LIMES.NET: Network for Low Impact Materials and innovative Engineering Solutions for the built environment

在英国，对低碳和零碳建筑的需求不断增长，为我们目前依赖的能源密集型材料带来了重大挑战。目前，新建筑的碳足迹中有20%到60%是由建筑中使用的材料造成的；预计到2020年，这一比例将升至95%以上。如果英国要在2050年达到减排80%的既定目标，很明显，建筑材料的隐含碳需要大幅减少。同样清楚的是，目前的材料和系统无法实现这些节省。减少80%的碳排放，减少对不可再生资源的依赖，提高资源效率，需要在态度和方法以及材料上逐步改变。需要改进建筑系统，使其能够以合理的成本不断提高性能水平。建筑材料的现代发展包括：生态水泥和混凝土（低碳粘合剂）；各种生物基材料，包括工程木材，大麻石灰和绝缘产品；秸秆制品；高强度生物复合材料；使用有机稳定剂的未烧制粘土制品；环保覆层材料；自修复材料；智能材料和主动监控；湿热和相变材料；感染控制涂料；超薄热效率涂层（使用纳米填料）；超高性能混凝土；更多地利用废物；纤维加固土壤。然而，这些创新中很少有突破到广泛的主流使用，更少提供必要的碳减排步骤变化。低碳方法还需要新颖的解决方案来解决：全寿命成本；寿命结束（拆卸和再利用）；更多地使用预制；更好的寿命预测和更长的设计寿命；降低浪费;提高质量;计划更新;在施工过程中实现更大程度的自动化。除了绩效、不确定性带来的风险和潜在的更高成本之外，创新的其他重要障碍还包括：缺乏信息/演示项目；不断变化的场地实践和来自商业竞争对手的反对，提供潜在的更便宜的解决方案……最近的EPSRC审查已经认识到需要在新材料和建筑环境中材料的新用途方面进行更大的创新。我们网络的愿景，LIMES。NET的宗旨是创建一个由领先的研究人员、实业家、政策制定者和其他利益相关者组成的国际多学科社区，他们对开发和采用创新的低影响材料和解决方案有着共同的愿景，以在21世纪提供更可持续的建筑环境。LIMES的范围。NET将包括：在可持续和适当利用资源的基础上显著减少碳和能源的适应性和耐用材料和解决办法；为减少现有建筑物的碳排放和减少废物而提供的改造方案；气候变化弹性和适应性材料和技术，用于改造和新建应用，提供长期可持续的解决方案。认识到它们目前的不利影响和未来可能产生的有益影响，NET将专注于汇集专家，开发使用可再生（木材和其他植物基）建筑材料的解决方案；低冲击土工基结构材料；水泥及混凝土基材料；创新纳米材料和纤维增强复合材料。通过讲习班和国际访问，该网络将创建一个多学科研究和发展途径的路线图，这将导致高质量的大型研究建议，以及一个正在进行的虚拟在线卓越中心。

The increasing demand for low and zero carbon buildings in the UK has provided significant challenges for the energy intensive materials we currently rely on. At present somewhere between 20% and as much as 60% of the carbon footprint of new buildings is attributable to the materials used in construction; this is predicted to rise to over 95% by 2020. If the UK is to meet agreed 80% carbon reduction targets by 2050 it is clear that significant reductions in the embodied carbon of construction materials is required. What also seems clear is that current materials and systems are not capable of delivering these savings. The drive for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions, a decreasing reliance on non-renewal resources and for greater resource efficiency, requires step changes in attitude and approach as well as materials. Improvement in construction systems, capable of providing consistently enhanced levels of performance at a reasonable cost is required.Modern developments in construction materials include: eco-cements and concretes (low carbon binders); various bio-based materials including engineered timber, hemp-lime and insulation products; straw based products; high strength bio-composites; unfired clay products utilising organic stabilisers; environmentally responsive cladding materials; self healing materials; smart materials and proactive monitoring; hygrothermal and phase change materials; coatings for infection control; ultra thin thermally efficient coatings (using nano fillers); ultra high performance concretes; greater use of wastes; and, fibre reinforcement of soils. However, very few of these innovations make the break through to widespread mainstream use and even fewer offer the necessary step change in carbon reductions required A low carbon approach also requires novel solutions to address: whole life costing; end of life (disassembly and reuse); greater use of prefabrication; better life predictions and longer design life; lower waste; improved quality; planned renewal; and greater automation in the construction process. As well as performance, risk from uncertainty and potentially higher costs other important barriers to innovation include: lack of information/demo projects; changing site practices and opposition from commercial competitors offering potentially cheaper solutions..A recent EPSRC Review has recognised the need for greater innovation in novel materials and novel uses of materials in the built environment. The vision for our network, LIMES.NET, is to create an international multi-disciplinary community of leading researchers, industrialists, policy makers and other stakeholders who share a common vision for the development and adoption of innovative low impact materials and solutions to deliver a more sustainable built environment in the 21st Century. The scope of LIMES.NET will include: adaptive and durable materials and solutions with significantly reduced embodied carbon and energy, based upon sustainable and appropriate use of resources; solutions for retrofitting applications to reduce performance carbon emissions of existing buildings and to minimise waste; climate change resilient and adaptive materials and technologies for retrofitting and new build applications to provide long term sustainable solutions. In recognition of their current adverse impacts and potential for future beneficial impacts, LIMES.NET will focus on bringing together experts to develop pathways to solutions using: renewable (timber and other plant based) construction materials; low-impact geo-based structural materials; cement and concrete based materials; innovative nano-materials and fibre reinforced composites. Through workshops and international visits the network will create a roadmap for multidisciplinary research and development pathways that will lead to high quality large research proposals, and an on-going virtual on-line centre of excellence.