Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like CO2 trapping heat in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels produces most CO2 emissions. While the average temperature increase seems small, global warming has significant environmental impacts like more wildfires, rising sea levels, and melting Arctic ice, endangering habitats and species. Solutions include developing renewable energy alternatives to reduce fossil fuel use and associated CO2 emissions.

1. Definition, scope & importance,
DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTASL STUDIES
The word environment is derived from the french word 'environ' meaning surroundings. Hence,
everything surrounding us is called "ENVIRONMENT".
Every organism is surrounded by materials and forces that constitute its environment. It is the
environment from where every organism must derive its requirement. The environment creates
favourable conditions for the existence and development of living organisms.
The survival of any organism requires a steady supply of materials and removal of wate products
from its environment.
The degradation of the environment has become a serious problem for the existence of human
beings. Pollution of soil, water and air causes harm to living organisms as well as loss to valuable
natural resources.
Environmental studies involves educating the people for preserving the quality of environment.
The scope of environmental studies include:
1. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related problems
2. Motivating people for active participation in environmental protection and improvement
3. Developing skills for active identification and development of solutions to environmental
problems
4. Imbibe and inculcate the necessity for conservation of natural resources
5. Evaluation of environmental programmes in terms of social, economic, ecological and aesthetic
factors.
IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
In the industrialized era that we live today, every component that we intake - be it, air, water or
food are contaminated by industrial activities. THERE IS NO ZERO POLLUTION. To minimize this
problem, knowledge of environmental studies is essential. An in-dept study of environmental
studies will help us in the following ways:
1. We will begin to appreciate and adopt the idea of "DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DESTRUCTION OF
THE ENVIRONMENT"
2. Knowledge about "VARIOUS TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS & DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS"
3. Playing an effective role in protecting the environment by "DEMANDING CHANGES IN LAW AND
ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS".
4. Having a "POSITIVE IMPACT" on "QUALITY OF LIFE".
5. Creating a "CONCERN AND RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONment
INTRODUCTION to environmental problem
An environmental problemariseswheneverthere isa change inthe quality or quantity of any
environmental factor which directlyor indirectlyaffectsthe healthand well-beingofman in an
adverse manner. Environmental problemscan be studiedfrom two differentviewpoints.One is
simplyto look for adverse effectswithout regard to their originin order to detecttrends that call for
further investigation;the otheris to try to understand the cause and effectrelationships,whichmake
betterpredictionand propermanagement possible.Some ofthe environmental problemswhichare
critical at the presenttime are fairlywidelyknown because of the growingawarenessofall levelsof
society,includinggovernments,general publicand the scientificcommunity.However,our present
informationon the structure and function ofthe biosphere isnot sufficientto allowan accurate
evaluationof the total situation,expectto indicate some broad problemareas.There may be serious
potential problemsof which we are as yetunaware; otherknown problemsmay be lessseriousthan

2. we think.The Commissionhas made an extensive surveyand analysisof those problemswhich are
currently regardedas beingofcritial importance. The followingcriteriawere usedin an attempt to
assessthe criticalnature of the problemsto be solvedinthe near future:a) Number ofpeople and
nations involvedb) Geographicaldistributionofthe problemc) Temporal distributionof the problem
(temporary or long-termeffects) d) Degreeofirreversibilityofthe effectse) Degree ofimpacton
health,standard of living,social structure and economy f) Degreeofinternational significance of the
problemAlthoughthese criteria overlap and may not be exhaustive,theyfonna useful basisfor
judgement.The consensusof the Commission'ssurveywasthat a fairlyrestrictednumber of problems
were found to recur time and again.The major critical problemmay be summarizedas, "the adverse
effectsofa changed environmentonhuman health and well-being";Le.,the possibilitythata
changing environmentmay leadto increasedmortality, increasedfrequencyof diseases,lowered
nutritional status via decreasedagricultural productivity, or loweredpsychological value of the
environment.Concernhas beenwidelyexpressedthatthese possible effectsonman may be
causedby directinput of toxicsubstances into the environmentor improperland use. Climaticchanges
as a resultof human activity may also adverselyaffectthe standard of livingthrough, for example
reducedcrop productivity,and increasedenergyconsumption,etc.
1 PotentiallyAdverseChangesinthe Growth,Structure and Distributionof the Human Population
2 Changesin the Subjective Human Perceptionof the Environment
Changes ofthe environmentmayor may not be harmful to man. However,both kindsof change may
be perceivedbypeople as annoying,dangerousor evenirrelevant.Thisnot onlyappliesto laymen,
but also to environmental scientists,plannersand decisionmakers.Consequentlythe subjective
perceptionofenvironmental problemsconstitutes an important factor in relationto environmental
monitoringactivities.It may serve as a kind ofqualitative evaluationof the resultsof control
management.Thus, although the Commissionrecognizesthisenvironmental problem,itisnot
includedas an operative part of the system.
3 Eutrophicationof Waters Both natural and man-made lakes
have sufferedfromeutrophicationand its secondary effects.Inlakes receivingnitrogenand
phosphoruscompounds and other agricultural fertilizers,unprecedentedblooms ofalgae have
occurred. The algae themselvescanspoil water quality and recreational conditions.Whentheydie
and decay, the oxygendemandmay exceedthe supplywith resultantfish kills.The averageoxygen
content of some freshwater bodieshas decreasedvery markedly inhistoric times.The effectsof
added nutrientson marine life are not well known but there may be particularlyimportant synergistic
effects,forexample,ifthe oxidationof oil in the seais biologicallycontrolled.Fertilizationofthe
seasmay enhance the productionof directlyeconomicallyvaluable species.Becauseeutrophicationis
primarily a local problem,it has not beenincludedinthe global environmental monitoringsystem
4 DecreasingFreshwaterResources
The availabilityto man of freshwaterof highquality is becomingan acute problemin many countries.
Water requirementscontinue toincrease with the growth of populationsand livingstandards and the
expansionof agriculture and industry. Wateris neededforpower generationirrigation,navigation
and community water supply.Often it isdrawn from international riversor lakesand in many

3. instancesinternational co-operationis neededinthe allocation of water and the fmancingand
technical aspects of water resource development projects.The availabilityof ground water is most
oftena local problembut it has international implicationsinrelation to the general effectswhicha
depletionofground water may have withina larger region
Natural Disasters
Although natural disastersconstitute a very important environmental problem,itis not pertinentto
include a programmer directly relatedto natural disaster monitoringor warning withinthe global
environmental monitoringsystem.It is appropriate,however,that the system shouldprovide
assistanceinreportingphenomenathat relate to natural disasters
Cause & Effect of Global Warming
Global warming is, in essence, the gradual warming of the earth’s surface. The Earth’s average
temperature is slowly rising, causing shorter and milder winter seasons in various countries
around the world. But understanding global warming is nearly impossible without also having a
base knowledge of another phenomenon: the Greenhouse Effect. Greenhouse gases are building
up in our planet’s atmosphere and are acting like a blanket – trapping in heat that would otherwise
be released back out into space. This is why global temperatures are rising.
There are many gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, but many are natural and harmless. CO2,
however, is not healthy for the atmosphere. CO2 remainsin the atmosphere longer than other
gases and traps in heat extremely well. Even a slight increase in CO2 in the atmosphere can cause
significant increases in global temperatures. Most CO2 emissions come from the burning of fossil
fuels. Cars and other vehicles can produce up to 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually, and coal-
burning power plants can produce 2.5 billion tons. Sadly, the United States is responsible for a
great deal of these emissions. And though the U.S. is doing their best to rectify this problem by
lowering their emission rates, other countries are doing the opposite.
So what affect does global warming actually have on the environment and human civilization?
Does an annual (average) increase in temperature of less than a degree actually transfer to a
change in daily life? The answer is: yes. Global warming has been linked to the increase in
wildfires and floods. It has been seen as the cause of rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes.
Heat wavesin Europe in 2003 led to the death of 20,000 people and over a thousand people in
India. Also, the Arctic’s polar ice caps are melting at a rate of 9% every decade. Animals, such as
polar bears, are losing their habitats and may end up extinct.
There are solutions to global warming, thankfully. Scientists and governments are working
together to create ‘greener’ alternativesto daily life. People don’t have to give up their vehicles,
but they may decide to choose hybrid cars instead of ones that rely solely on fossil fuels. Wind
turbines and other sources of renewable energy can prevent the burning of coal, which is a major
contributor to CO2. Global warming is not a problem that cannot be solved, but it is an issue that

4. governments and average people need to be aware of in order to protect the people, animals, and
habitats of planet Earth.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The Earth gets energy from the sun in the form of sunlight. The Earth's surface absorbs
some of this energy and heats up. That's why the surface of a road can feel hot even after
the sun has gone down—because it has absorbed a lot of energy from the sun. The Earth
cools down by giving off a different form of energy, called infrared radiation. But before all
this radiation can escape to outer space, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb some
of it, which makes the atmosphere warmer. As the atmosphere gets warmer, it makes the
Earth's surface warmer, too
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon dioxide (co2) is one of the greenhouse gases. It consists of one
carbon atom with an oxygen atom bonded to each side. When its atoms are
bonded tightly together, the carbon dioxide molecule can absorb infrared
radiation and the molecule starts to vibrate. Eventually, the vibrating molecule
will emit the radiation again, and it will likely be absorbed by yet another
greenhouse gas molecule. This absorption-emission-absorption cycle serves
to keep the heat near the surface, effectively insulating the surface from the
cold of space.
What is the relationship between the greenhouse
effect and global warming?
Green House effect is an phenomenon in which earth's atmosphere traps the heat from the sun &
prevents it from escaping.
The phenomenon is so named because earth's atmosphere acts like a greenhouse made of glass
in which sunlight enters through transparent glass,
but the heat released by plants in the form of infrared radiations is not allowed to escape.
As a result of this , the temp. increases inside the greenhouse.
In a similar manner, sunlight enters earth's atmosphere and heats the surface of the earth.
But certain gases present in the atmosphere trap the heat emitted by earth's surface & do not
allow it to escape.
This causes an increase in temp. of earth's atmosphere. This is known as Global Warming.
The gases causing greenhouse effect are called greenhouse gases. Carbon Dioxide, methane,
ozone, and CFCs are the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere which are responsible for
global warming.

5. 7 Kindsof Environmental Pollution
Air Pollution
According to the dictionary, air pollution is the contamination of air by smoke and
harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. (And maybe by that smelly
uncle.) Some examples of air pollution include:
 Exhuast fumes from vehicles
 The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, or gas
 Harmful off-gasing from things such as paint, plastic production, and so on
 Radiation spills or nuclear accidents
Air pollution is linked to asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses. You can more
about how the environment affects human health here.
LandPollution
Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth's surface caused by a misuse of
resources and improper disposal of waste. Some examples of land pollution include:
 Litter found on the side of the road
 Illegal dumping in natural habitats
 Oil spills that happen inland
 The use of pesticides and other farming chemicals
 Damage and debris caused from unsustainable mining and logging practices
 Radiation spills or nuclear accidents
Land pollution is responsible for damage done to natural habitat of animals,
deforestation and damage done to natural resources, and the general ugly-ing up of our
communities. (So stop being a litterbug, eh?)

6. Light Pollution
Light pollution is the brightening of the night sky inhibiting the visibility of stars and
planets by the use of improper lighting of communities. Some examples of what causes
light pollution:
 Street lamps that shine light in all directions, instead of with a hood to point light
downward toward the street.
 Extra, unnecessary lights around the home
 Cities that run lights all night long
Light pollution uses more energy (by shining more light up instead of down, meaning
you need brighter bulbs for the same amount of light), may affect human health and our
sleep cycles, and most importantly, corrupts our kids telescopes and their curiosity. (I
grew up in a city. My first no-light night in the country blew my mind. Let's not make that
such a rare occasion!)
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is any loud sounds that are either harmful or annoying to humans and
animals. Some exmaples of noise pollution:
 Airplanes, helicopters, and motor vehicles
 Construction or demolition noise
 Human activities such as sporting events or concerts
Noise pollution can be disruptive to humans' stress levels, may be harmful to unborn
babies, and drives animals away by causing nervousness and decreasing their ability to
hear prey or predators.

7. Thermal Pollution
Thermal pollution is the increase of temperature caused by human activity. A few
examples of this include:
 Warmer lake water from nearby manufacturing (using cool water to cool the plant and
then pump it back into the lake)
 Included in thermal pollution should also be the increase in temperatures in areas with
lots of concrete or vehicles, generally in cities
These kinds of environmental pollution can cause aquatic life to suffer or die due to the
increased temperature, can cause discomfort to communities dealing with higher
temperatures, and will affect plant-life in and around the area.
Visual Pollution Visual pollution is what you would call anything unattractive
or victualing damaging to the nearby landscape. This tends to be a highly subjective
topic. Some examples of visual pollution:
 Skyscrapers that blocks a natural view
 Graffiti or carving on trees, rocks, or other natural landscapes
 Billboards, litter, abandoned homes, and junkyards could also be considered among
three kinds of environmental pollution
 Mostly, visual kinds of environmental pollution are annoying and ugly, although some
may say they are also depressing, and they of course affect the surrounding landscape
with the changes they cause.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of any body of water (lakes, groundwater, oceans, etc).
Some examples of water pollution:
 Raw sewage running into lake or streams
 Industrial waste spills contaminating groundwater
 Radiation spills or nuclear accidents
 Illegal dumping of substances or items within bodies of water
 Biological contamination, such as bacteria growth
 Farm runoff into nearby bodies of water



8. Eco Friendly Construction Methods andMaterials
Today many people that are building or remodeling their houses choose to use
eco-friendly building materials. An eco-friendly building material is one that
increases the efficiency of energy used and reduces impact on human well-
being and the environment. There are many different materials that can be
used that are eco-friendly; from foundation, to insulation, to interior and
exterior wall finishes, flooring, and countertop materials.
Categorization of Materials
Categorized based on Activity and Vendor Specific1. Civil materials2. Water-
proofing and Chemical additives3. Paving, flooring, dado and similar finishes4.
Paints, colors, white washing, distempering and wood finishe5. Wood work6.
Roofing and ceiling7. Doors and windows8. Water supply and sanitary fittings9.
Electrical works10. Fire fighting system11. Miscellaneous12. Excavation work13.
Road works
Why eco-friendly materials?
· Phenomenal growth in the construction industry that depends upon depletable
resources.· Production of building materials leads to irreversible environmental
impacts.· Using eco-friendly materials is the best way to build a eco-friendly
building.
What is Eco-friendly material ?
· Dictionary: describes a product that has been designed to do the least possible
damage to the environment
· US EPA – EPP program defines as:
“…products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health
and the environment when compared with competing products or services that
serve the same purpose…”

9. Thus we talk of two issues – one that it does the least possible environmental
damage and two that it is a comparative scale as there are very few materials
that are completely eco-friendly.
One more point to note when we talk of eco-friendly construction is that it
consist of two parts – Material and Technique.
A material by itself can be eco-friendly, e.g. Bamboo.
Or Even conventional materials can become eco-friendly based on the
construction technique that is used. e.g. rat trap bond developed by Lauri
Baker, which require less number of bricks and are more heat insulating than
normal walls and therefore eco-friendly

10. The various properties of the Eco-friendly materials and techniques are –
Materials can be eco-friendly also if they can assist in reduction of the energy
used in the building during operation and maintenance.
it is difficult to get a material that has all these properties, and it thus becomes
a comparative assessment to identify eco-friendly materials.
Source of Material
a. Renewable sourceRapidly renewable sources e.g. wood from certified
forests
b. Reuse of WasteSalvaged products –e.g. old plumbing, door framesRecycled
contents – agriculture/ industrial waste e.g. Bagasse Board
Embodied EnergyScalar total of energy input required to produce the product
including transporting them to the building site
Aluminium and steel has the most embodied energy because to the high energy
required to produce them. Compared to timber that requires very less energy
for production.
Reduce Pollution Air Pollution– Use of materials with low VOC emissions
e.g. Cement PaintsWater Pollution – Materials that prevent leaching.Land
Pollution– Materials that reuse waste that would otherwise have resulted in
landfill. e.g. Flyash Bricks.Performance
Reduce material use
These are energy efficient and also help reduce the dead load of a building. e.g.
Ferrocement

11. Durability & Life SpanMaterial that are exceptionally durable, or require low
maintenance e.g PVC pipes.Materials can be eco-friendly based on how they
perform. Use of certain material or techniques can reduce the amount of
material required.Durability – The longer the life of a material the lesser it is
required to replace and thus reduces the quantity required to produce.
Energy ConservationMaterials that require less energy during construction
e.g. precast slabs.Materials that help reduce the cooling loads- e.g – aerated
concrete blocks.Products that conserve energy – e. g. CFL lamps.Fixtures &
equipments that help conserve water e.g. Dual flush cisterns
RecyclableReuse or Recycle as different product e.g. steel, aluminum.
Biodegradable – that decompose easily e.g wood or earthen materials.
Eco-friendly Materials
Conventional Eco-friendly materials
1. Bamboo, Bamboo Based Particle Board & Ply Board, Bamboo Matting2. Bricks
sun dried3. Pre-cast cement concrete blocks, lintels, slab. Structural and non-
structural modular elements4. Calcined Phospho-Gypsum Wall Panels5. Calcium
silicate boards and Tiles6. Cellular Light Weight Concrete Blocks7. Cement
Paint8. Clay roofing tiles9. Water, polyurethane and acrylic based chemical
admixtures for corrosion removal, rust prevention, water proofing10. Epoxy
Resin System, Flooring, sealants, adhesives and admixtures11. Ferro-cement
boards for door and window shutters12. Ferro-cement Roofing Channels13. Fly-
ash Sand Lime Bricks and Paver Blocks14. Gypsum Board, Tiles, Plaster, Blocks,
gypsum plaster fibre jute/sisal and glass fibre composites15. Laminated Wood
Plastic Components16. Marble Mosaic Tiles17. MDF Boards and Mouldings18.
Micro Concrete Roofing Tiles19. Particle Boards20. Polymerised water proof
compound21. Polymerised water proof compound22. Portland PozzolanaCement
Fly-ash / Calcinated Clay Based23. Portland Slag Cement24. RCC Door

12. Frames25. Ready Mix Cement Concrete26. Rubber Wood Finger Joint Board27.
Stone dust28. Water proof compound, adhesive, Polymer, Powder
1. Location Location, Location: While buying property for yourself, take a note of couple of
things that you must foresee before moving in. Firstly, avoid building west facing home. This
will keep your home cool as it minimizes sun exposure. Secondly, avoid building home
in environmentally sensitive locations such as earthquake or hurricane or flood prone areas.
Thirdly, check if public transportation is easily available and local grocery shop is not that far
away. This will help you avoid taking your own vehicle every time and will reduce your travel
time.
2. Smaller is Better: A small home built with eco friendly techniques is going to have smaller
environmental impact as against a large home. A house that is too large is likely to cost more to
heat and cool. Try to keep the place manageable and cost effective. If you are planning to extend
your family and bring in few relatives, you need to put proper resources and accommodation in
place.
3. Energy Efficient Equipment: ENERGY STAR label on a piece of equipment states that
particular product has been deemed as energy efficient by the Environmental Protection
Agency(EPA). ENERGY STAR is becoming well known label and consumers today choose
energy star appliances for their homes. These appliances offer significant cost and energy
savings without compromising performance.
4. Proper Insulation: Insulation is one of the most important ting that you need to consider
while building a green home. Heating and cooling account for 50% of your home’s energy
consumption. Air leaks such as around windows, door and duct work is responsible for
building’s heat loss. Don’t let heating and cooling of your interior spaces air go waste through
improper insulation. Proper insulation will not only reduce your energy consumption but will
bring down your electricity bills substantially.
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Reduce your need for buying new products that are not environment
friendly. Reuse your old material such as wood floors, doors, windows in your next home.
Recycled materials such as recycled glass, aluminium, recycled tile, reclaimed lumber, recycled
plastic can be used in green home building.
6. Use Sustainable Building Materials: If building a green home is your goal, then using
environmentally or eco-friendly products should be on your list which can reduce the impact of
construction on the environment. Each and every part of your house such as roofing material,
building material, cabinets, counters and insulation to your flooring should be environmentally
friendly. Use products such as reclaimed lumber, recycled plastic, recycled glass or natural
products such as bamboo, cork and linoleum which are made of natural, renewable materials.
7. Install Solar Panels: Solar energy is clean and renewable source of energy. Solar panels are
an emerging and hot technology for people who want to utilize the natural power all around us,
the sun. Solar panels may be expensive at first, but the long-term savings you can put into your

13. pocket is a stunning example of the benefits of turning your life from black to green. The
location of your house and the way you have constructed solar panels can determine how much
power you can collect. By taking advantage of solar power you can bring down your energy
consumption and supply excess energy, if any, to your utility company. Also, government grants,
incentives and tax breaks are huge bonus to those who want to use solar power in their home.
8. Energy Star Windows: Energy efficient windows labeled as ENERGY STAR windows are
new player in window market and are much more energy efficient than normal windows. The
ratings for these windows determine how energy efficient they will be. The lower the rating, the
more energy efficient are your windows. The energy savings provided by these windows are
enough to cover the added cost per window.
9. Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Tankless Water Heaters: Install a rainwater harvesting
system while building your green home to collect rainwater from roofs and then storing it in a
tank. The collected water can then be used for other purposes such as toilets and sprinkler
systems. Rain barrels are one of the most common methods of rainwater harvesting being used
today.
With tankless water heaters, you need not wait for the water to get heated. Tankless water heaters
heat only that much water that is needed as it is passed through electric coil. This gives you twin
benefits. Firstly, it eliminates excess energy costs as it heats up only that much amount of water
that is needed and secondly, you can get ample storage place by eliminating the hot water tank.
10. Eco-Friendly Lighting: Both LED and CFL cost more upfront but use less energy and last
longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Since they offer significant cost savings in the long
run, they can be ideal for your new green home.
11. Water Conserving Fixtures: Low flow faucets, toilets, showerheads are few of the ways
that you can use while building a green home to conserve water. They can cut down on your
water bills cost and make your home much more environment friendly. Apart from that, consider
buying washing machines and dishwashers that give you same kind of cleaning and can save
water and energy.
12. Programmable Thermostat: We all know that almost 50% of our energy consumption goes
towards heating and cooling of our home. The simplest way to cut down this cost and reduce
electricity bill is to install programmable thermostat. Your HVAC system will work when the
thermostat reaches the designated temperature. Also, a slight 3-5 % of your energy bill can be
saved if you can set your thermostat 1 degree down in the winter and up by 1 degree in the
summer.
13. HVAC System: Buy a high efficiency, Energy Star rated HVAC system based on the design
and construction of your house that will help you save energy and money. A HVAC system
needs to be properly installed so that it could perform up to its full potential. Make sure ducts are
short, straight and air tight. The ducts need to be professionally tested with the goal of under
10% leakage.

14. 14. Efficient Landscaping: Shady landscaping can protect your home from direct sunlight
during the summer and allows more sunlight to reach your home through windows during the
winter. Planting trees on southern and western side of your home can keep your home cooler as
they will block sunlight from falling directly on your home and during the winter, when trees
lose their leaves, they will allow more sunlight to reach your home.
15. Harness Geothermal Energy: Geothermal energy is known as energy from the earth.
Geothermal energy requires more upfront investment but provide unlimited energy to heat and
cool your home. During the winter season, geothermal heat pump uses the earth loop to extract
heat from deep underground to your home’s HVAC system; in the summer season, heat is
extracted from the air and moved back into the earth through loop system.
Cob (material)Building a wall out of cob.
Cob, cobb or clom (in Wales) is a natural building material made from subsoil, water, some kind of
fibrous organic material (typically straw), and sometimes lime.[1]
The contents of subsoil naturally
varies and if it does not contain the right mixture it can be modified with sand or clay. Cob is
fireproof, resistant to seismic activity,[2]
and inexpensive. It can be used to create artistic, sculptural
forms and has been revived in recent years by the natural building and sustainability movements.
In technical building and engineering documents such as the Uniform Building Code, cob may be
referred to as an "unburned clay masonry" when used in a structural context. It might also be
referred to as an "aggregate" in non-structural contexts, such as a "clay and sand aggregate" or
more simply an "organic aggregate," such as where the cob is an insulating filler between post and
beam construction.
A modern cob house near Ottery St Mary in the United Kingdom
Adobe:
Adobe bricks (mud bricks) are made of earth with a fairly high clay content and straw. If
produced manually the earth mix is cast in open moulds onto the ground and then left to dry
out. Adobe bricks are onlysun-dried, not kiln-fired. When used for construction they are laid up
into a wall using an earth mortar.
Technique
Adobe bricks (mud bricks) are made of earth with a fairly high clay content and straw. If produced manuallythe earth
mix is castin open moulds onto the ground and then left to dry out. Adobe bricks are only sun-dried,notkiln-fired.
When used for construction they are laid up into a wall using an earth mortar.Before drying out, the finished walls are
smoothed down.Often a clay render is applied as a surface coating.
Advantages of Adobe bricks
Making use of Adobe bricks is probablyone of the simplest forms ofearth building. Adobe walls have a number of
advantages and relatively few disadvantages.As with other forms of earth construction,adobe bricks are
a fireproof, durable yet biodegradable, non-toxic building material which provide sufficient thermalmass to

15. buildings to ensure excellentthermal performance.Other benefits include low sound transmission levels through
walls and a general feeling of solidity and security.
With adequate supervision this technique is highly suitable for owner builders, as no costly tools or equipment
are necessaryand the essential know-how can be easilyacquired on a training workshop and through hands-on
experiences.
One of the biggestadvantages ofthe Adobe system is that it allows the individual units or bricks to shrink before they
are placed in the wall.The risk of extensive shrinkage and cracking,which would otherwise occur in soils ofhigh clay
content in a large monolithic wall,is prevented.
The bricks can be castfrom a wider range of soils and can cope with a higher clay content than is suitable for in-situ
techniques.
Due to the production process and the nature of clay, Adobe bricks have good water resistance.Nevertheless itis
very importantto provide adequate weather protection of the earth walls,especiallyin exposed situations.This is
normallydone with the provision of adequate eaves.
The small Adobe units provide great flexibility in the design and construction of earthbuildings. Adobe bricks
can be easily cut for fitting and can be provided with holes for reinforcing and services.
Many people find the pattern and texture of Adobe walls very attractive.