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ADDRESSING LESOTHO’S GAPS IN RESEARCH, PRODUCTION, AND USE OF SUSTAINABLE LOCALLY SOURCED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS https://riseint.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EFICA_-Irish-Aid-End-of-Project-Final-Report.pdf

SPECIFICATION SHEET TABLE FOR DIFFERENT BUILDING MATERIALS: Materials Specification Table comparing properties and specs of conventional building materials with those of repurposed and indigenous, low-carbon alternatives. Click here for more info. https://riseint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Material-Specification-Sheet-by-rise-international.pdf

https://riseint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rise-International-climate-change-Catalogue.pdf https://riseint.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/rise-International-climate-change-Catalogue.pdf

Desk Research & Primary Findings Issued on: 30th August 2023 Table Of Contents   1. Background 1.2. Overview of Compressed Earth Blocks Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs) are a natural infusion of modern technology with one of the earliest elements of man-made structures: the mud brick or adobe block (Bowen 2017). They are essentially moulded adobe…

Desk Research & Primary Findings Issued on: 30 August 2023 Table of Contents 1. Background 1.1 Overview of Straw and Grass as a Building Material Grassland vegetation has dominated Lesotho’s landscape for the last 23,000 years or more, as documented by Oppong 2008. However, over time Lesotho’s grasslands have been substantially transformed by human activities…

Desk Research & Primary Findings Issued on: 30th August 2023 1. Background 1.1. Overview of Wool Baumgartner (2021) explains that Lesotho has a rich history and tradition in its wool industry, with high-quality wool produced by the nation’s sheep since the 1800s. The industry has a well-established network that connects local producers with brokers in…

Desk Research & Primary Findings Issued on: 30th August 2023 1. Background 1.1.Overview of Waste as a Building Material The world’s industrial development and economic growth have resulted in a significant increase in solid waste, including plastic, cans, glass bottles, and paper, which pollute the environment by ending up in oceans and landfills (Vicelj, Sandanayake…

Desk Research & Primary Findings Issued on:30th August 2023 1. Background 1.1 Overview of Hemp Hemp is widely regarded as one of the most versatile plants on the planet, with a wealth of potential applications that make it a highly valuable resource. The hemp plant stem has numerous applications, with a long history of use…

Desk Research & Primary Findings Issued on: 30th August 2023 1. Background on Sandstone 1.1. Overview of Sandstone Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock that can be found in abundant quantities on the Earth’s surface (Hall, 2010). It has been used as a building material since ancient times and continues to be a popular…

Author: Lulu Yang Introduction Thatch is a common roofing material in many traditional Lesotho houses. Used as a building material, thatch is functional, economic, biodegradable, renewable, locally available, and requires minimal to zero artificial energy input in production.  Its sustainable properties and characteristics provide massive potential for expanded building material usage. Properties Although it is…