Regenerative and Local Construction Materials: Carbon Footprint of a Bamboo and Earthen House in Mae Sai, Thailand

Implementation Period:

28.09. – 17.12.2023
04.11. – 21.11.2023
04.11. – 26.11.2023
08. – 10.04.2024

Project:

The aim of this project is to conduct a carbon footprint analysis of a guesthouse in Mae Sai, Thailand, built in 2022 using locally available building materials such as bamboo and earth. The guesthouse was designed and built by BASEhabitat at the University of Arts Linz in cooperation with Baan DOI, an NGO that provides a home and financial support to children and families in need. This study is a collaboration between BASEhabitat and Suranaree University of Technology (SUT). The primary objective of the project is to determine the potential reduction in carbon emissions through the use of bio-based and local building materials. The guesthouse is being used as a case study to demonstrate the potential and strength of local bio-based materials. The study aims to compare the carbon footprint of the sustainable building materials used in the guesthouse with conventional building materials. The results provide insights into the importance of sustainable building practices in reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry.

Many activities were carried out during the study, including a visit to each of the two universities:

• Study of the life cycle of bamboo and its emissions: bamboo supply chain in the BAAN DOI Centre for Agriculture by the University of Arts Linz and SUT
• Study of the Bill of Quantity between the Bamboo- Earth House and the general construction material (RFC, beams, etc.) by the University of Arts Linz and SUT
• Analysis of the carbon footprint by SUT
• Material samples for testing produced on site at BAAN DOI Centre for Agriculture (mud blocks and bamboo) by (Florian Fend, Marta Rota, Christian Daschek)
• Visit of SUT and the facilities by the University of Arts Linz (Florian Fend, Marta Rota and Christian Daschek)
• Visit of the University of Arts Linz by SUT (Vorasiri de Cadenet)

The Carbon footprint results analysis has shown that the bamboo-earthen guest house production released 5,434 kg CO₂ equivalent and 62 kg CO₂ equivalent for transportation or total 5,496 kg CO₂ equivalent. The conventional construction material house released 17,610 kg CO₂ equivalent and 82 kg CO₂ equivalent for transportation or total 17,692 kg CO₂ equivalent. The conventional construction material house has 3.22 times higher carbon footprint than the bamboo-earthen house. The bamboo-earthen house shows the alternative material for reducing the carbon emission and potential of developing the local material in northern Thailand in the construction industry. Moreover, it is interesting to further study bamboo construction practices with its strength to promote the use of bamboo wider spread.

ASEA-UNINET funding project provided the cooperation between BASEhabitat and SUT. The exchange visit encouraged the idea of developing bamboo construction practices and further ideas.  As the cultivation of bamboo is practical in Thailand with 40 species, the facilities in SUT are prompt for material testing while BASEhabitat develop the design. Thus, the co-research between two institutes would provide positive impact on the sustainable construction material.