The increasing demand for low and zero carbon buildings in the UK has provided significant challenges for the energy intensive materials we currently rely on. At present somewhere between 20% and as much as 60% of the carbon footprint of new buildings is attributable to the materials used in construction; this is predicted to rise to over 95% by 2020. If the UK is to meet agreed 80% carbon reduction targets by 2050 it is clear that significant reductions in the embodied carbon of construction materials is required. What also seems clear is that current materials and systems are not capable of delivering these savings. The drive for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions, a decreasing reliance on non-renewal resources and for greater resource efficiency, requires step changes in attitude and approach as well as materials. Improvement in construction systems, capable of providing consistently enhanced levels of performance at a reasonable cost is required.

Modern developments in construction materials include: eco-cements and concretes (low carbon binders); various bio-based materials including engineered timber, hemp-lime and insulation products; straw based products; high strength bio-composites; unfired clay products utilising organic stabilisers; environmentally responsive cladding materials; self healing materials; smart materials and proactive monitoring; hygrothermal and phase change materials; coatings for infection control; ultra thin thermally efficient coatings (using nano fillers); ultra high performance concretes; greater use of wastes; and, fibre reinforcement of soils. However, very few of these innovations make the break through to widespread mainstream use and even fewer offer the necessary step change in carbon reductions required

A low carbon approach also requires novel solutions to address: whole life costing; end of life (disassembly and reuse); greater use of prefabrication; better life predictions and longer design life; lower waste; improved quality; planned renewal; and greater automation in the construction process. As well as performance, risk from uncertainty and potentially higher costs other important barriers to innovation include: lack of information/demo projects; changing site practices and opposition from commercial competitors offering potentially cheaper solutions..

A recent EPSRC Review has recognised the need for greater innovation in novel materials and novel uses of materials in the built environment. The vision for our network, LIMES.NET, is to create an international multi-disciplinary community of leading researchers, industrialists, policy makers and other stakeholders who share a common vision for the development and adoption of innovative low impact materials and solutions to deliver a more sustainable built environment in the 21st Century. The scope of LIMES.NET will include: adaptive and durable materials and solutions with significantly reduced embodied carbon and energy, based upon sustainable and appropriate use of resources; solutions for retrofitting applications to reduce performance carbon emissions of existing buildings and to minimise waste; climate change resilient and adaptive materials and technologies for retrofitting and new build applications to provide long term sustainable solutions. In recognition of their current adverse impacts and potential for future beneficial impacts, LIMES.NET will focus on bringing together experts to develop pathways to solutions using: renewable (timber and other plant based) construction materials; low-impact geo-based structural materials; cement and concrete based materials; innovative nano-materials and fibre reinforced composites. Through workshops and international visits the network will create a roadmap for multidisciplinary research and development pathways that will lead to high quality large research proposals, and an on-going virtual on-line centre of excellence.

Potential Impact:
Who will benefit from this research?
The work of LIMES.NET will directly support internationally agreed targets (Kyoto Protocol; EU) for the UK to reduce its industrially based carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. In addition to the existing community, direct beneficiaries of the network will include researchers in other fields (for example biosciences, economics, materials science, agronomy, architecture, building physics) and stakeholders (including consultants, contractors, clients, policy makers) across the UK construction sector (material and product manufacturers; designers; contractors; policy makers; built infrastructure owners; professional bodies) as well as society in general.

How will they benefit from this research?
Knowledge: New knowledge created through the network, and the follow on research work stimulated by the network, will ensure that together the UK research and construction sector will have the capacity to become the world leaders, by raising profile of UK research overseas and providing opportunities to collaboratively generate the knowledge to be at the forefront of low impact construction materials, product and infrastructure delivery. Without this fundamental research investment, the UK risks neglecting intellectually one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Members of the network include national and globally leading practitioners, policy makers as well as researchers.

Society: We will provide construction sector capacity to meet demands for carbon reduction set by government policy and international agreements. Stakeholders will gain: an increased capacity to reduce environmental impact of new construction materials and systems; improved performance of existing infrastructure through low impact retrofitting technologies; better understanding of design and implementation of low carbon technologies for the built environment. The novel research emanating from this network is expected to change future government policy in the implementation of low carbon materials. Through international links the network will provide support development activities through knowledge provision and linkages between clients and public and private service providers. Public sector will be better placed to support delivery of lower carbon retrofitted and new infrastructure. Society will benefit from improved infrastructure performance (quality of life; healthier buildings) and measures that seek to mitigate against climate change.

Economy: The network will create a forum for new collaborations between the research community and construction sector, stimulating opportunities for novel collaborative research that will generate new materials, products, systems and services. This new intellectual property will provide opportunities for wealth creation through investment in new products and services by existing and new enterprises. The network will provide a hub for a new community of high tech knowledge driven construction product and service providers. The research will help inform product manufacturers of how their materials perform in new, fundamental detail, so that product improvements and new materials can be made. This can feed directly into the design process enabling more efficient and economic use of materials in both new construction and retrofit.

People: Our vision is to create an international multi-disciplinary community of leading researchers, industrialists, policy makers and other stakeholders who share a common vision for the development and adoption of innovative low impact materials and solutions to deliver a more sustainable built environment in the 21st Century. The participants in this network and on follow-up research projects will also feel empowered to proceed with their ideas through having a network of like-minded people with whom to associate.