Development of an environmental suitability index for wall elements used in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study seeks to develop an index which estimates the environmental suitability of selected wall elements. The wall elements in consideration are brick work with both side plastering, cement block work without plastering, cabook work with one side plastering, rubble work with one side plastering and a wattle and daub wall. The environmental suitability is estimated in terms of Embodied energy, Life cycle cost, Reusability. Calculations of these three parameters help rank the elements according to their environmental suitability. Such an index will help professionals like Architects to carry out their work with best consideration for environmental suitability in the selection of building materials. More research along these lines on other building materials and other parameters are necessary to develop a comprehensive system of evaluating the environmental suitability of building products