“Earlier this year, my colleagues Ace McArleton of New Frameworks Natural Building, Ben Graham of Natural Design/Build, and I conducted extensive blower-door testing, infrared thermography, and a series of moisture tests (probe, pin, and scan) on seven different buildings we had built in part or whole over the past seven years in Vermont and New … Read more
I think you’ll forgive me for double posting on this subject after you see GERES free online greenhouse building PDF. I’m reposting on the subject so no one misses this. The information in the PDF is top notch. It’s rare to find books with so much detail, even those for sale. Details include drawings for … Read more
Installing window quilts is one of the simplest, easiest ways to save on energy costs. It’s right up there with caulking, weather stripping and adding extra roof insulation in terms of rapid payback. Window quilts would probably pay for themselves in just one or two seasons. With something so simple and obvious you’d think more … Read more
Hello Owen. Just wanted to share with you my plan: Next year, I will build a large roundhouse in Hungary with raschel mesh tubes. I’ve got 7km of UV-stabilized raschel mesh from a Czech company called Juta. Since there are no volcanic rocks in Hungary, I might go with Ex-clay [expanded clay aggregates] for insulation. … Read more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzs-DHau37M Andrew, one of our readers, suggested a blog post about small stoves for all those planning small earthbag homes. This is a great idea because earthbag buildings are highly efficient and so in many cases all you need is a small stove. The emphasis here is on small, low cost, do-it-yourself wood stoves that … Read more
Imagine a creative, livable, affordable home. Now imagine it in Alaska. Join us in creating a model for a new era of Living Communities. First place prize of $35,000, and the winning design will be built! The Aleutian Islands are home to some of the world’s longest continuously occupied communities, with evidence of human development … Read more