| |
| |
|
Structure |
Advantages of building with earthbags
Structural and site
Strength - An Earthbag wall is extremely strong, owing to its thickness and weight, thus it is unaffected by high winds or other destructive forces.
Versatility – The Earthbag system can use a variety of fill materials, often obtained from the site itself. The bags themselves can be made from either synthetic or natural material depending on the application. The fill can be stabilised with cement or lime for the construction of foundations.
Posts, Beams and Lintels – Both posts and beams can be built into the wall structure with ease, allowing for multi-level construction. Window lintels are easily incorporated into the wall.
Adaptable – It is easy to alter the position of wall openings during construction, or even to dismantle an incorrectly placed wall and rebuild it with the very same materials.
Services – Plumbing, electrical and other services are very easy to incorporate into the Earthbag wall as it is built, which can significantly reduce plumbing and electrical contractor input and hence cost.
Plaster – The plaster can be either be cement or clay and lime based, depending on application. The plaster will cure slowly when applied over a dampened Earthbag, rather than drying rapidly on a block or brick. Plaster strength is therefore enhanced.
Security – There are no piles of bricks on site that may be subject to theft, just the bags which are easily secured and a pile of earth which has no value.
Remote locations – As only the bags need to be transported to the site to build with the Earthbag system, it allows for easier construction in remote locations. A small car or van would be sufficient.
Water - As water is often in short supply, the advantage of the Earthbag and sand fill system that uses minimal water in construction is great. Water is then only required for plastering.
Site clearing - There is minimal waste material generated using the Earthbag system, and expensive site clearing bills are thus avoided.
Environmental
The Earthbag system is very kind on the environment. Why?
Fill Material - Local site-sourced fill material is used for the Earthbag. This dramatically reduces transport costs to site.
Waste production - On site waste generation is almost eliminated as there is no wastage of timber and other precious resources. Landfills are not a part of the Earthbag building system requirements.
Embedded Energy - The enormous embedded energy and hence carbon footprint of cement and cement based products, clay bricks and steel can be avoided resulting in a lower carbon footprint wall construction system when compared to conventional systems and materials.
Water Requirements - Are greatly reduced.
Timber - Though a sustainable resource, wood is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. The Earthbag wall system uses little or no timber.
Insulation - The excellent thermal insulation of an Earthbag-sand wall system will mean drastically reduced heating and cooling costs over the life of the building, especially when combined with appropriate passive thermal design. The lifecycle carbon footprint will therefore be a fraction of that of a standard house.
Economic considerations
The Earthbag system is a very cost effective method of construction.
Skilled Labour - The level of skilled labour required is small as the method, once demonstrated, is very simple. Plastering is the only skill that may be required if a superior level of finish is desired.
Local material – Site-sourced local fill material will often be available at no cost.
Speed of Construction – is rapid, as there is no skilled bricklaying to be done and the method is easily learned. Picture children building sandcastles on the beach.
Market Value - ‘Green’ buildings are rapidly commanding premium prices in international property markets, and so the retail value can be expected to increase faster than the average.
Aesthetics
Timeless - A house build with earth especially using natural plasters and other natural materials is a structure of beauty. The comfortable climate, colour, texture and feeling of permanence imparted is unmatched, as can be experienced in many of our historic monuments.
User Friendly Construction Method
Easy to learn - Earthbag building is easy to learn, and can therefore be mastered by unskilled people in a very short time, with minimal supervision. It therefore can be an ideal community-based building system.
User Friendly – there are no sharp edges and are not heavy.
Thermal, acoustic and climate control qualities – health benefits
Thermal Efficiency - Is excellent. Houses are cool in summer and warm in winter. The insulative value of an Earthbag-sand wall is approximately 9 times that of a concrete block wall (you would need to build a block wall 1.8m thick to achieve the same insulation value).
Soundproof - The Earthbag wall is a superb insulator of sound, and the interior will be quiet and peaceful. When used as an interior wall, Earthbag construction will allow for privacy between rooms.
Climate Control - The Earthbag system can also control humidity, when the Earthbags are filled with a clay/sand mix and finished with a lime plaster. Moisture will be absorbed and released from such a wall and the interior humidity is therefore maintained at an steady and healthy level. This is an enormous health advantage when compared with a standard concrete block wall, where mould and moisture are a constant problem, exacerbating conditions such as asthma and raising the likelihood of development of pneumonia, TB and other respiratory problems. Non-toxic natural finishes can be used that do not give off harmful vapours, again resulting in a healthy building.
Other vital qualities
Fire Resistance – Excellent.
Bullet-proof – Unfortunately, a desirable advantage these days!
Temporary Housing - can easily be constructed using sand, Earthbags and gumpoles. Simple external waterproof sheeting and a roof will complete a sturdy, weatherproof and well insulated structure, all of the components of which would be completely and easily reusable.
|
|
|
|
|
