COST AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT

An important benefit of an earthen building is the significant energy savings that will accrue to the owner over the life of the building.  The thermal mass of an earthen wall, with its capacity to store and transfer heat, results in a reduced reliance on active heating and cooling systems and a more comfortable living environment. Energy efficiency can also be realized in the manufacturing of the building material itself.  CEBs can be made on-site, saving in transportation costs and fuel consumption and consuming little energy in the block-making process.

FIRE AND PEST-RESISTANT

Many regions of the world are experiencing drought conditions resulting in destructive wildfires.  Thousands of homes in the U.S. west alone have been lost to wildfires over the last few years. Why not build with a fire proof building material?  CEB is fire, sound, termite, rodent, and bullet proof, and highly mold-resistant as well.  What better way to build than with a material that resists the ravages of Mother Nature without contributing to her degradation?

VIRTUALLY SOUNDPROOF

The density of a CEB wall insulates the occupants from the outside world.  Sound recording studios have been built with pressed block for that very reason.  CEB buildings create their own quiet and comfortable interior environment, always appreciated by the inhabitants.

NON-TOXIC

CEBs are a completely non-toxic building material, composed of the most basic of ingredients conducive to healthy people and a healthy planet.  In contrast, conventional construction often trap and emit toxic chemicals and gases into the environment.  CEB is a frequently chosen material by those suffering from chemical sensitivity.

DURABLE

The oldest structures standing throughout the world today are made of earth, a testimony to the durability of CEB construction.  The oldest continuously-occupied buildings in North America are the Taos Pueblos in New Mexico…hand-made adobes…1000 years.  

USES AVAILABLE AND ABUNDANT RAW MATERIALS

There are five ingredients used for great CEB: sand, clay, a small amount of aggregate, and water, combined with a small percentage of lime or Portland cement as a stabilizer.  Simple.

MADE ON-SITE

An advantage of the mobile CEB Machine is the ability to manufacture Earth Blocks on-site, eliminating transportation costs to the owner and lowering the embodied energy in the building.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

One cannot consider the attributes of CEB without recognizing the enormous implications for our environment.  From the manufacturing of the block itself to the finished product, CEB construction not only benefits the individual but the planet as a whole in three key building performance areas: energy, carbon footprint and waste.

AESTHETICALLY PLEASING

Although CEB buildings can be built to any architectural style, many who choose this material prefer the look and simplicity of the block itself and a traditional earth or lime plaster finish.  Exteriors typically are given a weather-resistant skin, which can be colored or left natural.  Interiors are plastered with a variety of natural mixtures or left exposed.  Arches and rounded corners are options that allow for flexibility in design, with a look and feel that envelop occupants and blend beautifully with the natural materials.