Providing Sustainability in Educational Buildings Through the Use of Compressed Stabilized Interlocking Earth Blocks

Abstract

Abstract

Buildings are important factors in achieving desirable outcomes in the educational sector hence; any inadequacy in building facilities represents a loss in value of the school, its users and stakeholders. It is therefore, necessary to provide not just a building but a sustainable one that will encourage the preservation of the natural environment, promotes social well-being of its users and provide reasonable economic stands for the investor. This research therefore, assessed the provision of sustainability in educational buildings through the use of compressed stabilized interlocking earth blocks (CSIEB). A survey was used and 48 professionals in the construction industry were sampled. For each of the three sustainability dimensions (economic, environmental and social), seven sustainability features of CSIEB were identified and assessed. Findings revealed that the use of CSIEB would provide a building that can adapt to the tropical climate, minimize CO₂ emission and waste, save cost and construction time, and also provide an aesthetically pleasing and thermally conducive building. Findings further revealed that a balance between the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability can be achieved through the use of CSIEB. The study therefore, recommends CSIEB as a material capable of providing sustainability in educational buildings and its usage should therefore, be encouraged among stakeholders.

Keywords: Educational Building, CSIEB, Sustainability, Nigeria

Cite this Article

Aghimien Douglas Omoregie, Awodele Oluwaseyi Alabi, Aghimien Emmanuel Imuetinyan. Providing Sustainability in Educational Buildings Through the Use of Compressed Stabilized Interlocking Earth Blocks. Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management. 2016; 6(2): 130–140p