Pelé-Peltier, A; Charef, R and Morel, J C (2023) Factors affecting the use of earth material in mainstream construction: A critical review. Building Research & Information, 51(2), pp. 119-137. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
To tackle climate change and resource depletion, the construction industry has to shift to more sustainable developments. For which, as a low-embodied carbon construction material, earth represents an opportunity. However, earth material is still barely used in mainstream construction. This paper aims to assess what are the current knowledge about factors (barriers and opportunities) affecting the use of earthen architecture through a systematic search and review of the literature. The analysis of the data was conducted by classifying the factors into five categories, economical, organizational, political, social, and technical. The results differ, depending on the context, high/low-income country and stabilized/unstabilized earth. The data is analysed, breaking down some drivers, barriers and opportunities. Results show there is a lack of literature in the field. The paper also provides key parameters to consider for future research to promote earthen construction and to fill the knowledge gap. Additionally, two main new areas of research should be developed, (i) to design appropriate training supports for the education of all the stakeholders, (ii) to clarify how earthen architecture is related to the circular economy and how it can help to preserve natural resources and foster the shift to a circular economy of the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | alternative materials; architecture; barriers; drivers; earth construction; low-carbon materials |
| Index terms: | climate change, sustainable development, embodied carbon, construction industry, depletion, income, construction material, circular economy, alternative material, natural resource |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, health safety and environment, sustainable design, building materials, environmental resource management, economic analysis, climate science, environmental impact, materials science |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here