D

D
D
d

SUMMARY
2

1. Introduction on CSEB
2. Basic data on CSEB
3. Comparison with other materials

COMPRESSED STABILIZED EARTH BLOCKS

(CSEB)

4. Examples of Eco Friendly buildings built by the

Auroville Earth Institute

For Eco-friendly Architecture

WHAT ARE CSEB?

4

INTRODUCTION

CSEB are a mix of soil, sand, a stabilizer (often 5% of cement), and water.

They are compressed in a press (manual or motorised) and cured during 28 days.

CSEB are also called EBlocks, as Eco-friendly, Economical, Earth block

The term block is used to differentiate from brick which is usually fired.

Top soil is removed and only the deeper soil is extracted.

CSEB are used on all continents.

CSEB has been a major tool for the renaissance of earth architecture worldwide.

It is today the earth technology which is used the most worldwide and in Auroville.

The Auroville Earth Institute became one of the world leader for the research and
development of CSEB technology.

MACHINERY FOR CSEB

MACHINERY FOR CSEB

6

Many manual or motorised presses have been researched and developed worldwide.

Cinvara
m

Auram 240

Unata

The Auram press 3000 can produce about 75 blocks with 17 moulds.

Elson block
Master

Auram 3000

Altec Pact 500

Terrablock

Terstara
m

Hydrafor
m

MANUAL PROCESS
8

Several series of blocks have been developed for various uses:

Hollow blocks for load bearing masonry
 Solid blocks for load bearing masonry
 Hollow interlocking blocks for disaster resistance
 Hourdi for floors & roofs  Round blocks for columns  Tiles and special blocks
Variety of blocks produced by the Auram Press 3000

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS WITH 5% CEMENT

10

BASIC DATA ON CSEB

Dry compressive strength c

: 5 to 7.5 MPa

Wet compressive strength c

: 3 to 4 MPa

Embodied energy per m3 of raw material : 572.58 MJ / m3

Carbon emission

: 51.53 Kg (CO2)/ m3

Thermal lag of 50 cm thick wall

: 12 hours

1 MPa = 9.81 Kg/cm2

All data with Auroville soil, after 28 days curing.

These mechanical characteristics are influenced by:
- Soil quality, manufacturing process and the quality and percentage of stabilizer.



COST EFFECTIVE

COST EFFECTIVE

11

12

CSEB are generally cheaper than fired bricks.
- No plaster is needed in most of cases
- Less mortar is required
- 5% of waste against 10% for fired bricks

A finished m2 of CSEB wall 240

is in Auroville
~25% cheaper than country fired
bricks

Cost comparison per m2 of CSEB and fired brick wall (Auroville, July 2011)
CSEB wall 24 cm thick = 861 Rs./m2 - Country fired brick wall 23 cm thick = 1076 Rs./m2

Cost in Rs./m2

CSEB is a very labour intensive technology

13 people per press for manual pressing
This gives job opportunities
This gives livelihood to people
This insures sustainability

Labour represents more than 40%

Cement and equipment are about 30%
Raw materials are less than 30%

INITIAL EMBODIED ENERGY

14


The initial embodied energy of CSEB is in general less than other building materials.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER MATERIALS

CSEB are environmentally friendly as:
- No firing is required, but only curing (4 weeks with cement stabilization).
- Less transportation is required and production is most of the time manual.

572
6,12
2
Value: Pondicherry area

CSEB consume 10.7 times less energy than country fired bricks

13

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS

15


Carbon dioxide emissions are in general less than other building materials.

They are mostly coming from cement stabilisation.

EXAMPLES OF ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDINGS BUILT BY THE

AUROVILLE EARTH INSTITUTE

51.5
643
Value: Pondicherry area

CSEB emit 12.5 times less carbon dioxide than fired country bricks !!!

50 tons of wood burnt for 100,000 country fired bricks !!!

Opportunity for Carbon Credits Revenue

16

A FEW BUILDING EXAMPLES BUILT IN AUROVILLE

Visitors Centre 1992 Hassan Fathy International Award for Architecture for the Poor

17

13 apartments on 4 floors at Vikas Community

Vikas Community was a finalist for the 2000 World Habitat Award

18

Deepanam School near Matrimandir CSEB vault 10.35 m span, 2.25 m rise

19

House at the Auroville Earth Institute

20

Realization Housing with 17 apartments

- CSEB and stabilised earth from foundations to roof
- Rainwater harvesting
- Wastewater biological system
- Earth tunnel for natural air conditioning

Low emission for construction and use

than conventional buildings and systems

4 times less initial embodied energy

3 times less operating energy

21

Realization - 5 Apartments completed

22

A FEW BUILDING EXAMPLES BUILT AROUND AUROVILLE

Realization - 8 Apartments under finishes

23

Shakti Vihara School at Pondicherry, for 700 children

24

Shakti Vihara School at Pondicherry, for 700 children

Hermitage for a priest

Hermitage for a priest

25

27

Chinnakalapet near Auroville Hermitage for a priest

26

School and community centre at Marakkanam

28

Sri Karneshwar Nataraja Temple near Auroville

Pointed cloister dome 6 m span and pyramid, built in 6 months

29

Sri Karneshwar Nataraja Temple

30

A FEW BUILDING EXAMPLES BUILT WORLDWIDE

1990 Kinshasa, Zaire School built in 2 weeks

31

1996 Istanbul, Turkey House built in 8 days

32

First prize
2010 Award For Urban Heritage
Al-Turath Foundation, Saudi Arabia

2008 Jantanagar, Nepal School built in 20 days with community participation

33

AUROVILLE EARTH INSTITUTE

UNESCO Chair "Earthen Architecture"
BASIN South Asia

Auroshilpam, 605 101 Auroville, TN India

Tel.: +91 (0) 413 - 262 3064 / 262 3330
Fax: +91 (0) 413 - 262 2886
Email: earthinstitute@auroville.org.in
Website: www.earth-auroville.com
35

2004 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Al Medy Mosque built in 7 weeks

420 m2, 18.05 m high minaret

34