What is usually burned to generate energy today could protect houses tomorrow. Researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa have found a way to press sawdust with a mineral binder to create a robust, flame-retardant material. It’s even recyclable.
Problem is that there’s no single solution to building materials, as the materials’ properties depend greatly on the local climate. Wooden houses are very breathable and can last hundreds of years with proper maintenance, but are only really suited for drier climates, such as Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. Brick is solid and more fire-resistant, but needs carefully designed ventilation (just look at the damp old houses in the UK and southern New Zealand). Metal parts are great for structural strength, but are at risk of corroding if they’re used near the sea. In the US, you could compare houses in f.ex Arizona, Louisiana and Washington. Panels made of straw and sawdust could be great in some areas, but in some other areas (tropics, for example), they would most likely be unusable.
Problem is that there’s no single solution to building materials, as the materials’ properties depend greatly on the local climate. Wooden houses are very breathable and can last hundreds of years with proper maintenance, but are only really suited for drier climates, such as Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. Brick is solid and more fire-resistant, but needs carefully designed ventilation (just look at the damp old houses in the UK and southern New Zealand). Metal parts are great for structural strength, but are at risk of corroding if they’re used near the sea. In the US, you could compare houses in f.ex Arizona, Louisiana and Washington. Panels made of straw and sawdust could be great in some areas, but in some other areas (tropics, for example), they would most likely be unusable.