Housing/building Technology

Some years ago the U.S. National Academy of Sciences did a couple of studies for USAID on housing technology, and later the Office in which I worked funded a couple of small projects in that field. Apropriate Technology International (ATI) also did some work in the field. And of course, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, 40 years ago, I helped build a couple of prefab houses. All of which apparently gave me an enduring interest in housing and building technologies appropriate to the needs of poor people in poor countries.

This week I came across a couple of projects in this field, both of which seem interesting.

The Federation of American Scientists Housing Project: "The FAS Housing Technology Project collaborates with scientists and engineers that specialize in building materials, structural engineering, indoor air quality and energy-efficiency to create safe and affordable housing to people in the US and abroad." It has been working especially with "Affordable, Safe Housing Based on Expanded Polystyrene Foam and Cementitious Coating."

UNIDO's International Center for Science and High Technology is organizing a meeting in Thailand in November on "Appropriate technologies for sustainable building in developing countries".