Scientists have developed a method of 3D printing green buildings using local soil, which they say has the potential to change the construction industry.
According to the International Energy Agency, the technology is intended to replace concrete, which accounts for approximately 7% of carbon dioxide emissions and is a sustainable alternative.
According to Sarbajit Banerjee, professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering at Texas A&M University, 3D printing has achieved versatility, allowing them to print the entire building facade, even though such structures must satisfy Existing building regulations remain a major challenge.
“While the widespread use of concrete has democratized access to housing and enabled the growth of cities, this has come at a considerable environmental cost,” said Banerjee.
“The move to 3D print concrete threatens to exacerbate this problem. However, we envision a new paradigm of construction that uses naturally sourced materials. Using such materials will further pave the way for building designs that are specifically adapted to the needs of local climates, instead of cookie-cutter houses.
“We see this as a means of providing dignified habitats to some of the neediest populations across the world.”
In addition, the use of local materials will reduce the need to transport concrete over long distances, thereby further reducing the impact of buildings on the environment.
The research team plans to replace concrete with soil under their feet, depending on their ability to improve the load-bearing capacity of the soil, and Banerjee said they are “making great progress.”
Once they have a clearer understanding of the limitations of the technology, Banerjee and his team plan to study how it can be used for construction on other planets.
“We see this research not just as a means of replacing concrete but allowing for construction in difficult environments. For instance, we have worked on addressing the problem of building all-weather roads in the subarctic. [The technology] could one day be used beyond Earth, to create settlements on the moon or even Mars.”