Are century-old timber beams as serviceable as new ones?
It looks as though they might be. According to SINTEF, many of them exhibit properties that are at least as good as new timber. This is good news for materials reuse.
What’s the best way of warming up your electric car?
Up until now, car manufacturers and others have been recommending using electricity from the grid to warm up your car on cold winter mornings because this will save the battery and ensure maximum range. But research is showing that this isn’t always necessary. Nor does it save you money.
Have we seen the last of the traditional classroom?
Researchers are on the lookout for the perfect learning environment. Perhaps the traditional classroom should be giving way to new approaches?
The wrong type of plumbing can increase the risk of Legionnaires’ disease
SINTEF researchers have been testing different types of water distribution cabinets. Cabinets that combine the distribution of both domestic tap water and water for floor heating, are now shown to represent an unnecessary risk of Legionnaires’ disease.
Aiming to electrify construction sites outside built-up areas
Calculations reveal that hydrogen, batteries and solar panels will make it possible to use electric construction machinery on sites where access to the grid is limited.
Reuse enthusiasts want used materials on sale in builders’ merchants
Norway has declared ambitious targets for waste reduction in the building industry. Researchers have been asking sector representatives what needs to be done to achieve them. This article lets you in on some of the answers.
The construction sector must learn to reuse plastic insulation after demolition
Tonnes of reusable polystyrene ends up as plastic waste when buildings are demolished. Researchers want to see more recycling and reuse.
Builders rush to learn from the ZEB lab showcase
The ZEB Laboratory has been utilised both as an office building and a sustainable construction laboratory for about two years. It was designed to be the world’s most ambitious ‘climate-adapted building’ and up to now it has been a great success.
Could you share a guest room with your neighbours?
Singles and couples with children who have moved away from home are the group most positive to alternative living arrangements, while families with children living outside the city centres are the least interested.
Data-driven heating reduces energy consumption in buildings
Energy consumption in buildings can be reduced by predicting their actual heating needs.
It is not enough to save water – we must reuse it
Is it safe to use treated wastewater to irrigate lawns and vegetable crops? This is the question now being addressed by researchers and the water industry.
The benefits of keeping concrete warm during transport in arctic conditions
Keeping concrete warm during transport between the mixing plant and construction site results in a better, cheaper and more eco-friendly product. A new type of concrete mixer truck can result in less wastage and better quality of this important building material.
Wastewater fertilisers to the aid of farmers
The circular economy can boost profits in the water management sector, and at the same time provide farmers both in Norway and around the world with cheaper fertiliser.
Researchers seek living quality in high-density housing
In Norway, apartment blocks are being built as never before, leading to a housing densification that challenges our ability to create habitable spaces – both indoors and out. So, what can we do to guarantee living quality?
Cement factories can put the brakes on global plastic pollution
Researchers believe that plastic refuse can be used as fuel in cement factories in Asia. If this works, it may provide a solution to two of the planet’s biggest environmental problems – plastic in the oceans and high levels of coal consumption.
New allergy test promises safer antibiotic use
Allergies to antibiotics are the commonest form of medication allergies and, in the worst cases, can result in anaphylaxis and death. SINTEF is participating in the development of a new allergy test that will make it easier to provide patients with safe and correct treatments.