Dregs to digs: Decaying organic matter used in low- cost houses

London, July 11: Scientists have created construction material from peat — decaying organic matter — and oil shale ash, that could reduce costs of building a house nearly tenfold.

Scientists from the University of Tartu and the Estonian University of Life Sciences wanted to create a self- supporting construction material based on local natural resources and waste that could be used to 3D print houses up to two- storeys high directly at the construction site.

Wetlands cover about 22 per cent of Estonia's area, but the peat growing there is not widely used. Only the drier top part of the peat layer has been usable. The unused part is left to decay.

This peat could also be used in an economically beneficial way. Many fractions can be separated from peat, for example humic substances and waxes, and the final residue can even be used for producing cellulose.

The most popular method for mining peat is milling. During milling, 10 to 20- mm layers are cut loose.