THE
MLAMBE
PROJECT
THE BENEFITS OF EARTHBAG BUILDING
The earthbag system squarely addresses the 'triple bottom line', through it being environmentally, economically and socially sustainable - low impact and low cost, thus fostering the creation of employment.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Transport – limited transportation needed.
Embedded Energy – significantly lowers the carbon footprint compared with conventional materials (cement, clay bricks and steel).
Fill Material - local site-sourced fill material is used in earthbags. This dramatically reduces fossil fuel use and transport costs to the site. It also means environmental damage from quarrying is eliminated. Almost any fill material can be used.
Water Requirements – are minimal, as the main construction process uses no mortar.
Timber - the earthbag wall system uses little or no timber, which is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.
Waste Production - landfills are not a part of the earthbag building system requirements.
Insulation - excellent thermal insulation results in drastically reduced heating and cooling costs over the life of the building.
Longevity – structure should stand for decades, if not centuries.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - the use of resources is reduced, the earthbags can easily be reused locally or emptied and used elsewhere, and the materials are recyclable.
STRUCTURAL & SITE
Easy to Learn and User-friendly - can be mastered by unskilled people or a community in a very short time, with minimal supervision.
Strength – the structures are extremely strong, owing to its thickness and weight, thus it is unaffected by high winds or other destructive forces.
Versatility – can use a variety of fill materials, often obtained from the site itself.
Posts, Beams and Lintels – both posts and beams can be built into the wall structure with ease, allowing for multi-level construction.
Services – plumbing, electrical and other services are very easy to incorporate.
Security – there are no piles of bricks on site that may be subject to theft.
Remote Locations – only the bags and barbed wire need to be transported to the site.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
Inexpensive – in comparison to standard materials.
Skilled Labour - once demonstrated, the method is very simple. It also means that local job creation is a major benefit. Moreover, projects often employ women as well as men.
Local Material – site-sourced local fill material are often available at no cost.
Speed of Construction – rapid, as there is no skilled bricklaying to be done and the method is easily learnt.
THERMAL, ACOUSTIC & CLIMATE CONTROL QUALITIES
Soundproof - the earthbag wall is a superb insulator of sound.
Climate Control - also controls humidity, as moisture will be absorbed and released from such a wall and the interior humidity is therefore maintained at a steady and healthy level. This eliminates the condensation and mould that can occur with concrete and brick walls, reducing the dangers from respiratory conditions such as asthma, pneumonia and TB.
OTHER VITAL QUALITIES
Fire Resistance – excellent.
Flood Proof – sandbags are often used in flood protection, therefore provides the same benefits, especially as the bags interlock over time.
Temporary Housing, Warehouses or Military Barracks – structures can quickly and easily be constructed using the earthbag building technique. Temporary roofing can be formed using a waterproof tarpaulin, which can be firmly attached to the extremely strong walls, resulting in a very sturdy, completely weatherproof and well insulated structure.
USER GUIDES / PAPERS
One of our primary aims as an organisation is to share the earthbag building technique with as many NGOs, governmental bodies and people as possible. We are not precious or protective about the technique, we want to spread the word as we really do believe in its cost-effectiveness, sustainabilty and longevity. Simply put, we hope we are the first of many earthbag building charities in Malawi. The best way to achieve this is by sharing as much insight and documentation about the tecnique as possible.
Below are some of the most credible papers on earthbag building as well as links to some of the most succesful charities currently using the technique. We hope to add to this list over time, and to compile as comprehensive an overview of the technique as possible. The internet is at its most powerful when shared. We will always strive to disclose any further breakthroughs that we or our partners make in the future.
Earthbag building in the Tropics
Step-by-step Earthbag building
Building with Earth
Analysis of Earthbag Structures
OTHER EARTHBAG BUILDING CHARITIES
Cal-Earth
General Architecture Collaborative
Shine On Sierra Leone
Earth Kaya
