Ecocomposites for Buildings
More work has been done on ecocomposites for building than for other
products or applications. Many traditional building systems were
ecocomposites and these are enjoying a resurgence. New building code
standards and consideration of sustainability issues in building codes
ensures this revolution will continue to make inroads into the building
industry for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Elizabeth, L. and C. Adams. 2000. Alternative Construction:
Contemporary
Natural Building Methods. John Wiley, NY
392 p.
Excellent review of alternative construction
techniques. A very clear description of one of the most promising
ecocomposites with a very long history of use, light straw clay "leichtlehm"
building, straw bale, cob, rammed earth and adobe. Helpful reviews of
straw bale research and construction in Mongolia and China by Kelly Lerner
and one of the best descriptions of passive solar performance of straw
bale buildings.
Volhard, F. 1995 [1983]. Leichtlehmbau. 3rd edition. Germany.
Verlag CF
Muller, Karlsruhe, GDR.
The light straw clay construction manual, in
German. Full translation needed.
Stulz, R. and K. Mukerji. 1988. Appropriate Building Materials: A
Catalogue of
Potential Solutions. Swiss Center for
Appropriate Technology, IT, GATE.
430 p.
A fabulous book that deserves much wider
appreciation and use. Short descriptions and references to almost every
possible building method and material, many are excellent ecocomposite
materials.
Loken, S., R. Miner and T. Mumma. 1994. A Reference Guide to
Resource
Efficient Building Elements. Center for
Resourceful Building Technology,
Missoula, MT. xxp. ISBNxx.
A useful compendium of companies and materials,
organized by function not by materials.
King, B. 1996. Buildings of Earth and Straw: Structural Design for
Rammed
Earth and Straw Bale Houses. Ecological
Design Press 169 p. (dist. by
Chelsea Green Press).
A very useful book for building innovation with
ecocomposites. Clearly explains the principles of engineering involved in
building and provides introductions to basic building systems on the new
frontier.
Sounds interesting -- not reviewed yet:
RILEM. 1990. Vegetable Plants and their Fibres as Building
Materials:
Proceedings of the Second International
Symposium. Van Nostrand Reinhold,
NY. pp ISBN xx.
For more on straw bale construction, refer to Straw
Bale Resources 2000. |
