Cost Effective Eco – friendly Building Material Technology and designing social housing as a Package

After food and clothing, the most important basic human need is shelter more then 30 million families in India live in flimsy huts, which are not livable. The problem is acute in developing countries such as India on account of widespread poverty. This situation gets aggravated with a vary passing year as the demand for affordable housing grows with the increase in population and the break of joint families. A major constraint in meeting this demand is the spiraling prices of building materials. This has made the dream of a safe livable house to go beyond the capacity of a poor family. Is there a way out? Yes. Cost Effective Building Technology and Community’s Participation in designing Social Housing Project, as a Package is the major component of affordable housing. Econ has been involved in promotion of Cost – effective Housing Project with its own Cost – effective Energy Efficient Environment Friendly building materials as a package.

Use of Hollow Blocks has become very popular as walls free standing or building can be constructed at a fraction of the cost of traditional brick and cement walls. Moreover the air gap in the hollow blocks is a thermal insulator. Keeping the building cool in summer and warm in winter.

As a substitute for valuable wood, RCC is a cost effective alternative. For example, the cost of an RCC doorframe is just 30% that of similar frame made of country wood, Door and window frames made of RCC resemble wood in finish and are durable besides giving strength to a building. Moreover these are readily available and can thus reduce the dependence on carpenters and same on costly skilled labour.

Concrete pipes are cost effective alternative for RCC Pipes.