Introduction

For more details on the illustration above, click here to access a 12-slide presentation.

What makes earth constructions truly superior to conventional green construction are their many health and comfort attributes. Earth constructions are breathable (provide natural ventilation), lack of toxicity (no VOC, prevent mould in walls), offer ideal humidity and temperature control (naturally cool in the summer and warm in the winter) at no extra cost. They provide superior sound proofing, and are fireproof. Insect proof, as bugs don't eat the earth structure like they do with wood construction. They can be built using locally available material (generally from the earth excavated for the foundation, basement or underground parking). They protect against the health hazards of ElectroMagnetic Fields (EMF), which are more ubiquitous, especially since the deployment of "smart" meters and 5G. Earthen constructions allow significant building cost reductions, especially when used with locally produced brick, and interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (iCEB). With iCEB, unskilled volunteers love to play the adult version of a LEGO game. They are also ideal for self construction projects. When built properly, earth constructions are truly safe, even bulletproof, and can be designed to be perfectly earthquake proof. Modern earth constructions built today require less maintenance (especially with Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks or "S CEB") and appreciate more in value than traditional, high maintenance buildings. They will last and preserve for centuries, which explains why they appreciate more, while on the other end of the scale, mobile homes only have a practical useful life of a generation or less.

Earth based constructions support the local economy and communities, encourage the use of material available in the area. CEB walls do not require much less expensive specialized (unionized) labour, and need no heavy machinery such as cranes for wall assembly. In remote communities, they do not require transporting as much material long distance, with much lower transport cost (no bulky prefab wall structures with CEB). CEB is more and more used in the developing world as it typically offers about 30% cost reduction. This is why US based Earth Block International has helped build whole native communities with CEB. Since the walls of a 100 m2 (1076 sq ft) building can be fully built in 48 hours by 6 people, CEB is often used by relief organizations to rebuild in a hurry after earthquakes, hurricanes or tsunamis. See for example how Canadian Charity GlobalMedic has been using CEB in its shelter rehabilitation efforts in the Philippines.  

Earth constructions are great for the environment as they reduce the need to rely on CO2 intensive materials such as concrete, steel and other petrochemical manufactured building material. They also reduce the reliance on deforestation. A typical wood frame house requires the destruction of an acre of mature forest. Even if trees are replanted, for the next generation, the production of oxygen will be very significantly reduced. And living trees are also needed as they filter toxins from the air, and support biodiversity, ecosystems and life on earth. 

Major Challenges to Overcome

• Lack of awareness

• Lack of professional educational material and training with current academic institutions and professional organizations & associations

• Lack of collaborations, with expertise concentrated in some geographical areas (i.e. Southern US, Developing world)

• Lack of experience from constrution and real estate professionals

• Lack of reference projects, especially in the developped world and colder regions

• Building codes that are inappropriate for earth constructions, creating regulatory approval challenges for building permits

• Lack of funding

Our Goals and Objectives

• Educate the public and public policymakers about the benefits of Earth Buildings

• Train building professionals on various aspects of earth constructions

• Provide a forum to foster related academic and government sponsored research

• Support the financing and development of related real estate construction developments in the residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and agricultural sectors

Specifically, What Do We Do

E3Habitat promotes earth constructions through E3H online courses and in person E3H workshops, the annual E3H conference, cooperation with universities and research organizations. E3Habitat also works with various levels of governments to implement E3H demonstrations projects initially in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, then for Social Housing (see our section Housing Coops) in Remote Communities (See our First Nation Projects section), across Canada and worldwide, with a special focus on cold climates regions and developed countries. Affordable housing is a top priority for us.

Strategy

Our first step is to build a demonstration project (see Pilot House) with a basic 80 m2 (860 s.f.) single story design. Then different models will be created for larger and more elaborate buildings, row-houses of 2 and 3 stories, mixed use buildings, commercial buildings plazas, passive solar greenhouse buildings, institutional and industrial buildings. Collaboration with local academic institutions support this development of demonstration projects. Advanced tools (online collaboration, 3D modelling...) are used to assist in the design of such models. We use the model of Habitat for Humanity to build our projects, with required labour contribution from future building occupants.

Courses are being created to cover all the steps of earth production and construction. One week workshops are offered quarterly to entrepreneurs, industrialists (block production), builders, real estate promoters, and government agencies. E3Habitat works in Canada with CMHC, NRC, FCM, NRCan, CCN and various Housing Organizations. Online courses are developed, and a certification process is being created to prepare for certifications in CEB Making and for CEB construction. 

An academic network of Universities and Colleges (Earth Building Research Network) conducts research to improve all aspects of earth production and construction. Research initiatives from Canada and other countries are presented at the annual conference.

The next international Annual Conference is held in Ottawa (2025). Provincial/state chapters are being created to hold in parallel local conferences. 

e3Habitat also sponsor the creation of Earth based Housing Coops, initially in Canada's national capital region, then expanding globally.

Founders

The founding directors are Bobby Ilg,  Frederic Pouyot and Mathieu St. Jean.  To find out more about their backgroud, go the the Board of Directors page. 

Timelines

The pilot project is planned to be constructed in 2025. The annual conference is to be held for 3 days mid-June, from Friday morning to Sunday evening.  Quarterly in person/onsite workshops are help in the last weekend at each season change. Online courses are offered at the start of each month for the self-paced version. Facilitated online workshops are offered three times a year, last 3 months and start in October, January and April.   

Cost Considerations

All prices in Canadian dollars.

• E3H Houses (Model E): 

  • Building cost: $190,000 to 260,000 for the 80 m2 starter models, based on context (with possible future residents/and community assistance with the blocks and other simple building tasks)

  • Rentals: $1200/Month rent plus Coop fees for rentals

  • Solar PV option: $100 to $300 a month based on desired system size and configuration (KW capacity, Battery storage option...)

• Annual conference registration: To check prices and details for the 2025 annual conference, click here to visit us the related page.

• Onsite workshops: $300 to 500 (see details here)

• Online courses, Self paced 4-week: $50

• Online Facilitated course: $200

• CEB Making equipment: From about $2,000 plus shipping for manual press to up to $10,000 or more for large industrial presses.

• Compressed Earth Bricks (CEB): 

  • Self production: Cost of labour plus equipment rental or purchased and earth 

  • Commercial products: $0.5 to $6 plus transport based on production location and CEB type/size

• Help us: To become a supporter or sponsor and see the various suggested contribution rates, click here to visit us the donation page