Pete Bissonette has one of the about 650 homes Earth Sheltered Technology has built since it began in 1981. The company has houses in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as in California and Alaska. “I loved every bit of building it,” Bissonette said. “I’m glad I made the decision to build it. I have no … Read more
Tavs Jorgensen of the Centre for Print Research in England has created a method of extruding cob into brick shapes that can be stacked in interlocking patterns. The process involves pushing different samples of cob through 3D-printed extrusion molds known as dies. Cob is made by combining subsoil, water and fibrous materials such as straw. … Read more
A new book, Building the Future; From the Ground Up, follows rammed earth specialist Paul Geraets’ journey as he masters this sustainable construction method on more than 100 projects across New Zealand, while on a mission to show how more rammed earth houses could change the building industry for the better. “Not only are these … Read more
The paper waste panels described here transform industrial waste fibers from the paper industry into fully recyclable boards for interior use that would otherwise end up in a landfill. So these panels deliver high-performance interior wall cladding material with a minimized environmental impact. The panels are designed to be durable and versatile, with 3 different … Read more
Pedro Pedrosa and his wife Sofia left city life over a decade ago to live in a mostly-abandoned farming village in Central Portugal. After creating their home from several small outbuildings, they continued to experiment with local building materials- cork, pine, lime, and slate- by transforming three stone storage sheds into “Nature Houses.” Their town, … Read more
This is not your typical completely buried, stone-encased, hand-dug cavern from the 19th century. This is a much simpler, quicker, and more modern method yet still effective. Things you’ll need: 3 steel cans with lids, a shovel, plywood, scrap wood, roofing screws, 6-inch deck screws, scrap insulation material, straw, sandbags, and lots of dirt. Step … Read more