Alternative Fill Materials for Eternally Solar Earthbags « Earthbag Building Blog

We've been discussing the Eternally Solar earthbag building system at length. Engineering tests show their walls exceed building code requirements even when filled with sand. Their bags are also used to form lintels and bond beams.

As exciting and practical as this is, there's a wide range of other options. Their earthbags can be filled with different materials for optimum performance in different climates. Simply choose low cost, locally available materials that are appropriate for your situation.

Option A for cool climates: 1. insulation in outer tubes, 2. clayey subsoil in the center (for stiffening the wall), 3. sand in the inside tube for thermal mass.

Option B for cold climates: 1. scoria, pumice or perlite in outer tubes, 2. clayey subsoil mixed with scoria, pumice or perlite in the center, 3. sand in the inside tube for thermal mass.