Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions

Global energy demands within buildings are escalating, driven by increased dependence on energy-intensive systems such as air conditioning. This surge necessitates innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability in construction practices. Simultaneously, the persistent p...

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Main Authors: Siddique, Mohammed Javeed, Akhas, Punitha Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Académie des sciences 2024-11-01
Series:Comptes Rendus. Chimie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/articles/10.5802/crchim.330/
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author Siddique, Mohammed Javeed
Akhas, Punitha Kumar
author_facet Siddique, Mohammed Javeed
Akhas, Punitha Kumar
author_sort Siddique, Mohammed Javeed
collection DOAJ
description Global energy demands within buildings are escalating, driven by increased dependence on energy-intensive systems such as air conditioning. This surge necessitates innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability in construction practices. Simultaneously, the persistent problem of plastic waste presents an environmental challenge, with recycling efforts lagging behind the rapidly growing volumes of discarded materials. This study addresses both issues by investigating the feasibility of using recycled plastic materials—low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyester, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)—as partial sand substitutes in concrete for roofing applications. The objectives of this research include reducing air conditioning costs, decreasing carbon emissions, and shortening the payback period for energy-efficient building practices. Specifically, buildings situated in the hot–dry climate of Muscat, Oman, and the composite climate of New Delhi, India, were studied. The evaluation of the modified concrete’s mechanical and thermophysical properties indicates that the incorporation of 30 wt% LDPE yields the most significant economic and environmental benefits. This modification leads to the highest annual savings, calculated at 0.9946 $/m2 in Muscat and 0.9928 $/m2 in New Delhi, along with a marked reduction in carbon emissions—19 kg/kWh in Oman and 18.2 kg/kWh in New Delhi. Additionally, the use of 10 wt% HDPE results in the fastest payback, recorded at 1.37 years.
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spelling doaj-art-6f298da8fe9947edbd23e850762d22932025-02-07T13:40:47ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus. Chimie1878-15432024-11-0111510.5802/crchim.33010.5802/crchim.330Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutionsSiddique, Mohammed Javeed0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4465-7886Akhas, Punitha Kumar1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0248-7273Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra, Oman; School of Civil Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaSchool of Civil Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, IndiaGlobal energy demands within buildings are escalating, driven by increased dependence on energy-intensive systems such as air conditioning. This surge necessitates innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability in construction practices. Simultaneously, the persistent problem of plastic waste presents an environmental challenge, with recycling efforts lagging behind the rapidly growing volumes of discarded materials. This study addresses both issues by investigating the feasibility of using recycled plastic materials—low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyester, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE)—as partial sand substitutes in concrete for roofing applications. The objectives of this research include reducing air conditioning costs, decreasing carbon emissions, and shortening the payback period for energy-efficient building practices. Specifically, buildings situated in the hot–dry climate of Muscat, Oman, and the composite climate of New Delhi, India, were studied. The evaluation of the modified concrete’s mechanical and thermophysical properties indicates that the incorporation of 30 wt% LDPE yields the most significant economic and environmental benefits. This modification leads to the highest annual savings, calculated at 0.9946 $/m2 in Muscat and 0.9928 $/m2 in New Delhi, along with a marked reduction in carbon emissions—19 kg/kWh in Oman and 18.2 kg/kWh in New Delhi. Additionally, the use of 10 wt% HDPE results in the fastest payback, recorded at 1.37 years.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/articles/10.5802/crchim.330/Sustainable building materialsHVAC energy loadCarbon mitigationWaste plastics in constructionHot–dry and composite climates
spellingShingle Siddique, Mohammed Javeed
Akhas, Punitha Kumar
Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
Comptes Rendus. Chimie
Sustainable building materials
HVAC energy load
Carbon mitigation
Waste plastics in construction
Hot–dry and composite climates
title Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
title_full Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
title_fullStr Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
title_full_unstemmed Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
title_short Advancing energy efficiency: thermomechanical characterization of plastic-infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
title_sort advancing energy efficiency thermomechanical characterization of plastic infused concrete for sustainable building solutions
topic Sustainable building materials
HVAC energy load
Carbon mitigation
Waste plastics in construction
Hot–dry and composite climates
url https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/chimie/articles/10.5802/crchim.330/
work_keys_str_mv AT siddiquemohammedjaveed advancingenergyefficiencythermomechanicalcharacterizationofplasticinfusedconcreteforsustainablebuildingsolutions
AT akhaspunithakumar advancingenergyefficiencythermomechanicalcharacterizationofplasticinfusedconcreteforsustainablebuildingsolutions