SUSTAINABLE

BUILDING
PRACTICES
 Sustainable Architecture
 Sustainable Architecture; It is the
architecture that seeks to minimize
the negative environmental impact
of buildings by efficiency and
moderation in the use of materials
and energy.
 The concept of the Triple Bottom
Line (“TBL”) is based on the
recognition that many decisions
have a range of economic,
environmental, health and other
social co benefits.
 The Triple Bottom Line offers a
way to go beyond “either/or”
considerations, focusing instead on Triple Bottom line of Sustainability
“and also” achievements.
Sustainable practice contributing to
Economy;
a.Earth bag Construction
Earth bag Construction
 Materials required; Barbed wires, bags
(polypropylene) , a shovel and earth
(present beneath our feets).
 Bags are filled with pre moistened earth and
laid in masonry style running bond. It is
then compacted with tampers. Barbed wires
are used between two alternate rows of bags
to act as a Velcro mortar.
 Low cost foundation consist of a rubble
trench system or starting the bag work
below ground with a cement stabilized
rammed earth mix for the stem walls.
Earth bag Construction
Strength- Can take
seismic ,wind and
snow loads 200%
more than mentioned
in uniform building
code(California
institute of earth art
and architecture).
Earthbag houses can
withstand the effects
of fire , flood ,
hurricanes , termites
and earthquakes
(upto 7 pointer in
Richter Scale)
Earth bag Construction
 Thermal Performance; Earthbag
structure have a R value of less
than 0.25 per inch . R=1/U. U
value is a material’s ability to
store and transfer heat rather than
resist its loss.
 Earthen walls function as an
absorbent mass that is able to
store warmth and re- radiate it
back into the living space as the
mass cools.
Earth bag Construction contributing to
Economy
 Inexpensive materials using mostly local soil , sand bags, barbed wire ,
some amount of timber to create structures which are both strong and can
be quickly built.
 Earthbag construction is very easy and thus many people prefer building
houses themselves thus saving on the labour.
 The structure is typically finished with plaster, either cement stucco or an
adobe (inexpensive material-mud , water and straw ) or lime plaster, to
shed water and prevent fabric UV damage.
Other Benefits of Earthbag Construction
 Easy to learn and build with;
 Ecological, using mostly earth;
 Versatile in building styles possible; durable; earthquake, flood and bullet
resistant;
 Uses a simple foundation.
 Any dome uses very little wood, steel, or concrete to build, thus
eliminating the need to use these materials that have an adverse affect on
our environment;
 they are generally a more sustainable choice because they mostly use
natural, non-industrials material.
Sustainable practice contributing to the
Environmental Benefits
b.Earthship Buildings
Sustainable practice with environmental benefit
Earthship Buildings
 An Earthship is a type of passive
solar house that is made of both
natural and upcycled materials
such as earth-packed tires.
 An Earthship addresses six
principles or human needs:-
 Thermal mass
 solar and wind electricity
 self-contained sewage treatment
 building with natural and recycled
materials
 water harvesting and long term
storage
 some internal food production
capability
Section of Earthship Building
Earthship Buildings(Environmental)
 Earthship structures are intended to be "off-the-grid-ready" homes, with
minimal reliance on public utilities and fossil fuels. They are constructed to
use available natural resources, especially energy from the sun and rain
water thus saving energy and money.
 They are designed with thermal mass (waste rubber tyres and sand
available on site )construction. Thermal mass combined with large number
of windows for ventilation keeps the interior comfortable(hot in winters
and cold in summers), reducing the energy demand of a house to a great
extent.
Benefits of Earthship(Environmental)
 Having an earth bermed home with windows facing the sun is a good idea
in any climate where heating is required. Thus reducing the energy
required for heating up room in colder regions.
 On-site processing of runoff water, grey water and black water using plant
beds reduces the negative environmental impact of the building and saves
a large quantity of water. Example of an earthship building : school in
Mar Chiquita, an area outside of Buenos Aires.
Plan of Earthship Building
Social sustainability
 The social benefits of sustainable
design are related to improvements
in the quality of life, health and
well being.
 The building environment can have
both positive (more efficiency and
better health ) and negative
impacts( illness, discomfort, stress,
and distractions).
 These problems can be reduced
with the help of sustainable design.
Practice contributing to social Sustainability
(SOS Children’s Village)
 SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-governmental international
organization which has been working to meet the needs and protect the
interests and rights of children since 1949.
 These institutions have been established to meet the basic physical (food,
shelter, clothes, education etc.) as well as the emotional, psychological, and
social needs are also taken into consideration.
 The idea is to encourage the development of every child's personality and
talents by providing---
- Love, security, continuity in the SOS-families.
- Sound schooling, and training in local schools/workshops/colleges --
encouragement in
community living.
- A wide variety of facilities for extra-curricular and recreational activities
and hobbies.
 SOS Children’s Village (Djibouti)
 It’s a heaven for children - A safe
environment, with no cars, where the
narrow streets and squares become
places to play (sense of sharing and
caring develop during childhood).
 In every flat ,a mother is given a
responsibility of 5-6 children thus
creating a family and home for the
homeless and giving them option to
flourish in a loving environment.
 It has plenty of open spaces - Public
and private spaces are clearly defined.
And in the private, the inside and
outside areas melt, allowing residents to
maintain certain outdoors
living(community living is promoted).
 It also has lots of vegetation - Where
the inhabitants are encouraged to take
care of their plants and benefit from the
result.
References:
 Basiago A.D, Economic, social and environmental sustainability in
development theory and urban planning practice, The Environmentalist
19,145-161(1999)
 https://buildabroad.org/2017/02/03/earthbag-construction/
 https://www.structure1.com/projects/earthbag-houses/structural-design/
 http://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Ecological Building/Earthbag Building-
The tools, tricks and Techniques.pdf
 https://blog.thefetch.com/2014/07/05/earthships-the-future-of-sustainable-
living/
 http://www.dreamgreenhomes.com/plans/earthship.htm
 http://www.aardskip.com/aflaai/AardskipPresentasieEng.pdf
 https://www.archdaily.com/773319/sos-childrens-village-in-djibouti-urko-
sanchez-architects
THANK YOU