The optimisation of Cob building material, Research and Demand

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The EU aims to reduce energy use by 20% by 2020 (2012/27/EU). A major obstacle is reducing the energy used by EU buildings’ construction and use, which currently consume 40% of generated energy (EU2010). To help meet this challenge, CobBauge 1 will develop, test and establish an innovative low carbon cob technology using local soil and agricultural fibres/waste fibres from industry. This technology will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions, improved energy efficiency and cost savings over 10 years by: 1. Creating an inexpensive, well-insulated material, reducing construction waste by 16T, thereby saving €2115 in landfill costs per property (EEA,2013);) €44k less than PassivHaus construction (see table in cover letter)) for similar performance. 2. Using less than half the heating energy compared to new EN and FR properties (ECEEE,2013). 3. Requiring minimal transport costs (using local suitable soil), reduced embodied carbon of 4 tonnes CO2e per house(Li,2012). Cob buildings are common in the FCE areas but do not meet current thermal regulations. Local planning requirements require new construction and renovations that are sympathetic to the historic built environment, much of which is cob/earth. By creating new inexpensive cob technologies that meet building standards, (Code de la construction et de l´habitation,2017;UK Building regulations,2016), local/national building firms and consumers can meet planning, environmental and financial challenges. Therefore, 4 new cob building materials, chosen from 20 pilot mixes representative of soil types of the FCE area (ensuring applicability by being similar to those used international), enhanced by novel fibres, will be thermally and structurally tested to ensure building regulation compliance. Building on existing demand for a cob product that meets regulations, further demand will be assessed and generated by engagement with potential buyers and self-builders, authorities that build and rent social housing, local and national building firms and planning authorities, thereby creating a new CobBauge Network (WP T2). The CobBauge 1 results will be publicised and disseminated through the network. The UK design and construction guidelines will be adapted for Fr, while Fr expertise in upgrading cob with fibres will be used by the UK partners to introduce an innovative, unique product, meeting regulations. Once levels of demand are established, a second project, CobBauge 2, will construct two buildings for monitoring and establish a programme of training and construction to build 1500 dwellings over 10 years.

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