burning fossil fuels to heat raw materials and calcinating limestone to produce clinker.

The conventional cement-making process releases substantial amounts of CO2 directly from the energy used in production and indirectly from the chemical processes involved. As global demand for construction materials escalates, the environmental impact of these processes becomes increasingly untenable.

Problems Arising from Traditional Cement Production

The environmental challenges traditional cement production presents are multifaceted, impacting the atmosphere and the broader ecological and human health domains.

Air Quality and Health Concerns

One of the immediate effects of traditional cement production is the degradation of air quality, which results from the release of particulate matter, CO2, and other greenhouse gases during the manufacturing process. These pollutants contribute to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues among populations living near cement plants.

Resource Depletion

Traditional cement production is resource-intensive, relying heavily on limestone and other finite natural resources. The extraction of these materials not only depletes natural reserves but also causes significant landscape disruption, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion.

Energy Consumption

Traditional methods of producing cement are energy-intensive, primarily due to the high temperatures required for calcining limestone to form clinker. This not only leads to substantial CO2 emissions but also places a heavy demand on energy resources, compounding the industry’s environmental footprint.

Each of these issues highlights the urgent need for innovations like olivine-based cement, which promises to address these environmental challenges by transforming how cement is produced and reducing its overall ecological impact.

Olivine for Carbon-Negative Concrete

Enter olivine, a naturally abundant mineral that might just hold the key to revolutionizing cement production. Researchers from Imperial College London have discovered that integrating products derived from olivine into cement mixtures can drastically reduce—and even reverse—the carbon footprint of concrete.

The Scientific Breakthrough

In a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the team detailed a novel method where olivine is used to replace clinker, the traditional binder in cement. This substitution is not merely a direct swap; it’s a transformative upgrade. Olivine reacts with carbon dioxide to form nesquehonite during the cement’s curing process, effectively sequestering CO2 and potentially turning the cement mixture carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative.

Practical Applications and Strengths

The added benefits of olivine extend beyond its carbon capture capabilities. The resultant concrete is more durable and stronger than traditional formulations. This enhancement in strength and durability does not compromise the material’s integrity, making it a superior choice for various construction applications.

Olivine in Cement Production: A Path to Worldwide Change

The integration of olivine into global cement production holds promising potential for systemic change in construction practices, leading to significant environmental and structural benefits on a global scale.

Scaling Production and Technological Challenges

For olivine to become a cornerstone of global cement production, several technological and logistical hurdles must be overcome. First, the extraction and processing of olivine must be optimized to meet global demands without compromising the environmental benefits it offers. This involves developing more efficient methods of mining and processing olivine, ensuring that the environmental footprint of these activities is minimized.

Infrastructure Adaptation and Industrial Readiness

Introducing olivine into the cement production process on a global scale requires substantial adjustments in existing manufacturing infrastructures. Cement plants worldwide would need to adapt their operations to incorporate the olivine-based processes, which might include modifications in machinery, personnel training, and the development of new operational guidelines aimed at maximizing the efficiency and environmental benefits of olivine use.

Policy Framework and Incentivization

Governments and international bodies can play a critical role in facilitating the transition to olivine-based cement production through policy measures and incentives. These might include subsidies for research and development in green cement technologies, tax incentives for manufacturers to switch to environmentally friendly practices, and international agreements aimed at reducing carbon emissions from construction materials.

Global Impact and Environmental Benefits

By replacing clinker with olivine in cement production, the industry could significantly cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global carbon sequestration efforts. This shift not only helps mitigate climate change but also promotes sustainability in one of the most resource-intensive industries. Additionally, the enhancement in the durability and strength of concrete made with olivine means longer-lasting construction projects, reduced maintenance costs, and lower resource consumption over time.

The successful global adoption of olivine-based cement could mark a pivotal shift towards sustainable development in construction, with profound implications for environmental conservation, economic development, and human well-being worldwide. As the concrete industry evolves, olivine stands out as a beacon of hope, promising a greener, more resilient future for global infrastructure.

China’s Cement and Carbon Neutrality

As the largest producer of cement worldwide, China plays a pivotal role in the potential global impact of olivine-based cement. A study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences documents the country’s significant stride towards carbon neutrality in cement production, highlighting advances in carbon capture within the cement industry.

Carbon Sink Potential

The research emphasizes the carbon sink ability of cement materials—alkaline compounds in the cement that absorb CO2 through mineral carbonation. From 1930 to 2021, China’s cement carbon sink capacity grew substantially, demonstrating a viable method of offsetting a portion of the emissions associated with cement production.

Quantifying China’s Contribution to Global Carbon Sequestration in Cement

Quantifying the impact of China’s contributions towards global cement carbon sequestration reveals that their efforts are significant and set benchmarks in environmental sustainability. According to a comprehensive study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences published in Science China Earth Sciences, from 1930 to 2021, China’s cement industry absorbed a remarkable amount of CO2, amounting to approximately 7.06 gigatons.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

This absorption rate translates to about 426.77 million tons of CO2 per year by 2021, which is equivalent to 2.51%–4.54% of the global terrestrial carbon sink. These figures underline a substantial contribution, considering the global pressures of carbon emissions from various industrial sectors. Furthermore, the cumulative carbon sequestration by China’s cement from historical and ongoing production measures has impressively offset about 50.7% of the total emissions produced by the cement industry over the years.

With such a large share of the global cement output originating from China, their progressive approach to carbon capturing in cement materials not only aids national environmental strategies but also contributes significantly to global efforts in reducing atmospheric CO2. This pivotal role showcases the potential impact that implementing similar measures on a global scale could have, underscoring the vital link between industrial processes and environmental stewardship.

Policy Implications and Future Directions

The integration of olivine into cement offers more than an industrial modification; it requires a strategic shift in both policy and practice. For industries to adopt this revolutionary product, supportive measures such as incentives for low-carbon technologies, enhancements in green production methods, and international cooperation in carbon accounting methodologies are imperative.

Driving Innovation and Sustainability

Encouraging the adoption of olivine-based cement through subsidies, tax incentives, or funding for research and development could accelerate its market entry and acceptance. Moreover, establishing international standards for carbon-negative building materials could facilitate more widespread adoption, propelling the construction industry toward a more sustainable future.

Olivine’s Future of Carbon-Negative Concrete

The advent of olivine in cement production represents a significant leap forward in the quest for environmental sustainability. By transforming one of the most carbon-intensive industries into a leader in carbon capture, this innovation not only promises a greener future but also sets a benchmark in the global shift towards sustainable manufacturing. As we continue to explore and implement these advanced materials, the potential for a truly sustainable construction industry becomes ever more tangible.

Exploring this technologically promising field further will continue to unravel more benefits and possibly pave the way for a global standard in durable and environmentally conscious building materials. As industries and policymakers alike aim for carbon neutrality, the role of innovative materials such as carbon-negative concrete will be crucial in shaping our world’s infrastructure without compromising the health of our planet.

 

Source: Intelligent Living

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Robotics: Standards For Future Homes

Robotics: Standards For Future Homes

AUAR’s automated micro-factories deliver homes based on a building block system.

As resistant as the housing industry has been to adopt new technology, some innovations are breaking through the barrier. From the actual home construction all the way to operations and user experience, every part of the home experience is being touched by technology and automation.

Through that technology and automation, housing can become productized and be delivered faster. Not only that, but homes can be delivered at a higher quality, with better performance, and with longer-term resiliency features.

These three innovative companies are bringing automation to the forefront and championing this new level of housing.

Speeding The Process With Robotics

The name of the game is speed to solve the current housing crisis. So, new approaches to automation and robotics are bringing new homes online faster than ever before.

Mollie Claypool, founder and CEO at Automated Architecture, or AUAR for short, has created a micro-factory for producing a programmable pixel building block that can produce 10 homes per month, and reduce labor costs by up to 60%.

AUAR’s patented design to manufacturing and assembly system programs robots to use one pixel in several different ways in the construction of timber homes.

“The building blocks of all automation is code, so we thought, why don’t we have a building system that is designed like a bit,” Claypool said. “AUAR’s building block sits at the core of our tech stack and can be best understood as a volumetric pixel or ‘voxel,’ or in layman’s terms, as a Lego. The building block can uniquely be used for floors, walls, and roofs. It is different because it is based on a computational reading of what building blocks need to be.”

An AUAR micro-factory has a single robotic cell that can build many types of the same building block and the complimentary tech stack can be licensed to partners like a contractor, home builder, offsite manufacturer, or developer. The micro-factory can fit into a shipping container-sized box, is priced at just $312,000 so it can provide a payback in 6 weeks if used at full capacity, and it can produce about 100 homes per year.

“It lowers the threshold for robotic adoption because typically it’s a long set up and a long pay off with big upfront capital investment,” she said. “We have one micro-factory operational now, and are currently onboarding three more in Belgium, the U.S., and the U.K.”

Source: Forbes

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Mayor of London First past the post with lowest ever share of vote

Mayor of London wins with lowest ever share of vote following switch to First Past the Post

Campaigners warn the move to the First Past the Post system has also seen Police and Crime Commissioners and a mayor elected on as low as a third of the vote

Sadiq Khan has been re-elected as the Mayor of London with the smallest mandate since the office was created 24 years ago, analysis from the Electoral Reform Society shows.

The Labour politician won 43.8% of the vote on Thursday, which was enough to secure him a third term under the new First Past the Post system. However, the result means that he is the mayor returning to City Hall with the lowest level of support among Londoners who voted when compared to results under the previous electoral system.

All prior London mayoral elections used the Supplementary Vote (SV) system, which allows voters to indicate a first and second preference for two candidates. Under SV, if no candidate gets over 50% of first preference votes, the top two candidates continue to a runoff where second preference votes from eliminated candidates are allocated – ensuring winning candidates have a broad base of support.

Analysis by the Electoral Reform Society shows that after the first and second preference votes of previous winning candidates are taken into account, Sadiq Khan’s current mandate is lower than any previous winner elected under SV. The mayor with lowest vote share under SV was Ken Livingstone, who received 44.4% of votes from voters giving him either their first preference vote or a transferred second preference vote in 2004.

Vote share of London Mayoral winners after first and second preferences are counted [1]:

  • 43.8% Sadiq Khan – 2024 (FPTP system used – no second preferences)
  • 44.4% Ken Livingstone – 2004
  • 45.3% Ken Livingstone – 2000
  • 47.6 Sadiq Khan – 2021
  • 47.8 Boris Johnson – 2012
  • 48.4% Boris Johnson 2008
  • 50.4% Sadiq Khan – 2016

Elsewhere, the switch to First Past the Post has seen Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and an elected mayor win on as low as or just over a third of the vote.

Analysis by the Electoral Reform Society showed that in the 2021 elections, where the Supplementary Vote was used, no winning PCC or mayor received less than 40% of the vote [2].

Reduced mandates – PPC and mayoral results:

  • In Wiltshire, Conservative Philip Wilkinson was returned as PCC with just 31.0% of the vote.
  • In Avon and Somerset Labour’s Clare Moody won the PCC role from the Conservatives on less than a third (32.3%) of the vote
  • In Gloucestershire the Conservative Chris Nelson was re-elected as PCC with 33.1% of the vote.
  • In West Mercia the Conservative John Campion was re-elected as PCC with 34.3% of the vote.
  • In Norfolk Labour’s Sarah Taylor beat the Conservative incumbent to become PCC on just 35.2% of the vote.
  • In the York and North Yorkshire mayoral race Labour’s David Skaith won on just 35.1% of the vote.

Thursday’s elections were the first time many mayoral and PCC elections used the First Past the Post system instead of the preferential Supplementary Vote (SV).

Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: 

“What we are seeing at these elections is the bar being lowered for politicians while being raised for voters. The move to First Past the Post has lowered the bar for politicians to get elected by taking choice away from voters. The result is we have seen a Mayor of London elected with the smallest mandate ever as well as PCCs and a mayor win their races on around a third of the vote.

“This is bad for voters, who now have mayors and PCCs the majority didn’t vote for; it is bad for elected politicians who have to do their jobs with less backing for their policies; and it is bad for trust in democracy.

“At the same time, we are seeing the bar to voting being raised for voters as this was the first time millions had to show ID to cast their ballot. We know that voter ID has already prevented at least 14,000 people [3] from voting at last year’s local elections and this year we have again heard of voters – including a decorated ex-serviceman [4] – being barred from exercising their fundamental democratic right due to not having an accepted form of ID.

“Our politics is headed in the wrong direction when we are making it harder for people to vote but easier for politicians to get elected by reducing voter choice at the ballot box. We need to set our democracy on a better course by scraping voter ID and improving access to voting, but also by moving to proportional and preferential voting systems that better represent how people voted.”

Thursday’s local elections also saw First Past the Post producing a host of disproportionate results in councils, with some parties picking up as much as 90% of the available seats on less than half of the vote share.

Analysis by the Electoral Reform Society has identified a series of results where voter choices have been ‘distorted’ by England’s winner-takes-all First Past the Post system. Full stats available on request.

Warped results – ERS analysis:

  • In Watford the Liberal Democrats took a whopping 91.7% of the seats up for election with just 48.2% of the vote. Labour came second winning 8.3% of the seats on 29.1% of the vote, and the Conservatives received no seats for their 15.5% of the vote
  • In Ipswich Labour gained the vast majority of the seats up for election (81%) despite securing just 45.3% of the votes cast. The Conservatives received just 12.5% of the seats for their 29.6% of the vote. Meanwhile, the Greens received no seats despite winning 11.3% of the vote, while the Lib Dems secured 6.3% of the seats with 11.1% of the votes
  • In Broxbourne, the Conservatives swept up 90% of the seats up for election on just over half the vote (50.5%), while Labour received just 10% of the seats for its 30.5% of the vote. The third largest party, the Greens on 9.8% of the vote, received no seats.
  • In Sunderland Labour picked up 72% of the seats up for election on just 45.5% of the vote. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats’ 15.4% of the vote yielded them 16% of the seats, but Reform received no seats for their 14.5% of the vote.
  • In Winchester the Lib Dems gained 78.6% of the seats up for election, with just 47.7% of the vote, compared to the Conservatives, who won just 14.3% of the seats after winning 31.3% of the vote.

Dr Jess Garland, Director of Research and Policy for the Electoral Reform Society, said: 

“These local elections have again seen a raft of highly disproportionate results under First Past the Post, leading to council chambers that don’t accurately reflect voters’ choices. In some cases, parties have taken over 90% of the seats on less than half the vote, while other parties received no seats despite winning sizable vote shares.

“There is a clear alternative to the unfair results we have seen in England. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland use a fairer proportional voting system [5], avoiding the distorted and random results produced by First Past the Post. 

“Proportional representation would mean fairer results at local elections and would create council chambers that better reflect the way people voted.”

 

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LEGAL VICTORY IN NET ZERO CASE

CGI of proposed Salt Cross Garden Village (Image: West Oxfordshire District Council)

Oxfordshire legal victory in garden village net zero case

 

By Miranda Norris Senior reporter at the Oxford Mail

Campaigners have hailed a High Court victory for West Oxfordshire District Council’s net zero targets for a proposed new garden village.

Rights and climate collective, Rights Community Action, challenged the Government’s planning inspector’s decision not to require the new homes at Salt Cross Garden Village to be built to net-zero standards.

The judgment in the Salt Cross Garden Village Net Zero case was handed down earlier this year.

The ruling from Mrs Justice Lieven rejected the arguments made by Levelling Up minister Michael Gove’s legal team which were supported by the village’s developer Grosvenor Developments, owned by the Duke of Westminster.

Salt Cross Garden Village off the A40 near Eynsham would include more than 2,000 new homes, a new science business park and its own facilities, schools and community resources.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s plans for the development were that it be carbon net-zero and 100 per cent powered by on-site renewables.

It listed specifications for building fabric and energy efficiency, as well as measures to address risks of overheating in the village.

However in a report in March 2023, planning inspectors stated that the ambitions of the project were too high and ‘prescriptive’, and conflicted with national energy efficiency policy outlined in a 2015 ministerial statement.

Rights Community Action – a climate collective that specialises in addressing the climate crisis through the planning system and local area plans – called the decision ‘baffling’ and said it created a ‘confusing precedent’.

They said it conflicted with the approach taken by Government planning inspectors in other areas, including in Bath & North East Somerset in 2022 and Cornwall in early 2023, where inspectors considered the ministerial statement to have been overtaken by events.

The Government argued the inspector’s recommendation was not actually a decision that could be challenged, and it said Rights Community Action had no ‘legitimate concern’ or ‘sufficient interest’ to bring a legal challenge about the planning process in this local development.

Mrs Justice Lieven dismissed both arguments, agreeing that the inspector’s interpretation of national policy didn’t make sense and that Rights Community Action “is an NGO established and operating in precisely” this field and “that is an issue of enormous public concern”.

After the hearing in November, before the judgment was handed down, the Secretary of State withdrew the 2015 ministerial statement.

Leigh Day planning law specialist, solicitor Ricardo Gama said:

“The case is a frustrating example of a local authority trying to take ambitious action on climate change and being hamstrung by confusion in central government and so it’s welcome that the judge has clarified the legal position.

“The government updated its policy in between the High Court hearing and the judgment, and the lawfulness of that policy is also being examined by our client.”

Sarah Couch, leader of sustainability group GreenTEA (Transition Eynsham Area), said:

 “We were appalled when the Planning Inspectorate rejected the net zero policy, despite overwhelming community support.

“A home built to net zero standards would be resource efficient and could generate its own clean energy – it would be cheaper to run. So, it makes no sense to prevent councils and their communities from expecting homes fit for the future.

“If the Inspector’s recommendation were adopted, we could have the ridiculous situation of a large showpiece development that is not required to produce its own annual energy demand but with Europe’s largest groundmount solar farm on more farmland right up to its boundary.

 

Source: Oxford Mail

 

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PLANNING: Rogue Developers Will be Held to Account

New planning powers come have come into effect, giving local councils greater tools to hold rogue developers to account as part of the government’s landmark Levelling-up and Regeneration Act.

Council planners can use stronger enforcement measures to take on landowners who repeatedly break planning rules.

This includes those who carry out works without approval or act in bad faith on developments with planning consent.

These changes will make it harder for rulebreakers to seek future planning permission and will give councils the ability to issue unlimited fines against those failing to build in the right places.

The wide-ranging measures include:

  • increasing enforcement limits from four to 10 years so councils have more time to stop developments without planning approval
  • introducing unlimited fines against developers who fail to comply with planning permission or refusing to deal with rundown properties and overgrown fields
  • doubling the length of temporary stop notices to 56 days to suspend all works if a council suspects building has gone ahead despite permission has not been granted
  • strengthening the planning inspectorate to dismiss appeals against developers trying to delay the process, including the refusal of site visits and access

Minister for housing and planning, Lee Rowley, said:

“Today marks another important step forward in our mission to deliver a faster and less bureaucratic planning system, making sure councils have greater powers at their disposal to take robust action against developers who do not play by the rules.

“We are clamping down on planning loopholes, allowing councils to issue unlimited fines, and strengthening local decisions that communities want to see.

“This builds on our long-term plan for housing to deliver more homes and infrastructure that is beautiful, affordable, and built in the right places.”

Source: Development Finance Today

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The Great Grid – Connecting Green Energy

  • National Grid launches pioneering ‘enterprise model’ as response to UK supply chain and skills shortage, announcing the first seven supply chain partners to form the Great Grid Partnership.  
  • The Partnership, which will initially focus on the network design and construction work required by the end of the decade for nine major infrastructure projects across England and Wales, forms part of a £9bn supply chain framework which will also support infrastructure projects beyond 2030. 
  • The Partnership will support supply chain capacity and foster collaboration across best practice and skills, delivering benefits for consumers and the wider UK economy. 
  • This investment further underlines National Grid’s commitment to the people, jobs and skills required to help deliver the energy transition. 
  • Investment in the UK’s electricity network industry will contribute an average of £18.4bn to GDP and support around 220,000 jobs each year between 2024 and 2035.

In a major boost to the UK supply chain, National Grid has today launched the Great Grid Partnership. The company, which sits at the heart of the UK energy transition, has named the seven partners who will support the delivery of an initial nine Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects.

The ASTI projects form a key part of The Great Grid Upgrade, which is building the significant new electricity network infrastructure required to reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels by connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

This new ‘enterprise model’ is a collaborative partnership, bringing together National Grid’s supply chain partners. Two design and consenting service partners [AECOM Arup (JV); WSP], and five construction partners [Laing O’Rourke; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; Morrison Energy Services; Murphy; Omexom / Taylor Woodrow (OTW)] are joining National Grid in the newly formed Great Grid Partnership.

Designed to speed up the delivery of much needed national electricity infrastructure by taking a fresh approach to UK supply chain and skills issues. The partnership aims to coordinate the planning and execution of projects, allowing each supplier and National Grid to pool their resources, skills, insights, and experience to deliver faster and more economically – driving value for money and benefits for both consumers and local communities.

By creating these long-term strategic contractual relationships, our partners will work collectively as an enterprise to drive value and innovation and secure delivery. Once established, this pioneering model will also deliver significant opportunities and benefits beyond the initial ASTI framework.

The partnership comes as the demand for products, services and skills continues to rise on a global scale as countries ramp up investment in the energy transition. It represents a huge challenge but also a great opportunity if industry works together to take advantage of the opportunity.

Carl Trowell, President, Strategic Infrastructure, National Grid said:

“Today’s announcement is another significant and exciting milestone in the delivery of The Great Grid Upgrade – the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in decades. The scale and pace of this upgrade requires us to unite as an industry and to think and act differently.

“This Great Grid Partnership is a ground-breaking initiative from National Grid that places our supply chain partners at the heart of our infrastructure upgrade programme. All our chosen partners have an established history of successful collaboration in delivering major projects and enabling innovation to thrive.

“By sharing best practice and collaborating across nine of our critical major ASTI infrastructure projects, we will set the gold-standard for future infrastructure projects in terms of driving innovation, shoring up capacity across the skills base, operating responsibly and sustainably and ultimately in getting the best value for consumers.”

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