It is widely being accepted that firing of even mud brick is not a sustainable construction material as it requires felling of trees. Any material which uses up a lot of natural resources in their manufacture goes against the grain of sustainable construction. This applies not only to cement and steel, but also to bricks and timber, glass, asbestos, galvanised iron sheets etc.
Sustainable construction is the next big thing in the world of architecture and involves suitable practices in terms of choice of materials, their sources, construction methodologies as well as design philosophy. These are aimed at increasing performance, decreasing the environmental burden of the project, minimizing waste and be ecologically friendlier.
Mud construction in India
Mud is still used in India to construct the largest number of houses. Use of modern materials is fairly recent and it is too early to assess their ability to withstand the forces of nature.
Traditional rural residences are ideal examples of sustainable architecture. They are constructed on adaptations to the local environment, by the villagers themselves as labour and by using locally available material.
Building with earth
The tradition of mud construction stretches over 4,000 years. Unlike construction materials such as cement and steel, there is no need to import commercial energies for mud constructions. Mud and mud mortar, once looked down upon by those who closely identified modem building with only modem materials, are becoming more and more acceptable. Building with earth is definitely a cost and energy efficient technology that has a great future.
Bamboo
Bamboo has also been used as a standard material in construction as structural engineering tests have proved that bamboo has a much higher tensile strength than many alloys of steel and a higher compressive strength than many mixtures of concrete.
Bamboo flooring is not only a stylish and practical flooring option, but is also an environmentally friendly option to hardwood floors and laminate tiles. One of the hardest natural materials available for flooring today, bamboo is the most eco-friendly option as it can grow wood faster than any tree. It can be harvested every 3-5 years, unlike 15-25 years for most tree wood.
Related Posts
- Sustainable Buildings with Eco-Friendly, Recycled and Reused Material
- Vernacular Architecture: Most Widespread Form of Building in India
- ‘Earth Bagging’: Reviving a Centuries-Old Construction Technology
- Modular Homes in India: Eco-Friendly, Value-Added Dwellings
- Non-Wood Forest Products: Sustainable Rural Livelihood in India
