Safer and Greener Construction of Building

Prof. M. D. Apte, Pune

Whole of the world is now considered as prone to earthquakes. Depending on the frequency and severity every location and piece of land falls into one of the 5 seismic zones. Thus all buildings that we need constructed need be resistant to quake. Tall buildings are dangerous in quakes and therefore should be avoided. Cement is one of the most serious emitter of GHG and under the present environmental conditions, its use need to be reduced drastically. This is possible since cement is preferable to lime in case of tall buildings. The construction can be greener when cement use is minimized. Construction with less cement and limited to, say, four-storey hight can rightly be called Safer and Greener construction in real sense. The Confined Masonry Construction developed by countries susceptible to earthquakes can conveniently be followed with slaked lime masonry for the purpose.