EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R20762/01
Title: Opportunities & Obstacles In the Development, Manufacture & Specification of Innovative Sustainable Building Materials & Products
Principal Investigator: Woolley, Professor T
Other Investigators:
Tweed, Professor C
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
A A C Waterproofing Ltd Bio-Bubble Ltd British Woodworking Federation
Bucaneers Charity Eco-Solutions Ltd Environmental Construction Products
Institute of Building Control Natural Building Technologies Solar Twin Ltd
Department: Sch Planning Architecture and Civil Eng
Organisation: Queen's University of Belfast
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 August 2001 Ends: 30 September 2002 Value (£): 42,244
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Construction Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
As a result of growing interest in sustainable construction both from clients, architects and government policy, many building materials and products are being offered as environmentally friendly. Other products have been specifically developed to meet the demand for 'green' materials. Such products are claimed to be less polluting, more energy efficient, less wasteful of non renewable resources and less damaging to health. The research is concerned with the nature of such 'green' products and how they can achieve a greater uptake in a competitive market. In order to understand this it is necessary to define the nature of green products, in both manufacturing, distribution, installation and demolition. Beyond this we will be examining the process of decision making by purchasers and specifiers as to what extent their choice of materials and products is based on economics, performance and environmental issues. The experience of a wide range of product producers and suppliers will be compared with the literature on the subject in order to identify successes and failures in improving the uptake of such products. This will be carried out through meetings between the industrial partners, interviews and selected case studies where all the actors in the specification decision making process are questioned about the reasons for the selection or rejection of environmentally friendly options.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.qub.ac.uk