Low-carbon concrete to Decarbonising the Building Industry with Ali Kashani

In this episode of the Decarbonising the Building Industry Podcast, host Fanni Melles, PhD, sits down with Ali Kashani, Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Whales (UNSW), to explore innovative approaches to decarbonising the building industry through low-carbon concrete technologies.

Ali shares his journey as an academic researcher, his work on sustainable materials, and his contributions to the DBI network. From tackling the embodied carbon in cement to pioneering projects like carbonated steel slag and 3D printing, Ali highlights the challenges and opportunities in transforming the building sector for a net-zero 2050 future.

 

Ali Kashani is a Senior Lecturer at UNSW, specialising in low-carbon concrete technologies. As a key contributor to the DBI network, he collaborates on workshops, research, and discussions to accelerate the adoption of climate-positive solutions in the built environment. His work focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of concrete, the most widely used construction material, through innovative material science and construction methods.

 

[00:01:00] Ali’s Role at UNSW and Connection to the DBI Network

[00:01:30] Defining Low-Carbon Concrete: Reducing Embodied Carbon

[00:02:20] The Role of Cement in Concrete’s Carbon Emissions

[00:03:30] Recycling vs. Reusing Materials in Construction

[00:05:00] Biggest Challenge: Aligning Innovation with Procurement and Regulations

[00:06:10] Overcoming Risk Aversion and Bridging the Value Gap

[00:08:00] Academia’s Role: Providing Independent Proof and Industry Alignment

[00:09:10] Opportunities: Circular Economy, Prefabrication, and 3D Printing

[00:10:10] Current Projects: Carbonated Steel Slag and Low-Carbon 3D Printing

[00:11:40] Why Ali Works in This Field: Passion for Innovation

[00:11:50] DBI as a Platform for Action and Collaboration

 

 

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Let’s build a greener future, together!