Earthen houses are "Simple in style but complex in content." (Almost all soil nutrients along with air, moisture and beneficial micro organisms are present), whereas concrete houses are "Complex in style but simple in content." (Only concentrated calcium carbonate, silica, stone with least amount of soil nutrients, moisture and beneficial micro organisms are present). Commercial over-concretization is transforming healthy human habitats into unfavorable and unbearable heat islands worse than that of hot deserts.
But a harmful greed for money, artificial things, comforts and luxurious life along with a race for attaining false image, prestige and status have turned the happy homes into hells as a perpetual means of physical, physiological and psychological stress for humanity in the modern world. Most people consider a house an appreciating asset and a long-lasting investment and so even the poor dream of a brick-and-concrete home. This has been mostly due to commercial companies like builders, contractors, cement manufacturers, stone crushers, plumbing companies, steel companies, carpentry or timber companies, ceramic manufacturers, electrical and electronic companies and many more especially interior designers.
But the earthen houses are many times better than concrete houses with respect to human health, realistic comforts, financial tensions and healthy environment.
I. Ecological Benefits:
(1). Houses can be constructed with least diaurbance to the environment.
(2). Because of no deep stone wall foundation soil dynamics are not hampered. Soil flora, fauna, air, water, nutrient cycles in the local area are least disturbed. Rain water harvesting is effective and natural.
(3). Least pollution in the world as it doesn't involve brick burning, mining of stone and mineral ores, refining or manufacturing industries and fuel-consuming transportation also.
(4). Tree cutting and deforestation is very less because brick burning, mining and manufacturing is minimum (A house with 100 sq m area consumes 7.5 tonnes of fuelwood just to fire the bricks).
(5). As earthen houses occupy less space, more space can be left for tree growing.
(6). Trees act as wind breaks, flood controllers, shade givers, air purifiers, fruit providers and a great abode for many birds and other animals. Besides this tree call for rains and chief controllers of natural water cycles.
(7). Least consumption of electricity as mud walls and floors are effective thermal insulators -warm during winter and cool during summer.
(8). Hot climate due to radiation from concrete jungles and bitumen roads can be effectively controlled, especially during hot weather conditions. Heat strokes and sun strokes can be minimized especially among poor people who can't afford to air coolers and air condition.
(9). Earthen houses are good sound insulators to prevent noise pollution.
(10). The best auto-recycling model for the safe environment. The building material is borrowed from the environment and returned after use.
(11). There Is little or no processing of the raw material and all the energy inputs would be directly, or indirectly, from the sun.
(12).Virtually all the energy input for mud brick construction is human labour (indirectly fuelled by the sun) and after a lifetime of use, the non-burnt bricks break back down into the earth they came from.
(13). Greenhouse gas emissions due to mining, manufacturing or transport of construction materials can be minimized to a great extent.
(14). Because of continuous extraction of mud or silt from ponds and tanks, the natural water storage capacity of these water bodies can be maintained.
(15). There is no need to destroy age-old invaluable top soil which provides living environment for billions and trillions of beneficial micro organisms.
II. Health Benefits:
(1). Conducive climatic factors for human survival easpecially cool breeze and cool temperature for optimum metabolic activities are possible in earthen houses. These houses create a feasible environment for populations living in warm climatic conditions with low humidity.
(2). Majority of diseases due to bad air, suffocaton and eosinophilia can be minimized.
(3). Due to good frictional force between feet and rough soil floor knee problems can minimized.
(4). Due to less use of electronic gadgets physical activities can be improved and thereby degenerative diseases (especially among women) can be reduced.
(5). Because of constant touch with natural aesthetics and bird watching mental soudness can be achieved.
(6). Lot of natural space, tree shade and tree canopies are available for children to play, climb and jump to keep them physically fit and healthy. (7). Less investment and maintenance costs do not create financial problems and thereby mental tensions and hypertension too.
(8). As the elders and children are in constant touch with natural climatic conditions and soil they get natural immunity against different kinds of diseases.
(9). There will not be allergies in huts as there is no use of irritant chemicals in construction materials, maintenance and paints.
(10). During earthquakes mortality rates will be less due to light roofing material unike that of heavy concrete slabs.
(11) In the space available around the earthen houses a sizeable kitchen garden can be raised to get vegetables all round the year without pesticide residues, one of the chief causes of many unknown diseases these days.
III. Social Benefits:
(1). Due to lack of strong concrete boundaries there is a lot of social interaction among people.
(2). Children from different families meet to play and keep strong social relations.
(3). Construction of an earthen house require local skills and talent so people have to maintain good social intersections.
(4). The community members together strive hard to grow social forestry trees to meet the demand for housing like poles and thatching materials. The community members together stop indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
(5). The earthen houses have been there for thousands of years among human races. They are one of the best symbols of human heritage and culture.
IV. Economic Benefits:
(1). Very low cost of production. The material cost for building an earthen house is only a fraction of the cost of building a conventional house with commercial materials.
(2). Keep the local artisians, because of their skills and crafts, busy all around the year with perpetual earnings.
(3). Because of good physical and mental health in natural environments medical bills will be minimum or very rare.
(4). Construction of earthen houses bring self reliance and self sustenance.
(5). Natural building is a potential tool in poverty eradication as it prevents the need to borrow money to purchase conventional building materials, thus reduces debt and reliance on high interest micro-financing within any community.
(6). As there is an emphasis on developing self sufficiency, which without any village will most likely remain within the poverty trap.
(7). Rain water can be effectively harvested in soil and that assists in water self reliance. Very less water bills.
(8). As there is no need to bear the high cost of building materials like brick, cement and steel, the severe housing shortage can be switch to mud.
(9). Cost effectiveness and energy efficiency can be achieved in conventional construction by substituting mud blocks for burnt bricks.
(10). The sorroundings of huts are suitable to grow country chicken, sheep and cattle and so least dependence on hormone injected chicken, eggs and adulterated milk. Balanced nutrition at low cost is practically possible.
(11). Corruption, bribery, black money, dacoits, thefts, gambling, smuggling, poaching, murders, wars, etc can be minimized as major part of legal or illegal earnings are being spent for unhealthy but attractive buildings.
Limitations of Earthen Houses:
(1). Mud houses are less durable that is easily deteriorate due to humidity and rain water and burnt during fire accidents. (Bur re-construction is not a costly affair)
(2). During floods they are easily washed off. (So don't construct mud houses along river banks and low-lying areas.
(3).They are easily susceptible to thefting. (If valuables were there in mud houses)
(4). Due to involvement of less costs there may not be much interest from government agencies, employees, contractors and big investment companies in promoting healthy housing for humanity.
Note: Even if you have a mansion for material safety, have atleast an earthen hut for your safety!
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