Program:
OPEN 2018
Award:
$3,726,606
Location:
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
03/09/2020 - 06/08/2024

Technology Description:

This CarbonHouse project seeks to validate that carbon derived from methane pyrolysis can be used as both structural and non-structural building materials. Carbon composites already offer an alternative material paradigm for large, lightweight, high-performance structural uses such as boats and aircraft. CarbonHouse targets gas-pyrolysis production of carbon nanotube (CNT) threads and sheets, with hydrogen co-generated as a supplemental high-energy fuel, which would offer an essentially benign new building logic if it can be managed economically and at vast scale. This project aims to demonstrate an ultra-low life cycle energy and CO2 footprint for building envelopes and all functional elements at a commercially feasible life cycle cost of ownership. Through material-processing exploration and prototyping/testing building elements for fire, structure, acoustics, etc., and fabricating pilot building envelopes, the project looks to use hydrocarbon-derived composites to create minimal-footprint habitation.

Potential Impact:

The project’s goal is to demonstrate the benefit of using carbon (in several forms) as a building material, replacing a large fraction of minerals and metals for building structures and also for thermal and electrical systems.

Security:

The team will demonstrate an inexpensive, high-quality alternative building paradigm that will benefit governments, developers, and financiers in the ongoing critical period of urban expansion and environmental change.

Environment:

The team will perform detailed life cycle analyses of embodied and in-use energy of hydrocarbon reserves as building materials, comparing them to current building materials as low-footprint viable alternatives.

Economy:

Use of carbon derived from methane pyrolysis as a structural building material would upgrade the value of an otherwise abundant, inexpensive byproduct into affordable habitation, which will be crucial for growing populations.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Laurent Pilon
Project Contact:
Nicola Ferralis
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
ferralis@mit.edu

Partners

dECOi Architects

Related Projects


Release Date:
12/13/2017