Research seeks to build quake-resilient, low-carbon housing

Researchers from the University of Auckland are looking for a way to build houses that balances seismic resilience and a reduced carbon footprint.

The team is led by Charlotte Toma from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Toka Tū Ake EQC has awarded funding to the research, as it aligns with its focus on improving the resilience of New Zealand’s homes and buildings amid significant climate challenges.

“Our focus on building a more resilient Aotearoa starts with housing that can withstand the impacts of natural hazards,” said EQC head of research Natalie Balfour. According to Balfour, building more resilient structures on suitable land is an effective way to lower damage levels and reduce the social disruption caused by natural hazard events.

“We need to address future disaster resilience challenges, while also contributing towards a net-zero carbon New Zealand, so we are excited to watch Dr Toma’s project unfold,” she said.

The project involves a risk-based, lifecycle cost-benefit analysis on multi-storey residential buildings in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. The researchers are conducting structural and non-structural estimations on what these redesigned buildings look like, focusing on how seismic performance objectives impact the embodied carbon during construction.

According to Toma, the building sector is responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions.

“Climate change mitigation within the building sector is happening, just not fast enough,” Toma said. “We really need to push this kind of research or New Zealand won’t meet its net carbon zero targets by 2050. The study allows us to explore how lower embodied carbon alternatives could be implemented, while still achieving a higher seismic performance target.”