I just received this Eulogy for Johnny Weiss, in loving memory of our dear friend, mentor, and solar pioneer, the founder of Solar Energy International (SEI). It is with a heavy heart that we are writing you today to honor the life and legacy of Johnny Weiss—a trailblazer in solar energy, a teacher to thousands, … Read more
Rammed-earth houses are a distinctive cultural feature of the Hmong people living in the Dong Van Karst Plateau, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, Vietnam. Traditionally, these homes are considered a measure of a family’s wealth and heritage, reflecting how long a Hmong lineage has settled in the region. You can read the original … Read more
Mike Oehler lived for over 30 years in an underground home that he built for $50 (and expanded for $500) on his land in Northern Idaho near the Canadian border. Now in his seventies his arthritis keeps him from hiking up to his home, but he continues to “write and proselytize” In 1968 like thousands … Read more
The Oceanspray Townhomes project in Ashland, Oregon was organized by the California Straw Bale Association (CASBA). This project is the first multi-story, multi-family straw bale construction in the United States. Designed by Arkin Tilt Architects and Verdant Structural Engineers, Oceanspray Townhomes aims to be a model for using low-carbon and carbon-storing materials, passive solar design, … Read more
A new method inspired by coral reefs can capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform it into durable, fire-resistant building materials, offering a promising solution for carbon-negative construction. The approach, developed by University of Southern California researchers draws inspiration from the coral reefs’ natural ability to create robust structures by sequestering carbon dioxide. “This … Read more
Barbara Jones is a passionate advocate of building with natural materials and has been a leading exponent of straw-bale construction since the mid-1990s – designing affordable, straw-bale houses. She has designed, built, or trained people to work on more than 300 projects using the material. She co-founded The School of Natural Building and trains a … Read more