Carbon-Neutral Concrete Revolution: Japan’s CO2-SUICOM House Leads the Way towards Sustainable Construction

In the picturesque mountain town of Karuizawa, Japan, a unique house stands tall, its walls constructed with the world’s first CO2-absorbing concrete known as CO2-SUICOM. This revolutionary material is created by replacing part of the cement with an industrial by-product and adding CO2-absorbing materials, reducing emissions from the production process. The house is situated on an 110-meter long plot of land along the road in Karuizawa, one of Japan’s oldest and most renowned mountain resort towns.

CO2-absorbing concrete boasts the same strength as regular concrete, and it has the ability to achieve carbon neutrality by absorbing CO2 during the curing process and keeping it trapped inside the concrete. This innovative material is a result of collaboration between companies such as Kajima, Chugoku Electric Power, Denka, and Landes. The construction team built the walls using approximately 2,050 concrete blocks arranged in rows to form 3-meter high walls that control visibility and ventilation while ensuring privacy.

The design company Nendo was responsible for creating the concrete walls that resemble screens with angled blocks that adjust visibility levels. By incorporating carbon-absorbing concrete in construction, this project aims to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions globally. With cement and concrete production projected to generate 8% of total carbon emissions by 2023, innovations like CO2-absorbing concrete are crucial for sustainability efforts. The use of this material in construction can help reduce emissions and minimize the environmental impact of construction projects in the future.

In conclusion, this unique house in Karuizawa showcases how innovation can lead to sustainable solutions in construction. By incorporating carbon-absorbing concrete into building materials, we can reduce our carbon footprint while still achieving high strength and durability standards. As we continue to work towards a more sustainable future, innovations like these will be critical to achieving our goals.