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February 2015
The Better Living Challenge awarded
USE-IT’s Compressed Earth Blocks
(CEBs) Construction as the winner in
the Structural Home category. USE-
IT’s CEBs Construction is an innova-
tive process that uses a 30% blend of
builders’ waste rubble and available
clay-bearing soils in themanufacture
of CEBs. Building sustainable homes
with the lowest carbon footprint,
CEBs are between three to five times
stronger than concrete blocks, cheap-
er, and 10 times more thermally ef-
ficient and environmentally-friendly.
USE-IT was established in 2009, as
a Section 21 Company, through the
eThekwini Waste Materials Recovery
Industry Development Cluster’s Eco-
nomic Development Unit. The aim
of the eThekwini Municipality NGO
initiative is to research, identify and
implement key waste beneficiation
opportunities that will divert waste
from landfill, while creating sustain-
able and economically viable projects
resulting in green job creation.
USE-IT aims to create a vital link
Better Living
winner
Energy Efficiency, Green Building & IBTs
We look forward to the next phase of
the project, whichwill involve further
assisting the winners with market
access.”
between the public and private
sector. The primary objective is to
unlock the opportunities in waste
collection and to then channel this
resource into value-added initiatives
that multiply the economic, social
and environmental benefits to create
sustainable cities.
AlthoughUSE-IT is a relatively new
organisation it has the capacity and
expertise with a professional team
who have a wealth of experience in
waste management and waste ben-
eficiation.
Expertise extends to project re-
search, development and imple-
mentation, project management,
financial management, training,
capacitybuilding and community and
SMME development in all aspects of
waste sector projects and sustainable
development.
USE-IT has an existing track record
in several aspects of project develop-
ment and implementation in elec-
tronic waste, glass projects, plastics
beneficiation, organic composting
and fertiliser production, alterna-
tive green energy projects, rubber
recycling projects, waste to- art proj-
ects, CEB projects and community
partnerships.
Sustainable green building CEBs
includes: using local soil to make
blocks; using spoil from cut and fill
andwaste rubble; at least three times
stronger than concrete blocks; fully
certified and tested (Agrément, SABS,
CIDB, NHBRC); cheaper and stronger
than conventional building; greater
thermal efficiency; waterproof; sim-
ple building method; skills develop-
ment and job creation; lowembodied
energy and carbon savings; and
healthy green living lifestyle.
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