Development of Energy-Efficient Concrete Buildings Using Recycled Plastic Aggregates
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 11, Issue 4
Abstract
Recycled plastics (high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene) were used as coarse aggregates in concrete mixtures to alter and improve the thermal properties of buildings. Two similar retail buildings were designed and constructed in Lansing, Mich., one with normal concrete (control) and the other with high content of recycled mixed plastics. The thermal and energy performance of the two buildings were investigated and analyzed. Short-term (air tightness and infiltration, co-heating, lighting) and long-term monitoring were performed. The building simulation program SUNREL developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was employed to simulate the energy performance of the two buildings and to validate the experimental data. Both experimental and SUNREL program results showed that the recycled plastic concrete building exhibited higher levels of energy efficiency and comfort when compared with the normal concrete (control) building. Recycled plastic concrete in combination with energy-efficient building design techniques proved to be of tremendous value in lowering the cooling and heating loads of the buildings and also in enhancing the comfort level of the buildings.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy is gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 11 • Issue 4 • December 2005
Pages: 122 - 130
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: May 25, 2004
Accepted: Mar 22, 2005
Published online: Dec 1, 2005
Published in print: Dec 2005
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