Earth construction: Lessons from the past for future eco-efficient construction

Earth construction has received in the last decade an increased attention by the scientific community illustrated by a tenfold increase of the published research articles when compared to the previous decade. Earth construction has a major expression in less developed countries, however, the mimetic temptations towards more polluting construction techniques based on reinforced concrete and fired bricks are likely to favor a change towards a clear unsustainable pattern. In order to disclosure and highlight the importance of earth construction, this article reviews some of the environmental benefits associated with it. It includes an overview about its past and present. It also includes a review about economic issues, non-renewable resource consumption, waste generation, energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and indoor air quality.

▸ This paper deals with earth construction by reviewing previously published work. ▸ Earth construction has low embodied energy and low carbon dioxide emissions. ▸ Earth construction leads to an indoor air relative humidity beneficial to the human health. ▸ Its economic advantages depend on the nature and the amount of the binder used in the stabilization process.