The thermal properties of constructions made of raw bricks to promote their use as a sustainable building material were highlighted by the Environment Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou, in her greeting at the opening of a scientific conference on “Thermal properties of constructions made of raw bricks”, which took place on Saturday in University of Cyprus.
According to Mrs. Theodosiou, during the conference, specialized lecturers would present data and technological developments regarding the efficiency and durability of raw bricks as well as their thermal effect on constructions, giving a complete picture of how this can be utilized the traditional material to meet modern challenges.
He added that in this context, the cooperation of the Office of the Commissioner of the Environment with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth has already been agreed to introduce the subject of physical construction in educational programs in technical schools and environmental education centers in all provinces, through Education Unit for the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Network of Environmental Education Centers.
In Cyprus, as in many regions of the world, the use of adobe has deep roots as one of the oldest building materials in the architectural tradition, forming an integral part of the cultural heritage, the Commissioner continued, adding that the traditional architecture based on adobe stands out for its durability and its ability to maintain internal temperatures at normal levels, offering natural coolness in summer and warmth in winter, creating a healthy and comfortable living environment provided that basic principles of bioclimatic architectural composition are respected.
< p data-block-key="8dqdb">“The current climate crisis requires immediate and innovative solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to adapt to new environmental conditions. Research on the thermal properties of adobe constructions is vital to promote their use as a sustainable building material. The production of cobblestones requires much less energy compared to other modern building materials, they are fully recyclable, with a minimal and/or zero carbon footprint”, said Ms. Theodosiou, adding that despite the aforementioned thermal benefits and the widespread use of cobblestones in the past, there is still a lack of concrete scientific data on their thermal performance today.
As mentioned, in various researches there are often discrepancies between the results derived from the field research, laboratory tests and simulation methods applied to investigate the thermal characteristics of shoulder plinths and this gap is filled by the ADOBES research project of the University of Cyprus, adopting a concise methodological approach using laboratory research, field monitoring of plinths and walls of adobe, as well as simulation tools, in order to highlight the limitations of thermal performance and their potential.
“In Cyprus, we have the opportunity to take advantage of the long tradition and knowledge we have accumulated, adapting it to modern needs, technologies and research”, concluded the Environment Commissioner.
Source: KYPE
