About 40 years ago, William bought 1.25 acres for $6000 on the Big Island of Hawaii and began growing his own food and building his own shelters. He was inspired to leave his native Wisconsin for a place where it would be easier to live off the land. Today he lives with only solar power … Read more
Windcatchers have been a sustainable solution to cooling and ventilation in arid climates, predating modern air conditioning by millennia. They are chimney-like towers with open sides designed to capture breezes high above ground level and direct them into the buildings below. By channeling cool air downward and expelling warm air through opposite vents, they provide … Read more
The New Streat Hill House in England was built from recycled materials, including rubble from a burned-out bungalow that was on the site. When viewed from a distance, the home is intended to resemble two barns sitting on a meadow. This was achieved by half burying the 750-square-metre residence into the south-facing slope and covering … Read more
I was just notified that this blog has been chosen as one of the best sustainable architecture blogs or websites in 2025. This is of course an honor, but it is also an opportunity the check out all of the other websites that fit this description. You can do this at bloggers.feedspot.com
Deep in the Andes mountains of Columbia, Julio Leon is building a three-room house made mostly out of earth. To make the walls, Leon shovels damp earth in between two wooden panels. Then, he climbs on top of the 3-foot-tall pile and pounds it repeatedly with a wooden ram, turning his mound into a sturdy … Read more
Michael Reynolds has been perfecting Earthships for 55 years, and now he says he has the model just right. “An Earthship is a building that encounters the phenomena of the planet to provide sustenance for its inhabitants,” Michael Reynolds said. It is heated by the sun and kept warm using thermal dynamics. The buildings collect … Read more