The manufacture of concrete, steel, and glass uses vast amounts of raw materials and water and emits copious amounts of greenhouse gases per year. A staggering 8% of total global carbon dioxide emissions come from cement manufacture alone. Moreover, embodied carbon, which is carbon released over the entire life cycle of a building, including end-of-life … Read more
Mathews George is building a two-story mud house in Karunapuram village. He emphasizes that mud lasts as long as concrete and it can withstand the attack of termites, ants or other insects. He is also saving on the cost of cement and steel. Mr George is building on a plot that also has organic crops … Read more
Rammed earth is an ancient building technique that’s had a resurgence with many green builders. The exterior walls are made of compacted soil which provides thick thermal mass that is fireproof and pest proof. The structure was designed by a Mexican architect who modeled it after the Roman-style central courtyard designs popular in many Latin … Read more
I just got this email from Chris Magwood, of the the Endeavour Centre in Canada, that I would like to share with you. Builders for Climate Action has recently released two major studies examining material carbon emissions from as-built new homes. The studies include large samples, with 34 homes in Nelson, BC and 503 homes … Read more
René Douma and his mom Marianne began building houses into the hillside on the family farm without any experience in underground construction. Relying on books and online forums, they excavated a knoll behind their farmhouse and used 45 acacia trees from the property to shore up the walls and roof. After a waterproofing layer of … Read more
Archaeologists in the United Arab Emirates have uncovered the country’s oldest known buildings, dating back at least 8,500 years. This is more than 500 years older than the previous record-breaking discoveries. The buildings are located on the island of Ghagha, west of the city of Abu Dhabi. The structures which have been unearthed are “simple … Read more