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

英国对低碳和零碳建筑的需求不断增长，这给我们目前所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%来自建筑材料;预计到2020年，这一比例将上升到95%以上。如果英国要在2050年前实现80%的碳减排目标，很明显，需要大幅减少建筑材料的隐含碳。同样清楚的是，目前的材料和系统无法实现这些节省。为实现碳排放减少80%、减少对不可再生资源的依赖以及提高资源效率的目标，需要在态度、方法和材料方面逐步改变。需要改进建筑系统，使其能够以合理的成本提供持续增强的性能水平。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;秸秆基产品;高强度生物复合材料;使用有机稳定剂的未烧制粘土产品;对环境敏感的包层材料;自我修复材料;智能材料和主动监测;湿热和相变材料;感染控制涂层;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;以及土壤的纤维加固。然而，这些创新中很少有突破性的成为广泛的主流应用，甚至更少的创新在所需的碳减排方面提供了必要的步骤变化。低碳方法还需要解决新的解决方案：全寿命成本计算;寿命终止（拆卸和再利用）;更多地使用预制件;更好的寿命预测和更长的设计寿命;减少浪费;提高质量;有计划的更新;在建筑过程中实现更大程度的自动化。除了性能、不确定性风险和潜在的更高成本之外，创新的其他重要障碍包括：缺乏信息/演示项目;不断变化的现场实践以及提供可能更便宜解决方案的商业竞争对手的反对。最近的EPSRC审查已经认识到需要在建筑环境中的新材料和材料的新用途方面进行更大的创新。我们的网络LIMES.NET的愿景是创建一个由领先的研究人员，工业家，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世纪世纪提供更可持续的建筑环境。LIMES.NET的范围将包括：基于可持续和适当使用资源，显著减少隐含碳和能源的自适应和耐用材料和解决方案;改造应用解决方案，以减少现有建筑的性能碳排放并最大限度地减少浪费;用于改造和新建应用的气候变化适应性和自适应材料和技术，以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潜在的有利影响，LIMES.NET将集中精力汇集专家，使用可再生（木材和其他植物）建筑材料开发解决方案的途径;低影响的基于地质的结构材料;水泥和混凝土的材料;创新的纳米材料和纤维增强复合材料。通过研讨会和国际访问，该网络将为多学科研究和开发途径制定路线图，这将导致高质量的大型研究提案，以及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.