Keeling Curve

Project Summary / Description:

Eco-frontiers is dealing with production and selling of cement bricks and now through this grant is planning to introduce two products; selling Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks (ISSBs) and constructing low cost Ecohabitats/house for renting. The population of Tanzania is expected to grow from about 51.8 million in 2015 to about 70.2 million by 2025 posing great challenges including housing deficit. Currently Tanzania suffers from a shortage of good quality and affordable housing. The current housing deficit is estimated at 3 million housing units coupled with a 200 000 units annual demand. Sun dried, kiln fired and cement bricks are commonly used housing construction materials in Tanzania. However, sundried bricks vary largely in shape, strength and durability. This has lead historically to weak houses which suffer considerable damage during floods and seismic events. Furthermore, the use of firewood kilns to burn bricks has caused extensive deforestation and air pollution in Tanzania. Moreover, cement is now easily available in Tanzania but it is very expensive for the low income earners. Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSBs) technology is one technology that is gaining growing recognition. Compared with alternatives such as fired bricks, it offers lower construction costs at comparable quality and dramatically reduces deforestation and air pollution. Ecofrontiers plans to start the project by constructing one ecohabitat in Dar es salaam worth 19,000USD for renting and then use it as a collateral to secure loans from commercial banks for further scale up of ISSBs and Ecohabitats business in major cities of Tanzania.

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Mission Statement:

Ecofrontiers is striving to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and enhance biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation by using markets to transforming urban and rural communities in Tanzania into low emissions development and economy through ecofriendly construction materials and ecohabitats. This is done through manufacturing and selling of green construction materials such as cement bricks and Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks (ISSBs) and construction of ecohouses to enable middle and low income earners to live and/or own their own ecohabitats through renting.