ECO FRIENDLY MATERIALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

INTRODUCTION: Firstly the general meaning of the topic is presented. In the same, the
importance to use eco friendly materials is written and the direct effects of conventional
materials are written.

MATERIALS DISCUSSED: Two materials and their application is discussed i.e. Earth and
Bamboo.

EARTH: The two main techniques that are discussed here is being taught by the AV-BC unit in
Auroville and applied in practice by some of the architects. They are:

Free Spanning techniques for building vaults using adobe blocks.

Filler Slab Construction using the Hurdi blocks (hollow blocks) practiced by Sir B.S. Bhooshan,
Mysore.

Types of Hurdi slab hollow blocks.

Technique of filler slab construction.

Advantages of the filler slab construction and R.C.C slab construction.

BAMBOO: The two main techniques are:

 Bamboo as a roofing material manufactured and successfully used in India.

Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheets (BMCS) manufactures in Burnihaat, Meghalaya and

successfully tested.

The technical details have been discussed.

Engineering properties of BMCS like the load bearing capacity, Modulus of Rupture,
Permeability, Fire Resistance, Thermal Conductivity.

Comparison between the conventional roofing material and BMCS is also done.

 Bamboo flooring products manufactures in China and successful used in Canada.

The technique of manufacturing of bamboo floor planks

The technique of installation of the floor planks is discussed.

The various finishing materials, used for finishing the floor.

The advantages of using such flooring.

Maintenance of the flooring.

Sizes and Colours in which the flooring planks are available.

Other Accessories available besides flooring planks.

CONCLUSION: Basically I will be encouraging more and more use of the eco friendly materials
like solar energy, Ferro cement, Green Architecture, Wind energy, Biogas, Recycling of water
and waste materials so that we can sustain the non renewable sources of energy.