MATERIALS & SUSTAINABILITY: Research for the final project

The goal of my project is to make sure that most of the materials are obtained locally, are environmentally friendly, and are strong so that future maintenance costs are minimized as much as possible.

The medium-sized, highly branched Acacia auriculiformis is an evergreen tree with a short, branched curling up. It is an exotic plant that is primarily grown in Bangladesh on highway and railroad embankments, as well as in parks and gardens. In Malaysia, roadside booths were found to be selling hybrid acacia. (Pinso and Nasi 1991).Comparative growth study on the tree species has been conducted by Kamaluddin and Rahaman (1995) on 4.5 years old plantations raised at Madhupur Forest Range of Tangail Forest Division in Bangladesh, though hybrid acacia shows outstanding performance, information about its performances in variety of sites (Newaz 1998). About 40 years ago, A. mangium and A. auriculiformis were brought to Bangladesh as shade trees in tea gardens.

Acacia is a fast-growing tree, and its wood is widely regarded as a very sustainable wood supply, particularly for its lighter-colored varieties. Growth can occur very quickly indeed. Due to its strength and durability, it is frequently used in construction, furniture, and other uses. It also has the advantage of being biodegradable, which means that it will eventually deteriorate and return to the soil. Acacia trees are crucial to their ecosystem because they stop desertification because of their "mixed system" root structure, which consists of a central pivot that can reach the water table and lateral systems that can hold soil and prevent soil erosion. It costs around GBP 12.00 per square feet.

Concrete hollow blocks, which are manufactured in contrast to red bricks, are unable to emit toxic fumes and can protect the environment. These blocks are an energy-efficient construction material because of their insulating features, which lower energy usage. Due to their insulating qualities, these construction materials are also energy efficient, which helps to create a greener city for future generations by lowering energy consumption. Concrete hollow blocks' great durability is one of their main advantages. Because of their consistency in size and shape, concrete hollow blocks are simple to place. Due to its low weight, which causes the structural members of the foundation and framework to be smaller in size, it also lowers the expense of the building's structural design. The thermal insulation of a structure made of concrete hollow slabs results in comfortable spaces. The cost of concrete hollow blocks in Bangladesh varies depending on the size, quality, location of the manufacturer, and required number of blocks. They typically range in price from GBP 0.25 to GBP 0.29 per block.

REFERENCES:

Building Greener - Sustainable Building in Bangladesh (2023) International Partnerships. Available at: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/news-and-events/stories/building-greener-sustainable-building-bangladesh_en (Accessed: March 16, 2023).

Advantages of using concrete hollow blocks - an innovation in building products (2018) bti. Available at: https://btibd.com/advantages-of-using-concrete-hollow-blocks-an-innovation-in-building-products/ (Accessed: March 16, 2023).

Hollow blocks price in Bangladesh: Concrete blocks price (2021) Hollow Block. Available at: https://hollowblockbd.com/hollow-blocks-price-in-bangladesh/ (Accessed: March 16, 2023).

Building Greener - Sustainable Building in Bangladesh (2023) International Partnerships. Available at: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/news-and-events/stories/building-greener-sustainable-building-bangladesh_en (Accessed: March 16, 2023).