Review of economic and environmental benefits of earthen materials for housing in Africa

Abstract

Solutions to housing problems must deal with the issue of building materials – especially advancing those which lower construction cost and costs to the environment. This paper aggregates and reviews empirical evidences to show the advantages and disadvantages of earthen construction materials in terms of cost, energy and thermal properties. We reviewed 136 academic outputs from 17 African countries. Apart from a few studies that differ, literature concurs that earthen construction materials are generally cheaper, cleaner and more thermally comfortable. Notwithstanding the advantages, the level of uptake is presently low. Earthen materials’ strength and durability are key limitations. We identify possible areas for future research and present specific recommendations that can promote the uptake of earthen materials for housing construction in African cities.