Biomass-based concrete could effectively decarbonize buildings in Mexico

The building sector's substantial material consumption drives significant negative environmental impacts, necessitating sustainable alternatives. Through integration of life cycle assessment (LCA) and building energy simulation, we demonstrate that buildings made with “sargassum-based concrete” (SBC) – a concrete containing aggregates from unwanted biomass – could achieve notable climate change benefits. The main reason is SBC's reduced thermal transmittance, which lowers the energy demand for cooling and heating. Using Mexico's climate and typical residential house as a case study, we estimate that SBC buildings can reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions in 29 out of 32 Mexican states over a 50-year lifespan. The reductions can reach 15.8 % in states with extreme climates (hot or cold) and further increase with extended building longevity. These findings highlight biomass-based concrete as a potential strategy for biomass utilization and building decarbonization in regions with similar resources and climate.