This strawbale home on Australia’s coast is designed for passive solar and features reclaimed timber and ocean views. Joe, a plumber, and his wife Frances say, “We wanted to minimize our environmental impact by building a sustainable home that required minimal heating and cooling, had high insulation value, and used reclaimed building materials.” The couple … Read more
Natural fibers offer thermal insulation performance that rivals that of conventional plastics and inorganic materials and provide a fully sustainable alternative to environmentally harmful plastics. Natural fibers are sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight, and humidity, which can significantly shorten their lifespan. Among natural fibers, those derived from animals, like wool, are particularly … Read more
C-ELM incorporates cyanobacteria into translucent panels that can be mounted on to the interior walls of buildings. As the microorganisms grow using photosynthesis they pull carbon dioxide out of the air and affix it to calcium to create calcium carbonate, locking away the carbon. A kilogram of C-ELM can capture and sequester up to 350 … Read more
Frost King “No Itch” Insulation is made from 100% recycled denim. This insulation can be used for insulation, cushioning and noise dampening. It’s nonirritating, so there’s no need for gloves, goggles or masks when installing—and it can be easily torn and ripped to fit in between joists and around pipes and ducts. It is made … Read more
There is a Catalonian park in Spain that is home to a 3D Printed Earth Forest Campus, featuring a series of architectural structures printed from earth. The campus is the work of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, which has leveraged WASP’s large-format 3D printing technology to print these buildings. Their latest structure features … Read more
Ross and Kristin Ulibarri live in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Valverde Commons, a senior co-housing community within walking distance of historic Taos Plaza in New Mexico. Its sculpted adobe-style exterior makes it look like a traditional Southwestern dwelling. The house has triple-glazed windows and air-tight insulation, so it rarely needs any heating beyond the … Read more