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One alternative to traditional concrete is autoclaved aerated concrete[1], a 70 year old material that's more eco friendly. Some of the advantages are mentioned

One alternative to traditional concrete is autoclaved aerated concrete[1], a 70 year old material that's more eco friendly. Some of the advantages are mentioned in this video[2]. I'm guessing higher upfront cost means it's not competitive with traditional concrete. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoclaved_aerated_concrete https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoclaved_aerated_concrete [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS3BTDBMt7I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS3BTDBMt7I

jacques_chester 7y ago
A core topic of the article is that there a number of less carbon-intensive means of producing concrete, but all of them are more expensive. As it is basically a commodity market, price sensitivity among buyers is intense. It's an example of where carbon trading or carbon pricing would be able to shift the market's current selection.
- pmoriarty 7y ago
  Papercrete[1] is an interesting material. It's a mix of (usually recycled) paper and concrete, so clearly using it wouldn't get rid of all of the pollution caused by concrete production, but it would help. It also can't be used as a concrete substitute in every situation, but it has some interesting properties like being a much better insulator than concrete, and being of very low cost. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercrete https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercrete
arcseco 7y ago
I've run into Siporex panels, which are a type of low density concrete per-fabricated panels. When these panels become water logged their tensile strength drops off quite a bit more than conventional concrete panels. The climate in which these panels are to be used probably plays a significant factor in specifying their use.
- vram22 7y ago
  IIRC there was/is a company in Pune, India, called B G Shirke and company, that is into prefab Siporex materials. Google "shirke siporex".
vram22 7y ago
>alternative to traditional concrete Related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18487704 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18487704 About the earthship I mentioned in that comment, which was made using non-traditional materials and techniques: I don't remember what materials were used, except that, IIRC, the creator said it was not cob. Mud was used, of course, that was clear from looking at it. So was glass for the windows. I mean the other materials - not sure about those. But it looked sturdy, and was huge.

jacques_chester 7y ago

A core topic of the article is that there a number of less carbon-intensive means of producing concrete, but all of them are more expensive. As it is basically a commodity market, price sensitivity among buyers is intense. It's an example of where carbon trading or carbon pricing would be able to shift the market's current selection.

pmoriarty 7y ago
Papercrete[1] is an interesting material. It's a mix of (usually recycled) paper and concrete, so clearly using it wouldn't get rid of all of the pollution caused by concrete production, but it would help. It also can't be used as a concrete substitute in every situation, but it has some interesting properties like being a much better insulator than concrete, and being of very low cost. [1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercrete https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papercrete

arcseco 7y ago

I've run into Siporex panels, which are a type of low density concrete per-fabricated panels. When these panels become water logged their tensile strength drops off quite a bit more than conventional concrete panels. The climate in which these panels are to be used probably plays a significant factor in specifying their use.

vram22 7y ago
IIRC there was/is a company in Pune, India, called B G Shirke and company, that is into prefab Siporex materials. Google "shirke siporex".

vram22 7y ago

>alternative to traditional concrete Related: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18487704 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18487704 About the earthship I mentioned in that comment, which was made using non-traditional materials and techniques: I don't remember what materials were used, except that, IIRC, the creator said it was not cob. Mud was used, of course, that was clear from looking at it. So was glass for the windows. I mean the other materials - not sure about those. But it looked sturdy, and was huge.