Compressed Stabilized Earth Block: A Green Alternative for Non-load Bearing Building Block in Developing Countries like Bangladesh

Fire-burnt clay molded brick remains the chief building material in Bangladesh although it is considered as a massive source of Greenhouse Gas (GHG). In this study compressed earth blocks stabilized with various additives were examined as an alternative to the fire burnt clay molded bricks with a view to a partial replacement of the same which is mainly responsible for its role in environmental degradation. Various compositions of lime and cement were used with different soil types as additives in earth block molding and then were pressed with a hand press to provide compaction and a definite shape in solid form. Drying and curing was done before the blocks were tested for strength. Although the strength yielded by the blocks was not comparable to that of fired clay brick, it produced rewarding results regarding the reduction of GHG emission, energy consumption and overall cost of production. Also this paper suggests some realistic uses of these low strength compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) in real field. However, the results obtained from this study will aspire the future research to reach the target in replacing the fired brick to that amount which is now being used as non-load bearing building block in construction sector of Bangladesh.