Comparison of Embodied Energy in Different Bamboo-Based Houses

Abstract

The focus of energy conservation process is primarily towards low energy consumption. Energy can be conserved through efficient utilisation of technology. Extensive amount of energy is spent during manufacturing process and transportation of various building materials. Total energy can be divided into (a) energy required for generation of essential building materials (b) energy required for transportation of materials and (c) energy required for assembling materials needed to form the building. Embodied energy of a house is normally about five times its yearly energy consumption, and it accounts for almost ten per cent of the overall energy consumption during its life cycle. The building materials are so selected so as to cause minimum environmental impact during manufacture, use and disposal. In this paper, four types of house models, namely IPIRTI-TRADA bamboo house (ITBH), timber-prefabricated bamboo house (TPBH), steel-prefabricated bamboo house (SPBH) and mud bamboo house (MBH), have been used for the calculation of total embodied energy. In addition, embodied energy as result of transportation of raw materials to factory and transportation of finished products to end user has been calculated. When we compare bamboo-based houses with RCC houses, total energy value is found to vary between 30 and 60% of total energy of RCC houses.