Writer’s choiceThe ecological benefits of rammed earth construction in medium density urban development

The ecological benefits of rammed earth construction in medium density urban development
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Introduction
Technological innovations in recent years have resulted in architects engaging in traditional methods of constructions where new and old ways of construction are merged. The purpose is largely to achieve suitability and promote more economical and moderns ways in the construction industry. It is known and well published that in the construction industry the use of different materials and manpower results in the use of high amounts of energy and other resources. Consequently, this results in increasing exploitation and degradation of resources thereby leading to the destruction of ecosystems. The increasing populations around the globe constitute to an increase in housing demands which then is directly linked to higher cost for materials to use in the construction of buildings especially in medium and low-density urban populations. Consequently, this necessitates the need to use materials that promote environmental conservation and at the same time address the housing problems that affect the urban areas.
Rammed earth construction is a traditional form of construction applied in the building industry that involves the use of earth and hand labor technologies. Ideally, the process of construction involves the mixing and packing of the earth using water and in some case Portland cement to form a formwork. This application has gained popularity in recent years due to the sustainable construction values it provides in addition to the excellent design work.

Rammed earth construction was used by Native Americans for hundreds of years but then faded. Some of the materials commonly used in the traditional setting include bale, cobs, straw, cordwood, and hemp. Traditionally rammed earth was relied on for building where a damp mixture of the earth is mixed with gravel, sand, clay and at times a stabilizer. It is then poured and supported in an externally supported plywood or timber mold/frame thereby creating a solid wall. At times the compacted mixture can be made into blocks which are commonly interlocked during construction. Ecology being the environment and its association with the living organisms is heavily influenced by the construction industry which interferes with the natural environment.
Affordability of construction
The use of rammed earth in construction lowers the construction costs significantly. Largely the construction makes use of earth or soil which is free in many cases when acquired from the site at which the construction is to be done. The use of rammed earth in construction has minimal manufacturing and environmental impacts depending on the content of cement used and the distance of material sourcing. Whenever the materials are to be obtained locally, there is the minimal negative impact on the environment in terms of destruction by the vehicle exhaust fumes.
In many places, rammed earth makes use of the quarried aggregates instead of the “earth” itself, and this saves on the destruction of the environment. The best way to use rammed earth is to use the loose aggregates instead of digging up the ground because that would leave the soil very vulnerable to erosion. However, when the soil has to be disturbed, it must be covered with vegetation, to hold the soil in place and promote environmental sustainability. The acquisition of soil for use in rammed earth construction has led to many areas later being afforested as environmental conservation intensifies. This scenario is best exemplified by many cement companies which after years of digging up for the raw material for making cement they later plant numerous vegetation to ensure environmental sustainability.
The modern stabilized earth which is a variant of the traditional rammed earth consists of adding a small amount of cement say 10-15% of the whole mixture in order to increase the strength and durability of the building or structure. The effect of durability on a building reduces the expenditure, and it impacts on the reduction in the price or cost.
Energy efficiency
One of the greatest efficiencies of rammed construction comes in the way of energy conservation. The walls can be built up to 2 feet thickness, and 8 feet high in many cases although the height can go up to 14 feet. The rammed earth, therefore, allows some good degree of the variation of the size of the house, but one thing remains constant- the energy efficiency of rammed earth constructions. The houses stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter because they tend to lose or gain heat very slowly thereby remaining largely unaffected by the environmental changes in temperatures. As such, there are minimal requirements for heating and cooling systems that utilize electricity whose generation destroys the environment.
Conservation of trees
Rammed earth constructions use of up to 50% less timber, and this leads to huge ecological conservations. In the wake of increased housing demands due to the rising urban populations, there is need to consider the rammed earth constructions. Already, huge chunks of land are being taken to up by the construction of residential and commercial buildings. As such, it becomes important that the places far away from the urban centers remain with their forests intact with minimal trees being felled to supply timber for construction. The usage of 50% less timber in rammed earth constructions means that this technology can have massive preservations on the environment.
Researchers have also noted that rammed constructions also tend to work well with the solar-oriented technologies. This is so because many consider the constructions to be green buildings that should go with other green technologies for them to fully attain the purpose of environmental sustainability. Moreover, the rammed earth constructions come across as modest and they do not augur well with the mains electricity and other related technologies. In all, when the rammed constructions are merged with the equally conservative solar technologies, the buildings offer great serenity, peacefulness, and liveliness regardless of the outdoors.
Medium density urban developments need the peace and close relationship between rammed earth construction, and solar technologies is that the urban developments are in huge demand, and people are seeking for the medium-density places. Rammed earth constructions are also ecologically friendly for medium density urban developments because they are biodegradable. This means that a rammed earth construction can be demolished and the materials (largely earth) allowed to remain in place with the place being used for farming, growing trees, and other environmentally-friendly initiatives.
Rammed earth constructions also take very little time to construct and this positively influences the environment positively. The lesser time means fewer days of transporting employees and materials as well as the costs of the constructions which can be put to better use in the conservation of the environment. Rammed earth constructions do not pollute the environment either through odors, the toxicity of the materials among others. Many constructions some in the conventional brick and mortar need painting and other finishing that can pollute the environment.
Rammed earth constructions also allow for the usage of very minimal amounts of water. The usage of water is made minimal because the water required in making the soil damp before compacting is far less than the amount of water used in conventional constructions.
Aesthetics and versatility
One of the most noticeable benefits of using rammed earth construction is the significant aesthetic appeal that comes from its use. The use of rammed earth for construction offers significant aspects of versatility and aesthetics. The use of rammed earth can be of significant complement to the garden designs in most homes in medium and low-density urban areas. The earth itself is usually soft and harmonizes well with the other garden elements. Using rammed earth, the architects usually have the option of varying different colors and textures of the earth. Different strata can be integrated with different colors to provide any outlook that the client or the architect desires.
Reduction of Carbon Emissions
In the current construction industry, the use of cement and cement production has increased tremendously. This has resulted in an increase in the global amounts of carbon emissions. The manufacture of cement requires the burning of limestone a process that produces massive amounts of CO2 as a waste product. Experts warn that 10% of the global CO2 emissions come from the cement manufacturing industry CITATION Man03 l 1033 (Maniatidis and Walker 2003).
As such, when the raw earth is used as it is especially in the making of interlocking construction blocks which use zero or minimal cement ensures great ecological conservations. The medium density constructions in urban centers also favor the use of rammed construction technology because of the limitations on the space available for construction because of the limitations on the number of storeys of each house.
Rammed earth construction has been seen as a solution to reduce the carbon emissions because of its low or no use of cement in the construction of buildings. According to Keable (2015), production of a ton of cement produces about 1.25 tons of carbon dioxide. Evidently, the rammed earth in the modern constructions needs to be checked in the areas of production, transportation and usage of cement and therein the issues of high gas emissions will be resolved.
Rammed earth constructions are a revolutionary way of suiting people to modern medium density urban centers. They have a direct positive impact on the ecology of a place and its sustainability. There is less usage of timber by up to 50% which reduces the impacts that come with cutting down trees. There is also less usage of cement which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide produced and released into the atmosphere. The rammed earth constructions are biodegradable, and if they are to be pulled down in future, they are suited for that and the areas on which they once stood ca be out to any other use including the growth of vegetation. As such there are numerous ecological benefits of using rammed earth in the medium density urban constructions.
Conclusion
The demands for increased housing, especially in urban areas, have compelled architects and engineers to resort to some traditional methods of construction in order to meet the balance of efficiency, cost, durability, and ecological conservation. Rammed earth which is used in combination with other materials such as straw and then rammed using a formwork is one of the best in since it has numerous ecological benefits and it is also very structurally sound. Some of the benefits include less carbon and other pollutants since there is minimal use of cement if any because the manufacturing and transport needs of such materials are eliminated. The method makes use of aggregated earth thereby saving the environment from massive erosions. The durability of modern rammed earth constructions also eases pressure on the environment to support numerous constructions. In addition, rammed earth constructions are biodegradable and therefore these buildings can be brought down with ease and the areas they once stood used for other purposes including the growth of vegetation. Rammed earth constructions also offer great efficiency in energy in that they tend to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. These constructions also make use of less timber by 50%, and this eases the pressure of cutting down trees and destroying the environment. The buildings also work well with solar technologies and therefore they are ecologically adaptive to numerous other conservative technologies. These among others show the need for traditional construction methods to be suited to modern constructions to save the environment as other aspects of architectural and engineering basics are maintained.
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