Building materials
TNO has extensive knowledge of the environmental effects of building materials. We are working on increasing the circularity of building materials with a focus on making concrete more sustainable as well as developing circular innovations for brick, gypsum and wood. Examples of such innovations are the development of cold-baked bricks and the reuse of wooden doors.

Our latest developments
How ‘smart thermochromic glass’ saves energy in homes


Making homes sustainable: knowledge breakthroughs and new opportunities thanks to AI


Baking energy efficient bricks
Bricks are normally baked in ovens at a temperature that can gradually rise to 1100 °C. Unmistakably a process that uses a lot of energy. But it can be made more energy efficient.


Cold ceramic bricks do have potential in Malawi
All households in Malawi prefer a brick house, so the market demand for clay bricks is huge. Traditional brick making is done with clamps using fire wood. This causes deforestation and high carbon emissions. TNO investigated the potential of technology to produce high quality bricks out of waste streams without heating.

