Innovation in traditional materials: greening through ancient technologies in buildings

The chapter aims to provide awareness on the advantages of proper management of masonry constructions in view of sustainability and environmental impact. Indeed, their conservation and re-use allow to reduce CO2 emissions, waste and raw materials consumption. The focus will be on the assessment of their mechanical properties and structural response for maintenance purposes. These issues are discussed by highlighting applications fields, advantages and limits of the experimental tests with very low or no-impact on structures. Moreover, different possible masonry typologies and the historic and/or monumental value of the examined structures are considered.