Adobe’s high thermal mass relative to wood frame construction means that when it used properly, adobe can store heat in winter and maintain comfortable household temperatures in hot summer months.

When sourced locally and stabilized with asphalt emulsion, adobe bricks and mortar have a significantly lower embodied energy and a smaller carbon footprint than wood or concrete.

Adobe bricks are modular and sized to be carried without mechanical assistance. Unlike frame construction, a persistent owner-builder could readily build an adobe home with little assistance.

Once the principals of adobe construction are understood, walls can be built with minimal experience – it is a skill which can be learned on the job.

The primary constituent of adobe bricks is earth, and earth is everywhere. In many cases, soil excavated from the building site can be used to produce bricks and mortar.

Adobe is appropriate for both modern and traditional construction.