Climate change impact and cost assessment of Compressed Earth Blocks - Evaluation of affordable housing solutions in Kenya
report
In 2050, half of the population of Kenya is estimated to live in urban areas. Additionally, an estimated urban population growth of 4% per year is projected [1]. This growth imposes challenges for urban areas in Kenya, such as providing sustainable and affordable housing solutions. It requires an increase in construction activities in urban and rural areas, which will increase the carbon emissions for Kenya dramatically [2]. As part of multiple other solutions, compressed earth blocks (CEBs) have emerged as a viable alternative to conventional walling materials, offering a potential solution for the economic and environmental challenges the Kenyan construction sector faces. CEBs can be manufactured locally using available soil and a stabilizer, which are compressed under high pressure to form durable blocks. CEBs have been around since the 1950s, and the first manual press has been
produced for a social housing program in Colombia [3]. It made its way to Africa, and despite the potential benefits, the application in Kenya has been limited. This seems to come from a combination of misconceptions about their durability and performance, and insufficient evidence of their cost and environmental benefits. This knowledge gap seems to be a barrier for the technology to really take off.
produced for a social housing program in Colombia [3]. It made its way to Africa, and despite the potential benefits, the application in Kenya has been limited. This seems to come from a combination of misconceptions about their durability and performance, and insufficient evidence of their cost and environmental benefits. This knowledge gap seems to be a barrier for the technology to really take off.
Topics
TNO Identifier
1008896
Publisher
TNO
Collation
22 p.
Place of publication
Utrecht