The use of lime mortar has started to become popular again in the UK and many parts of Europe. This is because we’re starting to realise that there are many benefits to using lime instead of cement. One of the most obvious benefits of using lime mortar is that it’s more environmentally friendly. Typically, cement production is a highly energy-intensive process that releases a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In this article, we’ll explain some of these benefits.
CO2 Emissions and Lime Mortar
Lime mortar is a carbon-neutral material. Lime mortar is made from limestone, which absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere as it hardens and sets. The lime mortar production process is completely carbon neutral due to all CO2 emissions that are expelled are then completely reabsorbed. Therefore, using lime mortar as a building material helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere and contributes to a home’s efficiency rating, a win-win for everyone involved!
Carbon Capture
Lime mortar is a carbon sink. It absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Lime mortar is also a sustainable building material, which makes it an ideal choice for environmentally conscious homeowners who want to reduce their impact on the environment. In addition, lime mortar is extremely versatile, it creates a solid material that can be used to create pathways, walls, flooring and aesthetic sculptures.
Long-term Eco-Friendly Building Solution
Lime mortar is a natural building material. The earthy hue of a lime-based wall or floor will give any home an organic, rustic look. There’s no need to worry about it fading or losing its lustre over time thanks to the nature of lime mortars which can last thousands of years. Lime is one of the most sustainable materials in existence today because it can be used over and over again without losing its integrity or quality. Lime mortars have repeatedly proven themselves to be durable materials with great potential for longevity.
Additionally, lime mortar is more flexible than cement mortar, making it less susceptible to cracking when the structure moves due to changes in temperature or subsidence. This eliminates the need for expansion joints, which restricts the lifespan of a building and admits moisture.
Lastly, lime is soft enough to allow buildings to be taken apart easily and for parts to be reused, whereas cement will add to landfill problems for generations.
Less Energy Is Used To Make Lime Mortar Than Cement
Cement production now contributes about 5% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, a figure that is projected to rise rapidly. Cement producers are now acknowledging that they make a major contribution to greenhouse-gas emissions and taking steps to reduce their impact.
They have made some progress, such as burning waste products with coal and reworking recipes to make plants more energy-efficient; however, their efforts haven’t achieved major success just yet.
The alternative is lime. Lime requires less energy to produce than cement. Limestone, the basic raw material for lime products, can be burned at lower temperatures. Lime is burnt at around 900-1,000°C rather than cement which is 1,300°C or higher. Also, some of the CO2 produced by firing is reabsorbed into lime as it hardens. In addition, lime can be produced locally, decreasing the need for long-distance transport and reducing pollution.
Conclusion
Lime is an exciting alternative to conventional building materials. It offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to many of today’s environmental problems. The best thing about lime mortar is that it can be used in new buildings as well as renovations, which means that more homes could be built with this material.