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Innovative use of recycled waste materials in a new bioclimatic office and laboratory complex
Conference paper   Open access

Innovative use of recycled waste materials in a new bioclimatic office and laboratory complex

M. Anda, I. Jennings, K. Mathew and G.E. Ho
World Renewable Energy Congress VII (Cologne, Germany, 29/06/2002–05/07/2002)
2002
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Abstract

The new Waalitj Research & Exhibition Complex was constructed at the Environmental Technology Centre (ETC) in 2001. Innovative use of recycled waste and energy efficient materials has been made throughout. The footings and floors are concrete slab-on-ground. The embodied energy of the concrete has been reduced by inclusion of batch plant wastes; flyash and spent Vanadium Pentoxide catalyst. Selected areas of the slab have a polished terrazzo finish for visual effect and increased winter solar gain. The exposed aggregate is recycled waste window glass cullet. Walls are a combination of stabilised recycled earth where thermal mass is appropriate, and lightweight insulated walls, where high insulation or very low thermal lag is appropriate. The stabilized earth is in fact recycled building rubble and therefore has an extremely low embodied energy. Interior linings have not been required where stabilised earth or floor-to-ceiling glazing is used. Elsewhere these are a mix of recycled plastic paneling and gyprock plasterboard. The latter is painted with organic finishes to enable recycling as soil amender upon deconstruction. The outdoor paving includes 20% flyash reducing embodied energy. Operable walls, clad with recycled plastic panels, are designed to control the wind regime in the courtyard and also the cross-ventilation of the buildings.

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