In the mountain town of Karuizawa, Japan, stands a unique house with towering 3-meter high walls made of approximately 2,050 carbon-absorbing concrete blocks. This innovative design is the world’s first carbon-absorbing concrete house.
The house, located in a 110-meter long plot of land in Karuizawa, features five retaining walls made from CO2-absorbing concrete. This new type of concrete, known as CO2-SUICOM, was developed by companies Kajima, Chugoku Electric Power, Denka, and Landes. By replacing part of the cement with an industrial by-product and adding CO2 absorbing materials, this concrete reduces emissions from the production process.
The strength of CO2-absorbing concrete is comparable to regular concrete. To fabricate it, shaped concrete is placed into a curing chamber where CO2 is pumped in for absorption. This process ensures that the absorbed CO2 is fixed inside the concrete and does not escape into the atmosphere. The design of the concrete walls, created by Nendo, resembles screens and provides both ventilation and privacy.
Implementing innovative materials like CO2-absorbing concrete can help mitigate environmental impacts globally. By 2023, it is estimated that the world’s cement and concrete production will account for about 8% of total carbon emissions. CO2 emissions from energy used in the cement industry in Japan in 2020 comprised approximately 1.2% of the country’s total emissions. Reducing these emissions through sustainable construction practices can make a significant impact on global efforts to combat climate change.
This unique house serves as a model for sustainable construction practices and highlights how innovative materials can be used to reduce environmental impacts in architecture and construction industries worldwide.
