Haiti: A Pathfinder to Post-Earthquake Responses for Environmental and Natural Resources

Sustainable Earthquake Resistant Housing

Haiti Pathfinder Home Page								Environmental Law Program

Compiled by: 3rd year University of South Carolina Law Student Victor A. Dorobantu.

Issue:

In order to ensure that post-earthquake structures in Haiti will be in the best interest of Haitian residents, it will be critical to consider issues related to both sustainability/efficiency and durability in the face of natural disasters.

Background:

The cost of rebuilding Haiti will be enormous, possibly beyond $10 billion. One of the main things that many are concerned with in rebuilding the infrastructure and buildings of Haiti is to build them so that they will be energy efficient ("green") moving into the future, but also so that the buildings can withstand greater potential damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes.

Green architecture, or green design, is an approach to building that minimizes harmful effects on human health and the environment. The "green" architect or designer attempts to safeguard air, water, and earth by choosing eco-friendly building materials and construction practices. There are several building techniques that can be used to design houses or larger structures that will meet this criteria including methods using bamboo, straw, or bags full of adobe. There are ways to build both "green" and durable that are being explored throughout the US and the world.

Possible Ways Forward:

One technique for building residential buildings using earthquake resistant means would be straw bale building - a technique which involves building homes made up of mainly straw. This approach is not only green, but should be very inexpensive because of the abundance of straw worldwide. Not only are straw bale houses extremely earthquake resistant, they are also roughly three times as efficient as conventional framing. Over the life of a typical thirty-year mortgage, this superior insulation can reduce energy costs by up to 75%, saving money and vital natural resources.

Other options are being considered by various stakeholders in the lead up to a rebuilding effort. One discussion of how to rebuild Haiti can be found at the "Plan to Rebuild" Forum: http://www.plantorebuildhaiti.com/

For Further Information:

• Barker, Nigel, "Rebuild Haiti". The Huffington Post. Jan. 18th 2010, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nigel-barker/rebuild-haiti_b_427111.html (last visited on Feb. 22nd 2010)
• Green Home Building homepage on Straw Bale building, available at http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/strawbale.htm (last visited on Feb. 11th 2010).
• Morrison, Andrew, Straw Bale: A World Leader in Straw Bale Education available at http://www.strawbale.com/ (last visited on Feb. 23rd 2010).
• "Rebuilding Haiti Transparency." The Washington Post. Feb. 3rd 2010, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020203004.html (last visited on Feb 22nd 2010).
• United States Green Building Council homepage on Haiti Relief, available at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=2147 (last visited on Feb. 22nd 2010).

Photo credit: USAID.