Case Study 5A CHAPTER 4: Transitions For a Sustainable Future
Greening the construction sector through sustainable technology development – Brick Sector
Rapidly growing economies like ours rely on the cent addition of a binder such as cement to form bricks
infrastructure and construction sectors to fuel growth. that give strengths of equivalent to class A, and can Bricks form the backbone of these sectors. However, be used in a variety of structures. The technology uses
brick production in India, with emissions estimated at 150 minimal energy; small-scale production can be done with
million tonnes CO2 every year, is deemed as the single human energy and results in negligible emissions only largest source of air pollution, exerting a high pressure those attributable to the binder. Thus, it is amongst the on natural resources like soil and coal. In addition to the most eco-friendly materials for construction. environmental impact, there are serious social implications
such as the unsanitary and hazardous working conditions These technologies lend themselves to various scales of of labour.
production and application due to their modular nature. They are adopted by small-scale enterprises that require
Development Alternatives has pioneered the innovation small capital investments with quick turn over rates making and large scale accelerated adoption of sustainable brick them attractive to new and existing entrepreneurs. Creating production technologies that improve overall energy localised green and dignified jobs, the availability of these
efficiency and reduction of emissions – Compressed technologies enables enterprises to utilise local resources Stabilised Earth Blocks, Fly Ash Bricks and Eco Kilns. to service local demands. The TARA Eco-kiln technology (based on Vertical Shaft
Brick Kiln process) has resulted in significant coal savings Development Alternatives’ role in promoting the use and ranging between 30 to 40 per cent per year. Emissions of influencing state and national level regulatory policies SO2, NOx and CO2 are well below the norms prescribed to promote sustainable production has led to the
for conventional kilns and overall wastages are reduced establishment of over 800 sustainable technology based due to inherent properties of the technology and improved brick production units in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa firing practices. Fly Ash Brick technology meets the dual and Maharashtra. In addition, these technologies are
challenge of meeting the increasing brick deficit while being transferred to other countries in Asia and Africa like utilising in large amounts the industrial waste generated Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, South Africa and by power plants. The stabilised compressed earth block Malawi. technology uses non-agricultural soil with less than 10 per
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