Critical appraisal of compressed stabilized earth

blocks and straw bale as sustainable building

materials
Aparna Thampi
Anooja Jayalakshmi

Abstract:

Global warming and climate change are hotly debated issues in the current
world scenario. The world has already begun to succumb to injuries inflicted
by climate change. So worldwide efforts are on to tackle this menace under
the aegis of several organizations. Every sphere of human activity can
contribute towards this aim. It is here that as architects of the future world
our contributions matter. Owing to the phenomenal growth in the building
industry worldwide, there has been an unparalleled level of exploitation of
natural resources in an unplanned and unchecked way. Hence, in todays
world, going green has become a top priority in our society. Integrating
green materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental
impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication,
installation, disposal of these materials etc.
The aim of the dissertation is to conduct an analysis on two sustainable
building materials namely, Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) and
straw bale, to identify their effectiveness as sustainable building materials.
The materials are studied in detail, its merits and demerits are analyzed and
required data are collected through literature studies and case studies. CSEB
is a building material that is gaining wide acceptance as sustainable material
today. It is a special technology in which blocks are made by compressing a
combination of earthen material and added stabilizers. Its local availability
and ease of processing makes it the most energy efficient building material.
Straw is one of the finest renewable materials available. In a country like
India, where agriculture is widely practiced, using the abundantly available
straw as a building material can be advantageous. When bundled together
into a bale, it becomes a solid block that is highly resistant to decomposition.
These materials provide better, efficient, durable and cost effective
construction to ensure least possible degradation of environment.
Keywords: sustainable materials, CSEB, straw bale, merits, demerits

1. Introduction

College of Architecture Trivandrum

A Green building is a structure that uses processes that are resource

efficient throughout buildings life cycle: from citing to design, construction,
operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition. There is a need to study
about green technology as green buildings aim at reducing overall impact of
built environment on human health and natural environment by: efficiently
using energy, water and other resources; protecting occupant health and
improving employee productivity; reducing waste, pollution and environment
degradation. Studying it thereby helps to produce sustainable designs
ensuring a safe future for the coming generations.
Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks is a special technology in which blocks
are made by compressing a combination of earthen material and with added
stabilizers. Its local availability and ease of processing makes it the most
energy efficient building material. Straw is one of the finest renewable
materials available and is found around the world in abundance. Its chemical
composition is primarily cellulose. Straw bale construction is a technique
which is slowly gaining acceptance these days. This method proves to be
successful in locations where moisture in air is less as there might be pest
and termite attacks otherwise. Besides being eco-friendly, the other
advantages of using these materials for construction are; Better functional
efficiency; Cost effectiveness; Better durability; Ease of construction; Better
finish; Minimum waste; less maintenance cost
2. Aim
To conduct a critical performance appraisal of two building materials
namely Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks and Straw Bale as
sustainable building materials.
3. Need for the study
In the modern times variety of materials are used for construction.
These include natural as well as artificial materials, which are having
its own merits and demerits. Materials are selected for a construction
based on the characteristics required for the building, availability,
durability, workability and cost etc. The current trend is to select
natural materials which are environmental friendly, available
abundantly and cheaper. CSEB and straw bale are few natural
materials which are gaining acceptance as sustainable building
materials
4. Objective
To study the importance of sustainable building materials
To study the efficiency of two sustainable building materials in terms of
its eco-friendliness, life cycle performance, other qualities and analyze
their merits and demerits
5. Methodology

CSEB

Straw
bale

Research on material
Parameters
Durability
Energy efficiency
Thermal efficiency
Fire resistance
Case
CostAnalysis
effectiveness
Study
etc.
6.1 Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks
Conclusio
n
CSEB has now become
an earth technology that is being used worldwide
because it attempts to revive traditional skills and to link ancestral and
vernacular traditions of raw earth constructions with the modern technology
of stabilized earth. The main research and development is focused on
minimizing the use of cement, steel, and reinforced cement concrete (RCC).
Compressed earth block is a building material that is made primarily from
damp soil compressed at high pressure to form blocks. If the blocks are
stabilized with a chemical binder, they are called compressed stabilized
earth blocks. Stabilization is the process of adding certain compounds to the
earth so as to improve their properties. Two types of stabilizers used in CSEB
manufacturing are; cement or lime. The input of soil stabilization allowed
people to build higher with thinner walls, which have a much better
compressive strength and water resistance. With cement stabilization, the
blocks must be cured for four weeks after manufacturing. After this, they can
dry freely and be used like common bricks.
6.2 Case Study
Auroville, Pondicherry
Since the beginning of Auroville, various experiments have been made with
earth building, with mixed results. The creation of the Auroville Earth
Institute (AVEI) started a new era in earthen architecture. The reason why
Auroville was chosen for case study was because it has become one of the
worlds top centers for excellence in earthen architecture, working in 35
countries to promote and transfer knowledge in earth architecture. CSEB is
the most used technique in Auroville. Auroville has a number of buildings
built using CSEB.
6.3 Analysis
The earth used in the construction of buildings in Auroville is dug out from
the
location itself.

-production made on site or nearby reducing transportation costs and

saving
fuel and time
-firewood not required limiting deforestation
Local management of resources
-top soil to be scraped away to uncover subsoil
-later on top soil can be put back to resulting cavity
-land to be used for agricultural purposes
Market opportunity
- CSEB usually is cheaper then fired bricks
Energy efficiency
-requiring only little stabilizer (thus little fuel for it), embodied energy
for
1metre cube of CSEB is about four times less than 1metre cube of
Firebricks
Reducing imports
-can be produced locally by semi-skilled labor, no need to import
expensive
materials or transport over long distances heavy and costly materials.
Table 6.3.1 Comparisons between CSEB and other building materials (Source:
http://www.earth-auroville.com)
Embodied energy per metre cube of wall

CSEB wall
Kiln Fired bricks
Country fired bricks

631 MJ/cubic metre

2356 MJ/cubic metre
6358 MJ/cubic metre

CSEB consumes 11 times less energy than country fired blocks and four
times less than wire cut bricks.
Pollution emission per cubic metre of material

CSEB wall
Kiln Fired bricks
Country fired bricks

49.37 kg of CO2 / cubic metre

296 kg of CO2 / cubic metre
642.87 kg of CO2 / cubic metre

CSEB is polluting thirteen times less than the country fired bricks and six times less
than
wire cut bricks.

Cost

CSEB wall(24 cm thick)

Rs.3,067 per cubic metre
Rs.736 per square metre

Country fired brick wall(22cm thick)

Rs.4,243 per cubic metre
Rs.934 per square metre

A finished metre cube of CSEB masonry is always 15-20% cheaper than country fired
bricks.
6.4 Other advantages
Thermal comfort
-exposed block walls regulate indoor humidity, helping you achieve thermal
comfort through the year
-with proper planning and design, less energy needed to achieve a
comfortable indoor environment
-earth buildings proven over decades to be healthier than concrete buildings.
Strength of load bearing structures
-CSEB can be used for load bearing structures as they are strong enough to
bear 4 floors without concrete column
-arches, vaults, domes can replace concrete beams, slabs, thus bringing overall
cost lower than conventional structures.
-CSEB need not necessarily be plastered
Social acceptance
-it has demonstrated its ability to adapt to various needs from low income to
high income, government buildings, multi-storey, etc
-creative and aesthetically pleasing designs could be made
-natural, exposed, high quality finishes could be given to the surfaces.
Job creation
-unskilled, unemployed people get a chance to learn new skills, gaining
employment and social values.

Figure Error! No text of specified style in document.1: CSEB construction [source:

http://www.earth-auroville.com]

7.1 Straw Bale

Straw is a natural fiber obtained as a byproduct from agriculture. It is the stalk
(plant structure between root crown and grain head) of grasses like rice, wheat,
sorghum that have high tensile strength. It is composed of cellulose, hemi
cellulose liquid and silica. It is non- rigid, flexible and easy to work with. It is
produced by the natural, non-polluting process of photosynthesis; hence use of
this in construction is obviously an environmental friendly method. It is ecofriendly in production, function, operation, maintenance and reconstruction.
India, where agriculture is the main source of income, straw can be produced
tremendously.
Straw bale is made by compressing a bundle of straw to a square/ rectangular/
circular shape using wire or twines. The density of the bale can vary with the
type of grains, moisture level in the straw, its degree of compaction. Bale
dimensions vary as per circumstances but standard sizes used are 900mm x
450mm x 350mm or 584mm x 1168mm x 400mm. A straw bale wall is 65 % less
weight than equivalent brick wall and 62 % less than equivalent concrete brick
wall. When bundled together into a bale, it becomes a solid block that is highly
resistant to decomposition. When assembled together and covered with a plaster
skin, straw bales make a beautiful, strong, energy-efficient and ecologically
sound structure.
However construction using straw bale has to be restricted in places where there
is excess moisture in order to protect against the attack of termites and pests.
Straw bale construction will be durable only where there are stringent moisture
resistant conditions.

Figure Error! No text of specified style in document.2: Straw Bale construction

[source: http://www.pajaconstruction.com]

7.2 Analysis
Availability
-Because it is an agricultural by-product it is locally available. Thus
transportation costs can be reduced to an extent.
Fire resistance
-straw bale tightly packed hence good resistance against fire due to lack of
oxygen

Thermal insulation
- Thick straw bale wall has good thermal insulation, because there creates
an insulating gap between internal and external walls. Thus there is a
resistance in heat flow through the wall. Rice straw is the most efficient
insulating material
Sound insulation
- Straw is fibrous in nature that resists travel of sound waves, thus
controlling noise.
Structural capacity
- Load bearing straw bales can withstand up to 3 storeys while framed
structures have great stability.
Cost effective
-materials used to create bale walls are less expensive than other common
wall systems. Wall raising is easily done with bales, thus cutting down on
labor costs.

Figure Error! No text of specified style in document.3: [source:

http://www.ijmer.com]

8. Conclusion
Building with earth is definitely an appropriate and cost and energy effective
technology that will prove to be an eco-friendly material in future also while
building with straw bale is a method that has the potential to be one of the
better construction techniques in future. Straw bale construction will be efficient
where there is proper moisture resistance. Effectiveness of any design and
construction technology depends on the context of time, skill available, location,
function and available fund. CSEB and straw bale can be effectively used in
buildings, if there are stringent quality control systems and performance
guarantee.
9. References
1. auroville earth institute. (2014, december 9). Retrieved from
http://www.earthauroville.com/compressed-stabilised-earth blocks_en.php.
2. compressed stabilized earth blocks. (2014, december 9). Retrieved from
http://www.slideshare.net.
3. Straw Bale in construction of building and its future in India. (2015, july 10).
Retrieved from

http://www.ijmer.com/papers/vol2_issue2/BW22422426.pdf
4. paja construction. (2015, august 1). Retrieved from
http://pajaconstruction.com/straw-bale-expert-blog/
5 . Straw bale construction as an economic environmental building alternative-A
case study. (2015, july 10).Retrieved from
http://arpnjournals.com/jeas/research_papers/rp_2009/jeas_1109_265.pdf.
6. sustainable building materials in kerala . (2014, december 10). Retrieved from
http://dyuti.cusat.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/purl/4635/sustainable
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