<P> Reduction of energy costs related to transportation . Reduction of material costs due to reduced transportation costs, especially for well - established industries . Support of local businesses and resource bases . Care must be taken to ensure that non-renewable earth materials are not over-extracted . Ecological balance within the region needs to be maintained while efficiently utilizing its resources . Many local suppliers carry materials that have been shipped in from out of the area, so it is important to ask for locally produced / quarried materials . </P> <P> Both brick and stone materials are aesthetically pleasing, durable, and low maintenance . Exterior walls weather well, eliminating the need for constant refinishing and sealing . Interior use of brick and stone can also provide excellent thermal mass, or be used to provide radiant heat . Some stone and brick makes an ideal flooring or exterior paving material, cool in summer and possessing good thermal properties for passive solar heating . Caliche block has been produced for applications similar to stone and brick mentioned above . Caliche or earth material block has special structural and finishing characteristics . </P> <P> Rammed earth is more often considered for use in walls, although it can also be used for floors . Rammed earth and caliche block can be used for structural walls, and offer great potential as low - cost material alternatives with low embodied energy . In addition, such materials are fireproof . </P> <P> Caliche block and rammed earth can be produced on - site . It is very important to have soils tested for construction material use . Some soils, such as highly expansive or bentonite soils, are not suitable for structural use . Testing labs are available in most areas to determine material suitability for structural use and meeting codes . </P>

What earth materials do humans use the most