New limewash increases CO2 absorption and protects against erosion

The limewash, thought to be the first of its kind, contains non-pathogenic bacteria which increase the amount of CO2 a building surface can absorb through photosynthesis. This then generates additional calcium carbonate that forms a more robust barrier against erosion and encourages self-repairing.

A pre-production prototype is now being developed by the team, based on research by the University’s Zero Carbon Lab and the manufacturing know-how of UK Hempcrete Ltd, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through the Design Exchange Partnership programme.

Both organisations are partnering with whiskey maker Whyte & Mackay, who will trial the prototype at their distillery on the Isle of Jura off the west coast of Scotland. Currently, wind-driven rain on the island damages the building surfaces of the distillery, resulting in the need for annual re-coating. This disrupts production and tourism and increases the company’s carbon emissions due to the transportation of materials to the island and the maintenance works.