Assessment of Thermal Behavior of a Model House Built with Sustainable Bricks

This study evaluated the thermal behavior and economic feasibility of prototype houses constructed using sustainable bricks developed from textile effluent sludge (TES). Two 1 m³ model houses were built, one using TES–cement bricks and the other using fly ash bricks (FAB). The indoor thermal performance of the plants was monitored under real outdoor conditions. TES bricks were fabricated with 24% cement, 51% TES, and 25% quarry dust, yielding a compressive strength of 4.2 MPa, density of 990 kg.m- ³, and thermal conductivity of 0.36-0.89 W.mK-1, all within Indian Standard requirements. Thermal monitoring revealed that TES brick houses maintained indoor temperatures 2-3°C lower than FAB houses during peak hours, confirming superior thermal resistance and a lag effect. Cost analysis showed that TES bricks were ~36% cheaper per unit and ~35% lower in overall construction cost than FAB. These findings demonstrate that TES bricks provide adequate mechanical strength, enhanced thermal insulation, and significant economic benefits, making them a sustainable alternative to conventional masonry in hot climatic regions for energy-efficient buildings.