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This is in CNN Style for a reason. It's a neat research project, great for prestige projects like Hyde Park. It just cannot compete with clay from a cost pers

This is in CNN Style for a reason. It's a neat research project, great for prestige projects like Hyde Park. It just cannot compete with clay from a cost perspective.

Pfhreak 6y ago
I'd be curious if you've got some figures or if you are just guessing that it's the case. (Intuitively, I'd agree with you, but I couldn't find any info.) Assuming also that the externalities of the existing brick manufacturing industry are not costed into the price of a standard brick. Other sources suggest that the k-briq is also more insulative than a regular brick, which should impact the cost calculations as well.
- Nasrudith 6y ago
  Technically true but wouldn't going with a cheaper exterior option and using the saved cost for dedicated insulation be more efficient? Aside from airflow it is usually windows and frames where the insulation property is relevant, otherwise we would see using thicker walls instead of just spraying insulation for cheap development. I mean it is a neat concept but unfortunately efficiency often selects the "boring" option.
hosh 6y ago
Open Source Ecology has open-source designs for a compressed earth block machine that can generate these things from the dirt on-site. These machines have been built and had been in use for some time now. They did require some knowledge that are not widely disseminated (use of water to motar them together, and other construction techniques you would not use with conventional bricks). With a CEB machine onsite, it makes construction of this type of material decentralized, without having to rely on a fragile, global supply chain. It also means getting more CEBs to affect repairs can be sourced locally, and does not require a functioning global supply chain. (Assuming you can keep the CEB machine in good repair; but that is why it is open-sourced). I think there are some heat retaining properties that CEB have that conventional bricks don't have. Combined with a hollow-core, or insulated core wall construction, the end results are housing that are more efficient with heating and cooling. When combined with permaculture design, the excavation can be done to build swales for efficient rain water harvesting. So yeah, if we only look at the cost from just the perspective of sourcing conventional bricks, maybe it won't compete. From the perspective of whole system design and resilient systems, I think CEB offers something better.

This is in CNN Style for a reason. It's a neat research project, great for prestige projects like Hyde Park. It just cannot compete with clay from a cost perspective.

Pfhreak 6y ago

I'd be curious if you've got some figures or if you are just guessing that it's the case. (Intuitively, I'd agree with you, but I couldn't find any info.) Assuming also that the externalities of the existing brick manufacturing industry are not costed into the price of a standard brick. Other sources suggest that the k-briq is also more insulative than a regular brick, which should impact the cost calculations as well.

Nasrudith 6y ago
Technically true but wouldn't going with a cheaper exterior option and using the saved cost for dedicated insulation be more efficient? Aside from airflow it is usually windows and frames where the insulation property is relevant, otherwise we would see using thicker walls instead of just spraying insulation for cheap development. I mean it is a neat concept but unfortunately efficiency often selects the "boring" option.

hosh 6y ago

Open Source Ecology has open-source designs for a compressed earth block machine that can generate these things from the dirt on-site. These machines have been built and had been in use for some time now. They did require some knowledge that are not widely disseminated (use of water to motar them together, and other construction techniques you would not use with conventional bricks). With a CEB machine onsite, it makes construction of this type of material decentralized, without having to rely on a fragile, global supply chain. It also means getting more CEBs to affect repairs can be sourced locally, and does not require a functioning global supply chain. (Assuming you can keep the CEB machine in good repair; but that is why it is open-sourced). I think there are some heat retaining properties that CEB have that conventional bricks don't have. Combined with a hollow-core, or insulated core wall construction, the end results are housing that are more efficient with heating and cooling. When combined with permaculture design, the excavation can be done to build swales for efficient rain water harvesting. So yeah, if we only look at the cost from just the perspective of sourcing conventional bricks, maybe it won't compete. From the perspective of whole system design and resilient systems, I think CEB offers something better.