Experiences and considerations on the reduction and reuse of stone waste while optimizing their thermal energy performance for the building sector

The challenges connected to environmental sustainability are growing in importance in present days, given the global concerns about climate change and warming of our Planet surface. Construction sector accounts for up to 40% for global energy consumption and 50% for raw materials employment, therefore it has a large potential in mitigating such consumptions and consequently these impacts at a global level. Stone materials are natural materials and have been employed all along human history as construction materials, however innovative applications and technologies can be analyzed in order to optimize both the (i) quantity of employed material, to reduce extraction and waste and (ii) energy performance when applied in the built environment. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct an overview on the researches on this topic, conducted by the research group composed by the authors. Thin marble panels for building envelope application and aggregates for urban roofing and paving were taken into account. In lab and in situ experimental analyses were conducted, as well as dynamic simulations to investigate energy performance of buildings employing these technologies. Results show the advantages to optimize the application of these stone construction elements accordingly to their intrinsic characteristics