Page 28 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2020 publication

28 Spring 2020 European Energy Innovation

BIO BASED CONSTRUCTION

Nurturing sustainable
bio-based construction

By Dennis Jones, Associate Professor from Luleå University of Technology, Division of Wood
Science and Engineering Skellefteå, Vesterbotten County, Sweden

A new institute researching renewable materials for sustainable buildings has been founded in
Slovenia thanks to a COST Action on bio-based materials in construction. The Action connected
the institute’s pioneers with research ideas, future staff and an essential start-up grant.

Bio-based materials could reduce the COST Action ‘Performance of overview of properties, applications
construction industry’s carbon footprint Bio-based Building Materials’ and standards for bio-based
and boost rural economies where these addressed gaps in this area. The materials in construction – the book
products are grown. But can hemp Action coordinated research on the Performance of Bio-based Building
or flax fibres reduce the amount of performance of bio-based materials Materials – by Dennis Jones,
concrete in buildings? How can wood in buildings, on mould resistance, on Chair of the Action and Christian
improve building interiors and the staining and decay, and on assessing Brischke, Vice Chair - as a reference
well-being of the people inside? their environmental and health for academics, policymakers and
impacts. industry.
Reliable data and performance tests
could answer these questions and Between 2013 and 2017, up to 200 “During its 4-year duration, this Action
more, giving Europe’s building sector participants from 31 countries allowed a wide group of researchers
the confidence to use bio-based worked on the topic and shared and in particular Early Career
materials more widely. best practice. The result was an Investigators, to become active

New InnoRenew CoE buildings in Slovenia. Image: InnoRenew CoE

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