Sustainability of Compressed Earth Block Construction: Comparative Analysis of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks and Traditional Wood Framed Single Family Residences

Beginning in the fall of 2010, a multi-disciplinary team composed of The University of Oklahoma College of Architecture and College of Engineering faculty and students investigated the potential for compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) for a single family residence. The collaboration resulted in receipt of the 2012 EPA P3 Award and a partnership with Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity (CCHFH). The partnership began with the design and construction of site walls for experimentation and proof of concept, ultimately leading to the construction of a residence which has been completed and occupied for more than two years. Completed in the summer of 2014, the CSEB residence was simultaneously constructed adjacent to another CCHFH residence of equal layout and volume using traditional wood frame (TWF) techniques. The occupied residences, previously the subject of published acoustical data collection and isolation comparison, are currently equipped with sensors to track ambient temperature, humidity, and energy consumption. Data is currently being collected and analyzed. This research aims to utilize quantitative energy consumption data to compare the sustainability and efficiency of CSEB to TWF residential buildings.