From the humble beginnings of sheltering in caves during prehistoric times, humanity has advanced to creating skyscrapers that touch the sky. This architectural progress, however, has come with a significant cost: the extensive use of unsustainable materials that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbate global warming.

In response, researchers are now exploring innovative solutions to enhance the sustainability of buildings by incorporating eco-friendly materials and techniques. They are even venturing into the groundbreaking idea of using buildings as carbon storage tools to mitigate the climate crisis.

A Glimmer of Hope

A research team from the University of California-Davis and Stanford University has investigated the carbon-storing potential of various building materials. Their research, published in Science Advances on January 10, revealed that materials like plastic and concrete have the capacity to store billions of tons of carbon dioxide.

This discovery suggests that the construction sector could play a pivotal role in carbon dioxide storage, helping achieve global emission reduction targets and supporting the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The How and Why

Key construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, wood, plastic, and bricks account for more than 30 billion tons of annual production. The research team calculated the carbon storage potential of these materials and proposed innovative methods for carbon sequestration. One such method involves biochar, produced by heating biomass waste and integrating it into concrete. This approach can be applied to other building materials as well. By substituting biomass for fossil fuel sources in construction, we can make materials more sustainable and effectively store carbon instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into a stable form that doesn’t contribute to climate change. Researchers believe that adopting these carbon-storing techniques for building materials could advance a circular economy, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly future.