A reader comments on the printed concrete house:
What’s wrong with concrete, as compared to extruded wood?
I suppose “extruded wood” could be sawdust mixed with some sort of binder, which would require energy to create. I have no way to estimate its impact on the environment. Concrete, on the other hand, has a measured substantial impact, as remarked upon here.
Another reader:
I could see concrete being 3D printed for load-bearing columns; then a different kind of concrete with more insulative value, being used for the walls. Print a notch in the wall so you can surface mount the utilities — wiring chases and HVAC — then cover it with a panel of some kind. Make it earthquake resistant and I’d live in it.
To which another replies:
There’s a type of concrete used for making blocks which have good insulation value, are much lighter and easier to work with, but which retains much of concrete’s strength. It’s called Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (AAC). The downside of AAC is mostly that it takes a lot of energy to produce, but maybe if that’s averaged out over its long lifespan, it wouldn’t be as bad as other materials. I haven’t seen numbers on that yet.
Given it’s software used to control the printers, it should make for easily customizable houses.
