Light Earth Building

The French gravel industry produces approximatively 6.5 million tons of gravel wash mud each year. This material offers very promising properties which require an in-depth characterization study before its use as a construction material, otherwise it is removed from value cycles by disposal in landfills. We examined the suitability of gravel wash mud and seashells, with fly ash as a binder, as an unfired earth construction material. Thermal and mechanical characterizations of the smart mixture composed of gravel wash mud, Crepidula fornicata shells and fly ash are performed. The new specimens exhibit high compressive strengths compared to usual earth construction materials, which appears as a good opportunity for a reduction in the thickness of walls. The use of fly ash and Crepidula shells in addition to gravel wash mud provides high silica and calcium contents, which both react with clay, leading to the formation of tobermorite and Al-tobermorite as a result of a pozzolanic reaction. Considering the reduction in porosity and improvements in strength, these new materials are good candidates to contribute significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reduce carbon emissions.

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“…There is a strong tradition for cob constructions in Germany [ 75 ]. This system of construction is made with a secondary layer.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mud-Based Construction Material: Promising Properties of French Gravel Wash Mud Mixed with Byproducts, Seashells and Fly Ash as a Binder

et al. 2021

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“…These tests or standards are similar to the Canine Good Citizen Test created by the American Kennel Club. To pass the Canine Good Citizen Test, the dog must be able perform basic obedience tasks, such as walking calmly on a leash, greeting a friendly stranger, and coming when called [ 107 ]. If a dog shows any signs of aggression during testing (e.g., growling, snarling, barking) the test ends and the dog does not pass.…”

Section: Health Safety and Well-being Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dogs in the Workplace: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Challenges

Foreman

Glenn

Meade

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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Pet dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs can be seen in workplaces with increasing frequency. Although dogs may provide many benefits to employees and employers, their presence may introduce additional hazards and concerns to the work environment. Therefore, decisions to accept dogs in the workplace may include many considerations including the health, safety, and well-being of employees, legal and cultural sensitivities, and animal welfare. The present paper serves to introduce the issue of dogs in the workplace and outline the potential benefits and challenges to their presence. The legal accommodations afforded to certain types of dogs in workplace settings are discussed, and the research findings pertaining to the potential benefits of dogs on human health and well-being are summarized. The paper concludes with considerations for human resource management personnel in the areas of diversity, employee relations, ethics and corporate responsibility, organizational and employee development, safety and security, and legal considerations, as well as suggested topics for future research.

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“…Compared to wattle and daub [50], where the soil mixture is applied on a grid support structure, the lightened soil of light earth (LE) technique can be installed by means of formwork and, by doing so, it can reach greater thicknesses. This technique was rediscovered and optimized in more recent years by the German architect Franz Volhard [56].…”

Section: Light Earth (Le)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Volhard, with the purpose of having good cohesion characteristics, the soil used must have a clay content between 12% and 20%. In order not to compromise the workability of the mixture, it is advantageous to use natural fibers with a length of less than 10 cm [56].…”

Section: Light Earth (Le)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Compared Environmental Lifecycle Performances of Earth-Based Walls to Drive Building Envelope Design

Giuffrida,

Dipasquale,

Pulselli

et al. 2024

Sustainability

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Raw earth has useful applications in contemporary buildings as a sustainable and circular construction material. The present study aims to assess the environmental performance of several earth-based wall systems with similar thermal performance, through a life cycle thinking approach. In particular, a life cycle assessment is developed for (a) unstabilized rammed earth (produced in situ), (b) compressed earth blocks (prefabricated in the factory), (c) stabilized rammed earth and (d) light earth, all combined with biobased (natural fibers, e.g., lime hemp, cork) and/or conventional materials for building insulation. Results show benefits in terms of avoided carbon emission, water footprint and embodied energy throughout the production chain and highlight limits and potential improvements. In addition, the CO2 offset by crops is also estimated based on carbon embedded in natural fibers. In particular, light earth wall systems are the most suitable to minimize environmental impacts, while massive constructive technologies (as unstabilized rammed earth) show a higher dynamic thermal performance for intended use in Mediterranean climates.

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Light Earth Building

Cited by 25 publications

References 0 publications

Mud-Based Construction Material: Promising Properties of French Gravel Wash Mud Mixed with Byproducts, Seashells and Fly Ash as a Binder

Mud-Based Construction Material: Promising Properties of French Gravel Wash Mud Mixed with Byproducts, Seashells and Fly Ash as a Binder

Dogs in the Workplace: A Review of the Benefits and Potential Challenges

Compared Environmental Lifecycle Performances of Earth-Based Walls to Drive Building Envelope Design

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