ECOBRICK(R) - A NEW CERAMIC MATERIAL FOR SOLAR BUILDINGS

Ceramic materials technology has been known for a very long time. In t he construction field, ceramics are considered ecological or natural m aterials with acceptable structural and thermal characteristics. Besid es, these characteristics can be improved by changing the composition of the raw material. In this respect the Ecobrick(R) Project aims at o ptimizing some of those properties and achieving thereby important env ironmental benefits. In our study, we used sludges from urban wastewat er treatment plants together with other wastes and clays, to produce a new ceramic material suitable for construction. When using Ecobrick(R ), energy consumption can be reduced up to 49% and the Solar Saving Fr action will increase up to 14% compared both to conventional ceramics.