Determining the carbon footprint for a new earthen-based finish

Abstract

Abstract In the present work the carbon footprint for a material developed in the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (UAT) constituted by argillaceous earth, aloe juice and fiber of ixtle with utility like the inner coating of walls in buildings was determined. The objective of this paper is the calculation of the contribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) by the plant, considering the stoichiometry of CO2 absorption accompanied by the determination at the laboratory level. It was found that the use of organic materials in mortar mixtures, when they are produced manually by the person who will use them, and that is common in cases of self-construction, can generate approximately −0.45 kg of CO2 equivalent for each kilogram of plant produced for the preparation of mixtures. In addition, the equivalent CO2 was calculated for the elaboration of a cubic meter of useful mixture as a wall covering obtaining a value below the equivalent 14 kg of CO2.