An Examination of Thermal Performance of Earth Construction from Theory and Practice

The thermal performance of earth construction is context dependent. When used appropriately, earthen materials have the potential to reduce the carbon footprint associated with both the embodied and operational aspects of building structures. However, the lack of comprehensive data to assess the thermal performance of earth construction is a significant barrier to presenting reliable and defensible arguments for its use. This research synthesises knowledge from scientific literature, standards, regulations and professionals to examine the importance of hygrothermal behaviour in relation to aspects of building performance for earth construction in the contexts of France, the UK and Switzerland. Interviews with earth construction experts are conducted to explore thermal performance limitations, strategies to overcome them, and modelling techniques. The analysis provides insights into the hygrothermal performance of earthen materials, standardised assessment methods and the implementation gap between regulations and practice. The study also discusses strategies, including the use of specialist assessment tools and environmental regulations, to bridge the gap between building codes and the specific characteristics of earth construction.