SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Combining
shelter
and
economic
development,
moladi
is
set
to
challenge
the
tradition
bound
construction
industry
in
order
to
allow
for
the
participation
of
contractors and entrepreneurs to empower and develop communities on a global basis.
Due
to
the
neglect
of
the
poor
and
very
poor
over
many
decades,
the
real
source
of
market
promise
is
not
the
wealthy
few
in
the
developing
world,
or
even
the
emerging middle-income consumers: It is the billions of aspiring poor who are joining the market economy for the first time.
Countries
that
lack
the
infrastructure
to
meet
basic
humanitarian
needs
provide
the
ideal
situation
for
the
development
of
environmentally
sustainable
technologies
and
products.
Housing
is
a
primary
sector
of
industry
that
can
contribute
towards
the
upliftment
and
empowerment
of
communities.
The
building
industry’s
emphasis
has
traditionally
been
on
commercially
viable
projects
sidelining
low-cost
housing
and
the
implicated
low
profit
margins.
As
a
rule,
small
contractors
build
low-cost
affordable
houses
in
a
traditionally
ineffective
way,
with
low
quality
materials,
inferior
workmanship,
little
or
no
professional
support,
and
most
importantly,
no benefit of economy of scale.
By
focusing
on
aspects
of
the
construction
industry,
it
is
possible
to
generate
wealth
and
opportunities
for
emerging
communities
by
introducing
and
facilitating
mutually
beneficial
projects
between
these
communities
and
the
established
formal
sector.
Mobilise
joint
ventures
and
partnerships
involving
business,
community
based
and
non-governmental
organisations,
facilitating
the
establishment
of
Co-operatives
are
but
some
of
the
options
that
can
bring
forth
“Sustainable
Development”.
The
opportunity
for
creating
"sweat
equity"
is
also
a
great
incentive
for
building
one's
own
home.
To
more
and
more
people
this
is
very
important,
because
their
sweat equity is the only equity they can muster. Communities who are building their own homes do it in a state of excitement and eagerness.
For
companies
with
the
resources
and
persistence
to
compete
at
the
bottom
of
the
economic
pyramid,
the
prospective
rewards
include
the
incalculable
contribution
to
social
and
economic
development,
growth
and
substantial
profits.
This
would
ultimately
result
in
the
multiplication
of
secondary
economic
activities
and the development of small and medium scale enterprises, which would result in
an
increase
in
job
opportunities.
The
selection
and
use
of
building
materials
relating
to
the
moladi
construction
process
is
considered
a
crucial
aspect
in
determining
the
environmental
sustainability
of
the
moladi
technology.
Although
the
calculation
of
embodied
energy
is
a
complex
matter
and
differs
from
region
to
region,
building
materials
used
in
the
moladi
construction
process
have
been
carefully
considered
according
to
the
initial
and
recurring
embodied
energy
that
is
used
or
expended
during
the life cycle and operation of each material.
Some
additional,
but
notable,
factors
which
affect
the
overall
energy
consumption
of
a
structure
-
and
which
are
often
mismanaged
within
the
affordable
housing
industry
-
is
the
requirement
for
nonessential
transportation,
wasteful
packaging,
plentiful
waste
of
materials
resulting
from
processing
and
construction
methods,
and
also
poor
dumping
and
disposal
methods.
Materials
are
rarely
recycled
or
even
reused
and
poor
workmanship,
the
utilization
of
substandard
materials
and
the
use
of
materials
and
components
which
have
a
dissimilar
and
inconsistent
durability,
leaves
the
home
owner
with
a
high
maintenance
home
which
requires
frequent
repair
and
even
large
scale
restoration.
Lastly,
passive
design
principles
for
the
appropriate
climate
which
helps
to
minimize
the
energy
required
to
heat,
cool,
ventilate
and
light
a
building
responsibly
are
largely
ignored
in
favour
of
a
cheaper
initial
cost
outlay.
These
factors
are
taken
into
account
to
ensure
that
moladi
buildings
provide
environmental
value
by
challenging
members
of
the
construction
industry
who
are
quick
to
ignore
the
long
term
use
and
quality
of
a
building in favour of the short term saving enjoyed by the developer.
The calculation of the embodied energy in building materials, or their life-cycle assessment, takes into account the following aspects;
1. The extraction and processing of raw materials
2. The manufacturing, packaging and transportation of the product
3. The maintenance of such a product after installation or positioning
4. The possibility of the recycling and reuse of the product
5. The final disposal of the product
moladi
makes
use
of
lower
energy
materials,
such
as
sand,
gravel
and
light-
weight
concrete
within
the
local
community.
Plastic,
the
material
used
for
the
moladi
formwork,
has
a
higher
energy
content,
but
conserves
energy
and
resources
due
to
the
fact
that
it
is
reused,
recycled,
is
lightweight
and
long
lasting,
which requires very little maintenance.
Of
the
materials
used
in
moladi
homes,
steel
has
the
highest
embodied
en-
ergy
rating
of
44.66MJ/kg.
However,
steel
is
100%
recyclable
and
at
the
end
of
the
buildings
lifespan,
can
be
removed
from
the
building
with
relative
ease
for
recycling.
The
steel
reinforcing
bars
are
essential
for
ensuring
that
moladi
homes
are
durable
and
structurally
sound
to
ensure
that
the
home
owner
has
a
safe
and
sturdy
home
which
can
withstand
external
forces.
Plastic,
the
mat-
erial
used
for
the
moladi
formwork,
has
the
second
highest
energy
rating
of
moladi
building
materials
at
43.03MJ/kg.
The
formwork
however
conserves
energy
due
to
the
fact
that
it
is
durable
and
does
not
require
maintenance.
The
formwork
is
re-used
many
times
until
it
is
eventually
recycled
into
other
durable
household
consumer
products
and
construction
components.
moladi
utilizes
a
closed-
loop
policy
with
its
plastic
formwork
so
that
none
of
the
material
goes
to
waste.
The
moladi
mortar
mix,
has
the
lowest
initial
embodied
energy
rating,
which
is
1.4
MJ/kg.
The
operational
energy
of
the
mortar
is
further
reduced
by
eliminating
excessive
labour
demands
during
the
application
of
the
mortar
and
ensuring
that
the
resulting
superstructure
is
constructed
efficiently
and
in
an
optimized
manner.
The
volume
of
moladi
mortar
mix
is accurately calculated to ensure that no excess material is wasted.
The
durability
and
longevity
of
the
resulting
structure
requires
minimal
maintenance
or
repair
work
during
the
life
of
the
building.
Clay
brick,
which
is
5.12
MJ/kg,
polystyrene,
which
is
117
MJ/kg,
cement
plaster
which
is
an
average
of
3.24
MJ/kg
and
Aluminium
at
227
MJ/kg
are
other
common
building
materials
utilized
in
other
types
of
construction
methods
which
may
be
comparable
to
that
of
moladi
building
materials.
All
materials
used
in
the
construction
of
moladi
homes,
other
than
the
formwork,
are
sourced
and
supplied
from
within
the
local
community.
Specifying
criteria
is
critical
in
that
the
fixtures,
fittings
and
service
systems
installed
in
a
moladi
structure
have
a
durability
term
similar
to
that
of
the
overall
life
expectancy
of
the
building.
Other
than
contributing
to
the
local
economy,
this
practice
drastically
reduces
the
need
for
additional
and
unnecessary
transport
and
handling
of
goods
and
building
materials.
By
reducing
the
number
of
operations
required
during
the
successful
construction
process
means
that
there
is
a
less
chance
of
the
occurrence
of
errors,
waste
and
rework.
This
follows
from
the
same
logic
that
the
fewer
the
number
of operations, the higher the quality of the product, resulting in a predictive timeline and ultimately cost savings.
The
moladi
method
of
construction
has
been
designed
to
efficiently
produce
structures
which
have
a
long
life,
are
durable
and
adaptable;
homes
which
are
considerate
of
the
environmental
impact
as
well
as
the
needs
of
the
home
owner.
The
speed,
affordability,
quality,
adaptability,
ease
of
use,
the
use
of
sustainable
local
materials
and
the
opportunity
created
to
facilitate
sweat
equity
are
key
advantages
that
would
greatly
improve
the
efficiency
with
which
the
world
addresses
the problems relating to the world’s poor, homeless and unskilled communities.
The following points are key points to consider in achieving the most sustainable outcome with regards to building projects;
Reduce building materials through more efficient layout and use of spaces.
Reduce construction waste
Specify products that use raw materials more efficiently
Substitute plentiful resources for scarce resources
Reuse building materials from demolished buildings
Rehabilitate existing buildings for new uses
Recycle new products from old
The results for the embodied energy in
common building materials, published by the
American Institute of Architects, are as
follows:
MATERIALS
ENERGY CONTENT
KJ/Kg
Sand & Gravel
Wood
Lightweight Concrete
Gypsum Board
Brickwork
Cement
Glass
Plastic
Steel
Lead
Copper
Aluminum
41.878
430.31
2 186.44
4 256.58
5 117.20
9 536.60
25 818.60
43 031.00
44 659.20
60 243.40
68 849.60
240 741.00