Ecobreves – CUBA: Prize-Winning Eco-Construction Technique

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HAVANA, Oct 6 2007 (IPS) - A Cuban approach for constructing and repairing homes with ecological materials that are resistant to natural disasters received the World Habitat Award on Oct. 1, awarded annually by the Britain-based Building and Social Housing Foundation. The project “Eco-Materials for Social Construction”, calls for alternative raw materials, saving production costs and respecting the environment, for distribution across the municipality.

For example, CP-40 concrete, obtained by mixing ashes from sugarcane stalks with zeolite, an aluminum silicate, and the use of waste like sawdust and rice husks as fuel for baking bricks.

José Martirena, one of the promoters of this approach in Cuba, told Tierramérica that these technologies have proved efficient here and in some 20 other countries, and that plans are under way to expand them across the country and internationally.

With co-sponsorship from the United Nations, the Habitat prizes have been awarded since 1985 to promote practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to overcome housing shortages.