Building homes for a sustainable future…Homes for tomorrow

Adedicated group ofresearchers within theDepartment of Civil

Engineering at Chalmers University ofTechnology has recently been granteda strong research environment statusby the Swedish Formas researchcouncil. The environment is named‘homes for tomorrow’ (h42) and willdeliver cutting-edge innovations forthe building industry through interdis-ciplinary projects. These innovationswill promote new approaches andapplications in the transdisciplinaryarenas (reality studies) with munici-palities and the building sector.

The interdisciplinary research willdemonstrate considerable reductionsin ecological footprints for buildingsthrough innovations in water systems,thin and active building envelopes,and new concrete composites. Theresearch aims to provide a low material and energy intensity (envi-ronmental sustainability), combinedwith an understanding of the humanexperience of homes (social sustain-ability), while being competitive andrealistic through the reality studies(economic sustainability).

The development of active multifunc-tional building envelopes is being ledby Professor Carl-Eric Hagentoft.Aerogel in woven and solid forms isbeing investigated as a highly efficientthermal insulation material that canbe used in order to reduce heattransfer through the building envelope.It is thought that the reduction inthickness of insulation compared totraditional materials could be asmuch as eight times. Applicationsinclude the retrofit of older homes,where this would reduce the effect onthe character of the building whileraising the standard of the home.

A further application is for slim, newhomes with both a low material andenergy intensity.

Thin structure is also a theme forProfessor Kent Gylltoft, who isstudying novel cementitious andgeopolymer products for the prefabri-cation of components. New binderswill be matrices for novel concretecomposites and high performancecomposites will include the develop-ment of textile reinforced concrete.Meanwhile, Professor Tang Luping isinvestigating thermal energy storagein concrete through the developmentof an electrochemical cell, which is

a spin-off of corrosion preventionresearch. This research will result inan innovation to store electric energyin concrete structures.

Innovations in indoor water systemsare being researched by ProfessorGreg Morrison. Household watercirculation and water treatmentsystems are being developed thatmeet future requirements for drinkingwater quality by adapting andupdating existing leading edge technology to obtain: ■ Super high-quality drinking water

from different mains deliveredwater qualities;

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■ Low energy technologies for recy-cling grey water within the home;

■ Efficient collection and treatmentof wastewater in-home bycombining biological processeswith nanotechnology.

While the environmental aspects arecentral to h42, it is also importantthat the home provides experientialqualities for human restoration afterwork. Professor Daniel Västfjäll istherefore carrying out research thataims to clarify the behaviour andpsychology for humanising technolo-gies and innovations for future homes.This research includes considerationof the potential and the limitations ofnew technical solutions in adaptivebuilding envelopes and coupled tothe transfer of air and daylight throughthe envelope, the distribution throughthe living space and the impact onoccupants. This includes the use oftransparent thermal insulations,optical fibre solutions, smart windowtechnology, daylight chimneys and

fluorescent materials. The effects ofvariables on humans will be deter-mined through psychophysical studies,which will provide multimodal indicesof comfort and restoration.

The overriding aim for h42 is to bringtogether innovations and experientialfindings to provide a transdisciplinaryarena with the building industry for: ■ Real-life references;

■ Inspiration concept homes;

■ Well-tested prototypes at scalesfrom the detailed to the full scale.

An important feature of this arena isknowledge production and dissemi-nation, both within academia and the building industry. For theseexternal cooperative partners, theadded value of h42 can be expressedin terms of: exploration of new technologies and processes, ideas fortheir ongoing projects, brainstormingfor specific projects, as well as cultivating learning and competencedevelopments for current employeesand future employees who are ourcurrent students.

One reality study under discussion isa home development site on thegrounds of a former paper factory.Here the old industrial buildingsprovide a cultural heritage for theformer industrial era, with waterfallsand power the backdrop for the

development. The area will accom-modate a mix of new and retrofitsolutions, with the discussions ofthe stakeholders and researchers inh42 providing a research arena ofvalue for both.

For further information, please contact homes fortomorrow on the details below.

Professor Greg Morrison

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Chalmers University of TechnologySE-412 96 Göteborg Sweden

Tel: +46 31 772 1937

greg.morrison@chalmers.sewww.chalmers.se

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“Our vision is that the h42research team will carry outresearch, in dialogue with externalpartners, that will underpin realbuilding solutions that can feasiblybe implemented in Sweden andabroad,” says Professor GregMorrison, Director, h42.

The interest in h42 expressed bythe building sector is because ourresearch aims to provide: firstly,technical innovations with lowmaterial and energy intensity;secondly, new qualities for homesthrough studies of the humanexperience; and thirdly, competitiveand realistic solutions throughdemonstration case studies.

An important characteristic of thestrong research environment, h42,is the development of the researchresults on the transdisciplinaryarena with stakeholders in thebuilding industry, from the outset.

© Reproduced with the kind permission of publicservice.co.uk Ltd 2011