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| raeb:rammed_earth_building [2025/12/17 04:30] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1 | raeb:rammed_earth_building [2026/04/06 11:54] (current) – Simon Grant |
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| # Rammed earth building | This topic is part of [[gt:buildings|Buildings & construction]]. |
| | ====== Rammed earth building ====== |
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| ## What is rammed earth building? | ===== What is rammed earth building? ===== |
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| It is building with earth (subsoil rather than topsoil). Two billion people worldwide live in earth constructions and rammed earth building is on the increase in Europe as well as in other areas. | It is building with earth (subsoil rather than topsoil). Two billion people worldwide live in earth constructions and rammed earth building is on the increase in Europe as well as in other areas. |
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| ## What are the benefits of rammed earth building? | ===== What are the benefits of rammed earth building? ===== |
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| **Low CO2 emissions:** as earth walls don’t require bricks to be fired in a kiln, or cement manufacture, there is a massive reduction in emissions of CO2 (the most important greenhouse gas). Around 10% of global CO2 emissions are from the cement industry. Some websites say that 5-10% cement should be added to the earth, but [it’s not necessary](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/why-rammed-earth-doesnt-contain-cement/). | **Low CO2 emissions:** as earth walls don’t require bricks to be fired in a kiln, or cement manufacture, there is a massive reduction in emissions of CO2 (the most important greenhouse gas). Around 10% of global CO2 emissions are from the cement industry. Some websites say that 5-10% cement should be added to the earth, but [it’s not necessary](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/why-rammed-earth-doesnt-contain-cement/). |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| First, look out for the word 'stabilised'. There are 'stabilised' rammed earth companies out there that use up to 13% cement in the earth mix. This means that their buildings are low-grade concrete rather than rammed earth, and so can't really claim to be natural or eco-friendly. | First, look out for the word 'stabilised'. There are 'stabilised' rammed earth companies out there that use up to 13% cement in the earth mix. This means that their buildings are low-grade concrete rather than rammed earth, and so can't really claim to be natural or eco-friendly. |
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| ## Further resources | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:buildings|Buildings & construction]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/buildings). |
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| | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | - [North American Rammed Earth Builders Association](http://www.nareba.org/) |
| | - [Earth Architecture](https://eartharchitecture.org/) - huge resource of articles about all kinds of earth building |
| | - [Earth Building UK & ireland](https://www.ebuki.co/) - fostering the conservation, understanding and development of building with earth in the UK and Ireland |
| | - [Green Home Building](https://www.greenhomebuilding.com/rammedearth.htm) - info, books, plans |
| | - [GreenSpec](https://www.greenspec.co.uk/building-design/rammed-earth/) - environmental benefits of rammed earth |
| | - [Historic Rammed Earth](https://historicrammedearth.wordpress.com/) - books, forums, conferences, research, construction companies |
| | - [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/rammed-earth-house-zmaz73sozraw/) - rammed earth construction techniques |
| | - [Rammed Earth Constructions](https://www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au/) - Australian site with lots of info |
| | - [Rammed Earth Consulting](https://rammedearthconsulting.com/) - non-profit consultancy specialising in rammed earth; standards |
| | - [Rammed Earth Solar Homes](http://www.rammedearthhomes.com/gallery.htm) - gallery of rammed earth buildings |
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| | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| | - [[cobb:Cob building]] |
| | - [[buil:building|Low-impact building]] |
| | - [[plan:planning|Planning permission]] |
| | - [[eafl:Earthen floors]] |
| | - [[eabb:Earthbag building]] |
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| | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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