Ceratium have had three success stories with the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath provided grant funding of €8.39M for two Eco innovation projects and a Framework Programme 7 integrated project. Our role included helping to shape the project and impact strategies, co-writing the proposal and developing management, implementation and exploitation plans.
Eurocell is the EU market development of MODCELL (a prefabricated eco-building system utilising renewable materials). This EASME Eco-Innovation funded project addressed barriers to widen sector uptake of straw bale construction through material and structural performance engineering, and testing and monitoring of building performance. Industry partners included ModCell, White Design Associates, Integral Engineering Design, BB-Architecten.
Another project ECO-SEE FP7, addresses an unexpected but emerging health problem associated with modern low carbon buildings. To improve energy efficiency modern buildings have been developed to be extremely airtight. Research has shown potentially harmful chemicals can build up in these sealed environments potentially causing negative impacts on occupants. Seventeen partners including 3 SMEs and 5 large enterprises are using innovative eco-building materials that will address poor air quality, while also radically improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
Ceratium also helped win funding for HEMPSEC: whose aim is to expand the market for a pre-fabricated, pre-dried, panelised system of hemp-lime construction. The 36-month work programme is constructing, monitoring and analysing the environmental performance of a number of small experimental buildings. Product and manufacturing protocols are being refined, and data for certification and marketing will be collected. Partners from the UK, France and Spain include University of Bath; HEMPSEC Ltd, Balthazard et Cotte, TECNALIA, EKOETXE and CH2M HILL.