A former US basketball champion turned entrepreneur has unveiled what is claimed to the world’s very first carbon negative home; absorbing CO2 from the air.
The ‘Home for the World’ has been built in Nassau, Bahamas, by Partanna Global, co-founded by former LA Lakers star, Rick Fox.
Partanna is technology company focused on exploring natural methods of decarbonising industries, such as construction. It claims to have developed a sustainable substitute for carbon-intensive Portland cement.
This material, used in the ‘Home for the World’ is said to be a unique blend of natural and recycled ingredients. It is activated by brine – salt water – and forms chemical compounds that capture atmospheric CO2.
It’s claimed the 1,250 sq ft. home will actively remove and avoid 182.6 metric tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to the annual CO2 absorbed by 5,200 mature trees. Compared to a standard concrete-built home, which generates 70.2 tonnes of CO2 on production.
Fox, himself a Bahamian, said: “The world is forecast to build an area equivalent to the size of The Bahamas every three years. The need to disentangle development from pollution has never been more pressing.
“Our ‘Home for the World’ is the answer to this challenge, and The Bahamas, having experienced the devastation of Hurricane Dorian first-hand, is the symbolic birthplace for our movement to change the way the world builds – for good.”
While traditional concrete weakens when exposed to seawater, Partanna’s material is said to become stronger upon contact due to its use of brine, a by-product of desalination – a process crucial for freshwater supply in areas impacted by climate change.
For Small Island Developing States like The Bahamas, which bear the brunt of weather, climate, and water-related hazards, Partanna’s material is said offer a climate-resilient solution that supports the urgent need for reliable, affordable housing.
Partanna’s ‘Home for the World’ is the first of 1,000 planned homes announced in partnership with the Bahamian government, as part of an historic agreement signed at COP27. Further details on plans to deliver a further 29 properties, alongside information around future production facilities in The Bahamas are expected in the early part of 2024.
The Bahamian prime minister, and minster of finance, Philip E. Davis KC, MP, said: “Standing on the forefront of climate peril, we Bahamians have always been bound by resilience and innovation.
“Today, as we unveil the world’s first carbon-negative concrete home right here in Nassau, it is a testament that the answers to our global crises often come from those most affected. This cement-free marvel not only absorbs CO2 but thrives when exposed to seawater.
“I am immensely proud that it is a Bahamian entrepreneur leading this revolution, showing the world that when we say time is running out, we also mean it’s time to build anew. We are not just on the frontline of climate change; we are the frontline of solutions.”
Main image: Rick Fox unveils world’s first carbon negative house
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