Upgrading housing infrastructure to improve health and minimize emissions

In low-income countries, housing improvements are linked to improved health. Yet, the production and transport of building materials are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers will test whether “green” concrete floors made with an alternative cement mix can improve child health while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions in rural Bangladesh. They will also develop guidelines for green concrete floor installation in rural, low-income settings and model greenhouse gas emissions under scaled up implementation scenarios. The team will engage with nongovernmental organizations in Bangladesh to investigate opportunities to install green concrete floors at scale.

Learn more about the Environmental Venture Projects grant program and other funded projects.

Principal Investigators:

Jade Benjamin-Chung (Medicine-Health Research and Policy)

Sarah Billington (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Ali Boehm (Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Mike Lepech (Civil and Environmental Engineering)