PUBLIC LECTURE: UWA Albany Public Lecture

Over the last decades, the world has discussed the continuing use of our limited natural resources and the production of waste and contaminating materials. Some alarming figures show that our lifestyles are not sustainable and that some changes need to be made. This is particularly relevant to the construction industry. Civil engineering materials such as steel, concrete and bricks require a significant amount of energy either to be mined or manufactured. In this context, rammed earth is proposed as an alternative construction technique that presents several benefits including low-embodied energy, cost-effectiveness and low environmental impact. Rammed earth buildings are capable of maintaining a comfortable indoor environment in hot-arid climate areas without the need for artificial heating and cooling systems. Hot-arid areas on earth are predicted to expand in future decades further motivating the use of rammed earth houses. Associate Professor Daniela Ciancio from the UWA School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering will discuss in details the benefits of rammed earth in the context of climate change.