Autonomous
buildings can reduce environmental impacts, increase security, and lower costs
of ownership. One construction technology used in autonomous houses that has
very low impact on the environment is stabilised soil blocks (SSBs). The blocks
are low-cost as their main component, the soil, is sourced locally, often
directly from the site of construction. Further, these blocks can be produced
on site, saving in transportation costs. The main stabiliser used in their
manufacture is cement, which has a large amount of embodied energy due to its product
process. This paper reviews studies that have been carried out on the
suitability of alternative innovative materials to cement that are based on
agriculture and industrial waste. It has been revealed that these materials can
be used as replacements for cement in concrete or blocks. They not only reduce
their cost and embodied energy, but also improve their structural performance.