Torsten Dworshak
Username
Torsten Dworshak
Proposer First Name
Torsten
Proposer Email
Tor_d@glavel.com
Proposer Last Name
Dworshak
Proposer Company/Organization
Glavel, Inc.
Proposer Phone
(802) 540-0843
Proposer Job Title
Director of Marketing
Boston 2023 Areas of Focus
Proposed Session Description
Electrifying the manufacturing process of building materials is a critical step towards decarbonizing the built environment. Choosing to build with low embodied carbon materials is another critical step.
Foam glass gravel is an example of a low carbon material that can be manufactured in an electrified facility. It’s a lightweight aggregate made from recycled glass. Foam glass gravel’s properties allow it to be a preferred material across the built environment, in addition to diverting glass from landfills in a scalable manner.
This session will dive into the process of electrifying a foam glass gravel plant to power it with renewable energy, and how foam glass gravel can transform the way we look at sub slab insulation systems.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
The session does not directly address DEI issues, but the Glavel manufacturing plant promotes hiring equity of formerly incarcerated individuals and works with Vermont Works for Women. Glavel is also supportive of affordable housing initiatives and using high performance materials in affordable housing.
Learning Objectives
Learn what foam glass gravel is and how it can be used in the built environment.
Understand the implications of electrifying manufacturing, and how that creates mutual benefit for companies and customers.
Think creatively about how to divert materials from landfills.
Speak about forward facing strategies to reduce embodied carbon on jobsites.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Session Format
Presentation followed by facilitated discussion or breakout groups
Session Format Details
A single 30 minute presentation about electrification of manufacturing and foam glass gravel, followed by 30 minutes of facilitated group work to think of various ways to divert other materials from waste streams and how to build on the momentum from finding ways to upcycle existing materials.
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2023
Reviewer 1
Chase, Tom
Reviewer 2
Stuart, Stephen
Curator
Stuart, Stephen
Proposal #
137
Session #
302
Committee Decision
Accepted
Presenters
Full Description
In this time of urgency with climate change looming close in our rear view mirrors, changing over to low carbon building materials and practices is of utmost importance. Foam glass gravel replaces rigid foam board in subslab insulation systems, which has historically been one of the more difficult pieces of ‘foam’ to eliminate from building projects. At a midsized commercial project this fall, foam glass gravel reduced subslab insulation carbon emissions by 83% as compared to a traditional EPS foam installation. With glass feedstocks all over the country, foam glass is a scalable technology with massive implications for green building. Electrifying a foam glass kiln out of the box was also a difficult journey to navigate, but many lessons were learned that can be shared.