Bricks remixed for green gains
Engineers have developed an innovative type of brick made from recycled materials, including glass, that promises to reduce household energy costs.
In collaboration with major recycler Visy, an RMIT team has used waste materials to replace traditional clay in brick production.
Associate Professor Dilan Robert, the team leader from RMIT's School of Engineering, says conventional brick manufacturing processes not only produce harmful emissions like carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide but also heavily consume natural clay resources.
According to Robert, the construction industry uses about 1.4 trillion bricks annually, meaning there is a huge potential market for sustainable alternatives.
The new brick formulation includes at least 15 per cent waste glass and 20 per cent ash, significantly lowering the firing temperature required during manufacturing by up to 20 per cent, thus offering cost benefits to brick producers.
This approach not only diverts waste from landfills but also contributes to the building sector's energy efficiency.
Preliminary test results are promising, suggesting that buildings constructed with these bricks could see a reduction in energy costs by up to 5 per cent due to better insulation properties compared to traditional bricks.
Additionally, the bricks meet the rigorous compliance standards set by Standards Australia for structural integrity, durability, and environmental sustainability.
The technology enables the production of lighter bricks in a variety of colours, from white to dark red, by altering the material formulations.
This flexibility allows for more customisation in building aesthetics without compromising environmental benefits.
The research team at RMIT says it is now working to scale up the production process, collaborating with Melbourne-based brick manufacturers on the commercial availability of the next-gen bricks.