Projects
As coal-fired power stations close and electric household appliances replaced gas, solar power will play a greater role in energy supply. At the same time, the country must also reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfill. Landfills cause pollution to our water supplies and take up valuable space that could remain as natural or built environments.
In this project, researchers from Western Sydney University have partnered with concrete block and brick manufacturer Brickworks to create a solution. Together, they’ll use organic and construction waste to produce concrete solar roof tiles and concrete solar building blocks. These concrete solar building materials will be easy to use in the construction of family homes, providing a cost-effective power source to the household and the grid. Project participants will trial the roof tiles and building blocks on a true-to-life model home and do a lifecycle cost analysis to confirm their economic benefits. Finally, they will evaluate the energy efficiency of the house to confirm its ratings according to the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme and BASIX. In this way, the project helps transition Australia to net zero while reducing landfill waste through a circular economy.
PROJECT PARTNERS
