Rammed Earth

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Rammed Earth - The ability of a solid earth wall to store energy for long periods of time results in interior temperatures that change very little from day to night. Mass walls absorb solar energy during winter days and then re-radiate that energy to offset nighttime heat losses within the building. In the summer months, the mass of the walls absorbs excess heat generated during the day, keeping the inside spaces surprisingly cool, then releases that stored heat to the clear night sky. In a properly designed and oriented building, this can mean significant savings in heating and cooling bills. And because the energy that controls the temperature inside the building radiates directly from the mass of the walls, the quality of the comfort inside is noticeably different than in a space regulated through mechanically altered air. Couple a mass wall with a hydronic radiant slab to achieve the most quiet, uniform, and dust-free heating system available. http://www.rammedearthworks.com/facts.html

Info:

Although quite an old process, Rammed Earth is making something of a come-back in the '90s as an ecologically sound building practice. The results are beautiful, solid, and earth-friendly, although labour-intensive. http://www.hahaha.com.au/rammed.earth/

Humans have been using earth as a primary building material for more than ten thousand years. Rammed earth, as practiced today, involves tamping a mixture of earth, water, and a little cement into wooden forms to create thick, sturdy masonry walls. Earthbuilt homes offer their inhabitants a powerful sense of security and well-being and have a permanence and solidity altogether lacking in so many of today's modular, pre-fab houses. http://www.chelseagreen.com/Shelter/RammedEarth.htm

For a rammed earth home, soil is compacted into layers between wooden forms to create walls. Depending on local building code requirements, rammed earth walls may be reinforced with metal rods or by adding a small amount of cement to the earth mix. People are still living in rammed earth homes that were built in the 1930s. http://www.coopamerica.org/woodwise/wnbs.htm

Accurate technical information on earthen building (adobe and rammed earth) is needed to show how this material really works. It is not now readily available to the people who need it, but The Earth Building Foundation can fill that need. Architects, engineers, planners, building officials, and owner builders need to have knowledge of this of this forgotten building art to meet the future. http://www.earthbuilding.com/

A structural material made with earth and calcined gypsum can replace wood or steel framing in residential and light commercial buildings, reversing escalating costs while yielding energy and environmental benefits. Cast Earth has been demonstrated successfully in actual residences. It is a true "breakthrough technology", producing a product with all the properties of traditional earth construction, augmented by superior esthetics, rapid construction, and affordable cost. http://www.castearth.com/Pages/cedesc.html

Like adobe, rammed-earth construction captures the benefits of high thermal mass and use of local materials. A mixture of soil, water, and sometimes cement is packed into a form using a hydraulic tamper. Walls can be built quite thick to store a lot of thermal energy (moderating the building's temperature swings), but insulation should be added in cold climates. http://www.rmi.org/faq/homeq.html#8

We are witnessing a renaissance in the way we build houses. This renaissance, known as "natural building," is where ancient tradition meets a modern pioneering spirit. People seeking to create a home which is healthy, beautiful and sustainable are turning to old/new technologies such as straw-bale construction, cob and permaculture. These rely on local materials and skills to create an architecture rooted in place and community, and an edible natural landscape around it. Natural Building Resources is an umbrella organization created to disseminate and coordinate information and activities regarding natural building, sustainable architecture, and ecological living.
http://www.strawbalecentral.com/
If you're interested in Adobe or Rammed Earth Construction, and the multitude of related building crafts and skills, this is a great place to get started. We publish a quarterly magazine about Earthen Construction. We also conduct weekend workshops and seminars for those who wish to design, build, and reside in these unique homes. Whether you're interested in a small, passive solar project on a Spartan budget, or a large, custom hacienda with all the bells and whistles, we think you'll find this site and our services a very valuable resource! http://www.adobebuilder.com/

Building With Earth Books - http://www.jade-mtn.com/booksVideos/bldgbooksEarth.html

Alternative Structures - http://www.jade-mtn.com/booksVideos/altStructures.html

The Yellow Mountain Institute is a not-for-profit organization located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia created to facilitate the widespread introduction of sustainable building techniques that will increase the supply of affordable, energy-efficient housing regionally and throughout the country. This Web site features over 140 images including a guided tour of rammed-earth tire homes and pictures of a 4,000 sq.ft. luxury rammed-earth tire home in Virginia. http://monticello.avenue.gen.va.us/Community/Environ/YellowMtn/home.html

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