U... for Urban Mining

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of sustainable construction. Consuming less energy while guaranteeing the same level of comfort is the goal set by the sector to meet the challenges of climate change and rising energy costs. Find out how this issue is revolutionizing the way we design, build and renovate our buildings!CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a more sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Offsite construction is a model based on the prefabrication of building elements at a location other than the worksite. Instead of building on site, individual modules or components are designed and manufactured at a workshop or plant before they are transported to and assembled on the worksite. The benefits are significant: quality, speed, safety, smaller carbon footprint... offsite construction has the potential to revolutionize the building industry! CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chemicals are everywhere, and the construction sector is no exception. They improve the performance of materials and products by giving them additional properties, such as mechanical resistance, impermeability, durability, and easy implementation. This market, estimated to be worth €100 billion globally, is in constant growth. What role does it play in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings today and in the future? CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The term “soil sealing” refers to the transformation of natural land into stable, impermeable surfaces required for new buildings. Unfortunately, this process accelerates biodiversity loss, generates carbon emissions and exacerbates the effects of natural disasters. How can we stem the tide of population growth and economic development? What solutions can we employ to curb its spread?CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA, quantifies a building's environmental footprint over its entire life cycle. From the extraction of raw materials used in the manufacture of products and materials, through the operating phase to the end of the building's life. An invaluable tool to guide players in the sustainable construction sector!CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bill of materials, or BOM for short, is a list of all the materials needed to produce an end product – which includes buildings! It’s a tool that can prove especially useful for calculating a more accurate ecological footprint of buildings – and shrinking as much as possible!CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The construction industry consumes an enormous amount of raw materials and the extraction and use of these resources represent a heavy burden in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. What about the development of secondary raw materials? CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recovering materials from building demolition. Faced with ever scarcer natural resources and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry is turning to “urban mining” – the recovery of construction materials from demolished buildings. However, what may sound like a virtuous circle is beset with obstacles.CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Germany in the 1970s, the first passive houses were built with the challenge of minimizing energy consumption. How have these pioneering buildings inspired architects and residents in their search for more sustainable housing?CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PAAS stands for “product as a service”. It’s a model based on how a product is used and not just its physical ownership. For businesses, this calls for new business models and longer-term thinking. And the world of construction is gradually starting to adopt a similar approach as shown in this episode.CONSTRUCTING NEW WORLDS, by Saint-Gobain.Behind words, solutions and innovations for a sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.