Alternative natural materials

The main purpose of using such materials is to minimize the negative effects that built environments can have on the planet, while increasing the efficiency and adaptability of the structures.

Much more recently, in the 1920s, the United States government promoted rammed earth as a fireproof construction method for building farmhouses.

The modern problems of global warming and climate change shifted more of a focus onto the materials and methods used to build our cityscape and homes.

The temperature in a house built from rock stays relatively constant, thus requiring less air conditioning and other cooling systems.

Straw provides excellent insulation and fire resistance in a traditional post-and-beam structure, where a wood frame supports the house.

[citation needed] Cork is suitable as thermal insulation, as it is characterized by lightness, elasticity, impermeability, and fire resistance.

Although this clay mixture provides excellent insulation from heat, it is not very waterproof and can be dangerous in earthquake prone areas due to its tendency to crack easily.

Depending what type of sawdust is used (hardwood is best) the wood chips in the walls absorb moisture and help prevent cracking during freeze and thaw cycles.

[1] Sawdust may be combined with water and frozen to produce a material commonly known as pykrete, which is strong, and less prone to melting than regular ice.

[citation needed] Hempcrete, also known as hemplime, is a sustainable biocomposite composed of hemp hurds mixed with lime, sand, or pozzolans material used in construction and insulation.