Let’s wind the clock forward to 2050. In this world we have collectively worked to develop a means of living that has halted the increase in our environmental impact.
In this world we have resolved to stop further depleting the natural resources of our planet. Which is essential if we are to survive as a species since the resources of our plant are not infinite.
Everything we use needs to be endlessly reused. Everything we make needs to be made without the making causing further damage. Everything we build needs to consume no energy to operate and needs to last a very, very long time.
Aircrete is a material that fits within this vision.
If (and perhaps that is a “when” rather than an “if”) we can decarbonise our energy generation then the embodied carbon of aircrete is immediately drastically reduced. Factor in the carbon that is absorbed by concrete, eliminate carbon from transport and you have a zero-carbon material.
If (and perhaps that should be “when”) we start to view end-of-life buildings as a resource rather than a waste material we can introduce a circularity of material – endlessly collecting demolition waste and reforming it into new product. No further depletion of resources, no impact on the landscape through extraction or harvesting. A closed loop that can continue into perpetuity.
Aircrete can help achieve this. And along the way it can also provide the robust, durable and adaptable homes that we will need to withstand the climate change it is already too late to avoid.
In the long term science and technology can provide solutions to the climate crises and aircrete will be playing its role in building the sustainable homes of the future.