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EarthArchitecture.org explains: "Currently it is estimated that one half of the world's population-approximately three billion people on six continents-lives or works in buildings constructed of earth."
An example of such construction is adobe, described here as "a building material made from clay, straw, and water, formed into blocks, and dried. Adobe (from the Spanish adobar, to plaster) is most economical to use in regions, such as the southwestern United States, with prevalent adobe soils and a relatively dry climate, so that bricks can be made and cured on-site. In regions that have hot, dry summers and cold winters, adobe buildings can be constructed without insulation, since the walls provide a "thermal flywheel" that moderates temperature swings and ensures a comfortable living environment."
"The most ancient structures of the Southwest region of the United States still standing are represented in buildings made from adobe used in homes and Southwest missions," adds the El Paso Solar Energy Association. "The early settlers of the region constructed homes of adobe because the materials were plentiful and at hand. Due to the lack of wood or masonry material, adobe was the choice of early shelters. Today, we have discovered that this material is not only abundant but also adaptable to changing climate and temperatures."
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