SAVASCO
Minimising the environmental impact of construction using walls made from corn and sunflower stalks
- https://agrotech.upc.edu/en/projects-events/savasco
- SAVASCO
- 2020-01-01T11:00:00+01:00
- 2022-12-30T12:00:00+01:00
- Minimising the environmental impact of construction using walls made from corn and sunflower stalks
Jan 01, 2020 11:00 AM to Dec 30, 2022 12:00 PM (Europe/Madrid / UTC100)
Research group: GICITED. Interdisciplinary Group on Building Science and Technology
Project: SAVASCO. Minimising the environmental impact of construction using walls made from corn and sunflower stalks
Target audience
Farmers, construction professionals, laboratories and institutions, with the aim of creating a collaborative network to structure the sector around innovation in the use of agricultural by-products for sustainable construction
Project objectives
Establish a roadmap for the sustainable development of the construction sector, minimising its environmental impact through the use of bio-based materials. Promote the development of insulation materials from agricultural waste, such as corn and sunflower stalks, which are renewable, locally sourced and carbon-storing. Foster innovation and collaboration among the various stakeholders involved in the life cycle of construction materials.
Project description
SAVASCO develops construction prototypes using corn and sunflower stalks combined with other materials, such as biopolymers or earth. The first prototype is a 5 × 5 metre building with a lightweight timber structure, on which different construction methods are tested to demonstrate the versatility of the materials. A second prototype, located at the University of Toulouse in Tarbes, France, in a different climatic zone, will make it possible to compare the hygrothermal performance and energy efficiency of the materials. Both buildings will be monitored over four years to assess their environmental, economic and social performance. In addition, the buildings will serve as living test beds for further research, allowing new studies to be carried out by replacing only the envelope elements without dismantling the main structure.
Results
Expected main outcomes:
- Develop a process for collecting corn and sunflower stalks at a moderate cost.
- Process the stalks to produce two types of plant-based aggregates from sunflower and corn fractions and bark.
- Characterise these plant-based aggregates in terms of their multiphysical, environmental and economic properties.
- Formulate, implement and characterise the in-use performance and durability of this complete bioclimatic construction solution.
- Build two instrumented prototypes to serve as research, training and communication tools.
- Assess the environmental, economic and social performance of the construction products and the sector developed around them.
- Create an association bringing together farmers, construction professionals, laboratories and institutions to formalise the sector's structure and establish a body to represent its interests, as well as to unite and support companies and regions in developing the sector beyond the duration of the SAVASCO project.
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