Thermal Performance of Mud as Building Material in Composite Climate

Among other things, indoor thermal comfort can be enhanced through careful selection of building materials. India has a wide range of weather extremes, ranging from hot and humid to cold and dry. A mixed climate prevails in a large part of the country, with a wide range of climate conditions. Twenty percent of the world’s population lives in mud houses, and many rural people have lived in mud huts for generations which are an integral part of their culture. This research investigates rural indigenous mud-based construction, the characteristics of the soil and how well it performs thermally in India’s diverse climatic conditions. The fundamental thermal properties of soil have been researched to establish its suitability and successful use in the seasonally fluctuating characteristics of a mixed climate. Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has been considered as an example to demonstrate the performance in a typical mixed climate region.The construction of earthern houses has significantly declined in India and thus it is necessary to evaluate if they can make a valuable contribution to contemporary housing shortage. Therefore, an informal survey was conducted in India to understand factors favouring or limiting the construction and daily use of mud houses. The outcome of the survey suggests that ‘Image’ is the key barrier against a wide acceptance of traditional earthen houses which are linked to poverty. While modern earthen construction is desired, it is expensive for low-income households. The role of mud in addressing the contemporary housing shortage is analysed and suggestions are given for the implementation of modern mud technologies for low-cost affordable housing. Initiatives by middle-high income households, entrepreneurs and government can trigger a widespread interest in earthen construction. Successful demonstration of durable earthen structures at diverse locations and contexts can act as catalysts. We conducted Survey to understand factors favo