Requested research

Literature review: Analyze environmental parameters and carbon emissions data, with particular focus on the use of alternative materials in low-cost housing solutions in developing contexts.

Life Cycle Assessments: Conduct LCAs of alternative building materials and techniques, such as natural materials and recyclables, and compare them with conventional materials such as concrete, steel, and bricks.

Case studies: Develop case study houses to perform and compare environmental assessments.

Background: Life Cycle Assessments and carbon emissions

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire lifespan, from raw material extraction and processing to manufacturing, distribution, use, repair, maintenance, and eventual disposal or recycling.

A carbon footprint, or embodied carbon assessment, is a subset of LCA that focuses on direct greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to global warming and climate change.

In most developing countries, carbon footprinting is still a relatively new concept, and local emissions data for building materials remain scarce. This project seeks to bridge this gap by focusing on natural and recycled materials such as stone, earth, straw, plastics, and bottles, to better understand their environmental potential compared to conventional building solutions.

Further action

This project is part of a broader effort to perform environmental assessments, which also includes research on the integration of nature-based solutions and health assessments of alternative materials and techniques.

Interested? For more information or to set up a meeting, possibly as a final-year thesis opportunity, send us an email. We’d be happy to discuss how you can contribute to this important research area.