Skip the scary basement to cut your home’s carbon

In the world of sustainability (which is now every world) nobody wants big feet.

We all know the importance of cutting our carbon footprint, whether on a personal, corporate, or geopolitical level.

That’s true in homebuilding, too. And multiple studies agree: to make a cut that makes a difference in greenhouse gas emissions, we’re best served by skipping one room in particular.

Do not go into the basement

Horror movies have taught us that basements are scary places. (I still haven’t recovered from my first viewing of The Silence of the Lambs.)

Now science is backing that up.

Concrete production is responsible for at least 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. And basements are often full of the stuff.

Various scientists and construction industry insiders now call concrete basements “carbon-hungry,” “carbon bombs,” or “carbon icebergs.” (I do love a catchy phrase of doom.)

Researchers at the University of Toronto measured what they called the “material intensity” of various homes and their rooms. Which is another way of measuring the greenhouse gas emissions due to construction.

They found that concrete basements were by far the largest driver of material use, and accounted for 56% of a home’s total material intensity.  “If possible,” they say, “you should avoid having a basement.”

Clarice Starling would agree. 

Could concrete get greener?

There may still be hope for basements. 

Scientists and engineers looking to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete and cement have been developing innovations for years.  

Researchers in Tokyo developed building materials by recycling food scraps like seaweed, banana peels, and Chinese cabbage. The resulting materials were just as strong or stronger than concrete. And, if the need arises, they’re still edible. (I’ll let you have the first bite).

Another group of Tokyo scientists created a process for making concrete that reuses old concrete products and captures carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

And the Washington Post just reported that a company in Oakland has developed a carbon-negative cement using carbon-free silicate rock instead of limestone. 

Even better, this green cement received third-party certification that it’s chemically and structurally the same as regular cement, which should help assure more builders of its potential.

Going cold turkey on concrete

But you don’t even need green concrete to make a difference in your carbon footprint.

The Rocky Mountain Institute points to the use of modular or prefabricated construction techniques as one strategy to reduce CO2 through better material efficiency and design.  

In the UK, academics developed a modular construction system that slashed carbon emissions by up to 45%, partly through manufacturing precision-built components in a factory offsite.  

Here at Momo, we’re building quick-build homes in a similar way, with components precision-engineered in a factory setting.

Also, our steel-frame panels fit exactly onto our steel Surefoot foundation. Which is fully recyclable and concrete-free.

So you can skip the scary basements.

Cheers,

Mike

Mike McAllister is head of story for Momo Homes.