Portland cement

Cement is the most distributed building material of the world. Its plastic attributes are widely known and it has always been a versatile and affordable material. Its biggest problem is the high-energy consumption during production, and therewith its bad CO2 balance. As a binder it is very good but often over dimensioned. It can be in many situations substituted by lime binders and other supplements. In Sitio Joaninha cement is used only when necessary for the creation of bricks, ring anchors, pillars,water and sewage storage, and roof tiles.

Bricks

Bricks are produced on site according to the guidelines of Prof. F. Casanova from Coppe, Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro. In the fore field the consistence of the existing soil has to be determined. According to the soil consistence the amount of supplements and cement will be determined. If suitable supplements from industrial waste are available within a radius of 20 km they have to be examined on any pollutant contains. The mixture of soil, supplements, cement and water will be pressed by either hand or hydraulic machine into the form of bricks.

These bricks dry in the sun and need no further heat treatment. Due to their peculiar form, they allow to be laid without additional binder and are thus ideal for recycling. On strategic points within the wall they can be reinforced by concrete and iron. Furthermore, the mixture can be used for any plaster work underneath the ceilings of the houses.

Coconut fibre

Coconut fibre is recommended for its inherent fungi resistance and its ability never to rot. Furthermore, it has excellent acoustic and thermal insulation qualities and is nationally available.

Eucalyptus urograndis wood

This wood is usually planted in Brazil on huge farms. Its wood is usually meant for the production of paper and energy creation. I want to use it as the crosspieces in the creation of the overgrown roofs. Due to its consistence this particular kind of eucalyptus is mostly available as round woods.

Should it be available as beams as well, it should be applied for the whole roof structure in order to avoid the use of non-farmed woods.

MCR roof tiles

In a comparative study published in RAS Technical Bulletin, Fibre Concrete Roofing (FCR) or Micro Concrete Roofing (MCR), January 1994, Issue No. 3, the general advantage of MCR, which are cost effectiveness and lower work intensiveness, could be elaborated. MCR roof tiles can easily be manufactured on site. When using a 2/3 size of the thickness of the tile for the aggregate a 1:3 ratio cement/aggregate is the most cost effective way for the tile production.

The addition of colour pigments is possible. The tiles have to be painted with finish to make them water resistant. These finishes should have a natural resin base and work with as little solvent as possible.

Polyethylene

The use of any plastics or/and their additives containing chloride compositions should be avoided. PVC and FCKW for example are based on chloride compositions and have proven to be very harmful for humans and their environment Polyethylene is according to nowadays knowledge one of the easier plastics to handle. It is produced without the addition of any chloride composition supplements. It can be used for the transportation and storage of drinking water and any household sewage.

Urine storage tanks, water deposits, hot water deposits and water pipes as well as urine disposal pipes should be made out of polyethylene.