The Stoltz Bluff Eco-Retreat is a monolithic cob house that’s completely off-grid. It has a 1-kilowatt solar power system and a backup generator for electricity, a propane radiant in-floor heating system and a Rumford fireplace for heat, and a constructed wetland for natural wastewater treatment. Many cob homes are built with a timber frame structure, … Read more
I just received this email from DJ Rankin of www.unshelteredearth.com: First off I’ve got to express how grateful I am for the immense amount of invaluable information and resources you’ve put together; this project would not be what it is without the research I’ve been able to do through your site. I wanted to share … Read more
Spartan Giordano was 28 years old when he designed and started building a zero fossil fuel energy home In Greenfield, Massachusetts. Two years later he and his partner Hannah got the occupancy permit on the very day their son, Max, was born. Nine years later Hannah and Spartan have a 2½-year-old daughter and Spartan has … Read more
This high-spec tiny house is designed to be totally off-the-grid and is packed full of brilliant design features. Built by owner Mark, this handcrafted home has been incredibly well designed and constructed using top quality materials. Mark was inspired to build a tiny house after being introduced to the concept by his daughter. Looking for … Read more
Ladakhi engineer, educator and innovator, Sonam Wangchuk has developed the prototype of a unique solar-heated tent for Indian Army soldiers stationed in the cold and high-altitude climes of Ladakh. Besides offering more space than the container cabins the Indian Army uses for its soldiers, this structure requires no kerosene for heating and thus emits zero … Read more
Lumber, glass, big rocks, dirt, and sunshine is all you need for a Deep Winter Greenhouse (DWG), first described in a book by Carol Ford and Chuck Waibel in 2009 titled The Northlands Winter Greenhouse Manual. So, what is a DWG? It is a passive solar greenhouse that captures the sun’s light and heat during … Read more