Introduction
Concern for sustainable development has emerged as one of the major societal issues of the late 20th century. This pertains among others to environmental issues and the conservation of natural resources. The beginnings of this awareness are difficult to pinpoint, but it is clear that it did not originate in the United States, where a public accustomed to an abundance of natural resources was relatively late to realize the limits of these resources and the real costs associated with their wasteful exploitation. But at present, environmental consciousness is being encountered in all walks of life. In the construction industry, increasing attention is being paid to the concept of “green buildings”. The search for “green” or environmentally friendly materials in the building industry involves the development of new materials, but might also lead to the reconsideration of traditional ones.
The use of coconut by products has been a long time source of income for some people in the country. The coconut has many uses. The fruit itself is used in many industries not only as food but for other uses as well. The energy industry has also seen the potential of the coconut as the coco-diesel was created as an alternative to the fossil fueled oils the Philippines import. Aside from its ornamental use, the shell has been powdered and used as glues and its charcoal form was used as activated carbon and used as filter material for masks and air-conditioning systems. In the construction industry, the husk is used as a mat in preventing the erosion of soils. Boards are created from the husk of the coconut by acquiring the fibers from the husk.