The Earthbuilders' Encyclopedia

The Earthbuilders’ Encyclopedia

by Joseph M. Tibbets. 1989, Southwest Solaradobe School, P.O. Box 153, Bosque, NM 87006. $20.35. Paperback, 196 pages.

The Earthbuilders’ Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive reference we’ve seen on the various construction techniques that fall under the umbrella of earthbuilding, especially adobe and rammed-earth construction. The encyclopedia format takes some getting used to—it is not a standard format for how-to construction information—but most of the information we looked for was readily accessible. At the end of the book is a directory and advertising section for earthbuilding and related services.

The greatest strength of the book is in the discussion of adobe construction: everything from block manufacture to waterproofing strategies and special seismic design. The book is well illustrated with Tibbets’ drawings and photographs, reflecting his extensive experience with adobe construction, both in practice and as a teacher.

There are a number of topics spread throughout the book that offer particular relevance to environmentally sustainable construction. Embodied energy is included with the claim that the embodied energy of a 10x4x14” adobe block is 2,500 Btus (assuming the use of mechanized manufacturing equipment and delivery to the building site within the same city). That’s less than ¹⁄₁₀ the embodied energy claimed for an 8x8x16” concrete block (29,018 Btus).

A special 12-page section on rammed-earth construction provides details and photos of about a dozen rammed-earth buildings (from new to over 100 years old) and reviews the basics of this construction technique. Passive solar design is thoroughly addressed, as earthen construction lends itself well to thermal storage for passive solar applications. We found separate sections dealing with solaradobe (a term Tibbets may have coined), solar overhang, clerestory, and Trombe wall—all of which deal with passive solar. We also appreciated the following entry under solar dweeb: “A person who, without any real world experience, becomes unreasonably enamored of a particular solar energy design (usually his own) and persists in trying to design or build it despite the advice of competent builders, suppliers, or associates….” For anyone involved with or interested in earth construction techniques,

The Earth­builders’ Encyclopedia is a must.