When we talk about sustainable housing, we rarely talk about how to prove that. The construction industry is one of the most polluting sectors on the planet. While both expensive and inefficient, it is responsible for up to 40% of global solid waste. Despite widespread talk of “green building,” real data is often hard to … Read more
Elementerre is a Senegalese company founded with the mission of revolutionizing the construction sector using sustainable, locally sourced materials. Established in 2010, the company has made rammed earth its primary material, offering it as an ecological and long-lasting alternative to conventional building materials. Using compressed earth blocks, produced by mixing local soil with a small … Read more
I recently got this email from Connor McKenzie who works with Modern Mill: “I enjoyed your recent article on using rice husks for compressed earth blocks and thought you’d be interested in another innovation: a Mississippi company that’s turning rice hulls into tree-free siding, trim, decking, millwork and more. Modern Mill has developed a building … Read more
Meet Roan & Ivy, a vibrant couple living in neighboring tiny homes on their off-grid property in New Mexico. They bought their 2 acres and built both the earthbag home & shed tiny house for under $15k. Their alternative, simple lifestyle enables them to live frugally on their own terms while focusing on their passions, … Read more
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now launched its premier Green Business Recognition ceremony with a “green ribbon cutting” at a four-plex built out of straw bales in Ashland, Oregon. Lydia Doleman of Earth Dragon Natural Building said the company’s project was “to install the first multifamily straw bale building in Oregon. It’s got tons of unique … Read more
“Biomaterials” are materials made using biological matter, and some engineers and designers are turning to them for their “visual richness”, alongside their eco-credentials. A growing number of people around the world are exploring ways living organisms and their products can be integrated into our built environment – from algae-based bricks to straw or fungi wall … Read more