No plastering, here's why porotherm bricks are gaining popularity in Kerala

As each summer in Kerala gets more and more intense, the sweltering heat make venturing outside during the day extremely excruciating. With temperatures crossing 35 degree Celsius often, stepping outside exposes one to burning sun and UV rays. Humidity adds to the discomfort. But what about seeking refuge indoors? 

Often, the inside feels even hotter than outside, making it unbearable.  Kerala's climate necessitates cool houses.  While fitting ACs in every room to cool the interior and expel the heat is an option, excessive AC use contributes to global warming. The construction industry is exploring ways to cool interiors without using ACs.

Around 100 years ago, houses in Kerala were primarily made of mud, with thatched roofs and mud walls. Later, mud bricks and laterite stones replaced mud walls. However, now cement blocks dominate.  Their poor heat resistance has led to a search for an alternative. The answer is Porotherm bricks.  Don't be confused by the name; they are essentially clay bricks.

While cement blocks absorb heat, increasing the indoor temperature, Porotherm brick walls reduce indoor temperature by 7 degrees.  So, if the outside temperature is 40 degrees, the inside will be around 33 degrees.  There's no need to worry about reduced strength due to the clay component; Porotherm bricks are made with granite mixed into the clay.  Cement blocks have a lifespan of 30 years, while Porotherm bricks last for 150 years.

Concrete constructions exacerbate the heat in Kerala. Concrete's nature is to absorb heat, which increases ambient temperature, negatively impacting the climate and environment.  Therefore, the construction industry is shifting towards more climate-friendly materials. Many renowned construction groups have already switched to Porotherm bricks.

Porotherm bricks were developed in 1819 in Vienna, Austria, by Wienerberger, a construction group with 200 plants across 33 countries.