Sustainable housing in Australia: development of rammed earth materials and quantification of environmental benefits of their wider use

Limiting greenhouse gas emissions is critical to mitigate climate change. The building industry can contribute through the use of lower-embodied energy building materials. Rammed earth materials stabilised with alternatives to cement have been developed using industrial by-products and activators, sodium hydroxide or hydrated lime, or with no activator. Strength and durability testing demonstrated that the materials are suitable for low-rise construction. Life cycle assessment showed that greenhouse gas emissions per vertical square metre of wall could be reduced by up to 73% when compared to conventional building materials. Government policy mandating use of such materials should follow.