Enhancing Cob Construction Materials Using Coffee Waste for Sustainable Building Solutions in Developing Countries
Bohyun Lee
Westlake High School, Westlake Village, USA
Publication date: December 12, 2024
Westlake High School, Westlake Village, USA
Publication date: December 12, 2024
DOI: http://doi.org/10.34614/JIYRC202423
ABSTRACT
The construction industry faces environmental challenges, such as increasing CO2 emissions from construction materials. Cob is a common building material in regions with limited resources, especially in African countries. This research focuses on the potential of coffee waste (unroasted shells, unroasted beans, and used grounds) to improve cob’s water and heat resistance. Cob mixtures were prepared with various coffee materials and tested for water absorption and heat retention. The result indicates that coffee grounds significantly increase water absorbance resistance due to hydrophobic properties. Also, unroasted shells enhance heat resistance. These findings suggest that coffee waste can improve cob construction in resource-limited areas and promote sustainable building materials globally.
The construction industry faces environmental challenges, such as increasing CO2 emissions from construction materials. Cob is a common building material in regions with limited resources, especially in African countries. This research focuses on the potential of coffee waste (unroasted shells, unroasted beans, and used grounds) to improve cob’s water and heat resistance. Cob mixtures were prepared with various coffee materials and tested for water absorption and heat retention. The result indicates that coffee grounds significantly increase water absorbance resistance due to hydrophobic properties. Also, unroasted shells enhance heat resistance. These findings suggest that coffee waste can improve cob construction in resource-limited areas and promote sustainable building materials globally.
