Embodied energy of mud concrete block (MCB) versus brick and cement blocks

Abstract

tThe concept of calculating embodied energy because it’s a wholistic method of measuring the sustain-ability factor of building materials. By definition, the embodied energy is the sum of all the types of energyconsumed while producing a specific product or a service. Mud concrete block is a novel walling materialand there are few studies on embodied energy calculations for cement stabilized soil walling materials.In this study, the embedded energy of mud concrete block and other most industrious walling materialssuch as brick and cement block were calculated and compared concording to the source of their energy.The process analysis and hierarchical structure of energy consumptions were used to account the totalembodied energy content. Ten feet (length) by ten feet (width) wall (hundred square feet) was used tocompare the energy content.The brick is the highest embodied energy walling material. The mud concrete block has the loweston account of transport of raw materials (cement) from the factory and the already embedded energy ofcement. The cement has intermediate level of embodied energy. The extended research was carried out tofind out the sustainability of the energy sources used to build these walling materials. The brick productionwas done using more or less sustainable energy sources such as biomass. Biomass is a renewable energysource and its fairly cheaper energy source in Sri Lanka. But mud concrete block and cement block usingnonrenewable energy sources can be replaced by renewable energy sources and developed into moresustainable walling materials.