IPB University Professor Biocomposite Innovation: Environmentally Friendly House, Electricity from Burning Wood Pellets
Many agricultural industrial waste materials are still piled up and not utilized. However, at the same time, climate change and the energy crisis are also being felt globally.
Against the background of these concerns, Prof Dede Hermawan, IPB University Professor at the Faculty of Forestry and Environment introduced the concept of wood-based environmentally friendly houses. He has done research and designed a house built mostly from wooden components.
“Houses are built from wood biocomposite products as an alternative to conventional building materials, such as roof tiles, ceilings and floors. “Wood waste is also used as renewable fuel,” he explained in an exclusive lecture at the Green Economy Expo 2024 in Jakarta. Jakarta Convention Center (4/7).
Wood biocomposites that are well known to the public include plywood or plywood. Meanwhile, for Prof Dede’s biocomposite innovation, the products are more diverse. The matrix and binder materials come from natural fibers which are renewable and environmentally friendly.
Compared with ordinary biocomposites, his biocomposite innovation has a strength of at least 30 years. The product becomes thicker so it is more fire resistant.
“Another benefit is that the house is more adaptive, especially in earthquake-prone locations and construction costs are predicted to be cheaper compared to conventional materials,” he continued.
Prof Dede further explained that roof tiles are made from sorghum stems or coconut fiber. The weight is not heavy, but it is still strong and still meets roofing standards.
“If it collapses due to an earthquake, it won’t be too dangerous for the occupants. “It is very light in weight, only four kilograms per square meter and has been coated so it is water and fire resistant,” he said.
The walls and floors are made of biocomposite boards made from unused palm oil waste. Even though it is made of wood, it is still safe if a fire occurs because it spreads longer. Meanwhile, the ceiling is made from a combination of used plastic mixed with sawdust. It is light in weight but still sturdy.
To be more environmentally friendly, this wooden house is powered by electricity from burned sawdust wood pellets. Wood pellets can be used as an alternative fuel to replace coal. This innovation has been successfully tested in Central Kalimantan.
“In addition to being supplied with environmentally friendly electricity, households can use wood pellets to fuel their stoves, the price per kilogram is only 2,000 rupiah, much cheaper than melon gas. “Luckily there was almost no smoke,” explained Prof Dede.
He admitted that these wood pellets had also been introduced to the small and medium enterprise (UKM) industry around Bogor. Tests carried out in the textile and tea industries also obtained satisfactory results, and were safer for the environment.
Another innovation developed by Prof Dede is a smart cement board with the addition of wood fiber. If it cracks, it can repair itself and absorb air pollution. In the future, he also plans to develop transparent wood to replace glass or biofilm. (MW/Rz) (IAAS/EXC)
