Governments are expanding financial incentives to reduce emissions. The US government is offering some homeowners an energy-efficient mortgage option, which can help you finance efficiency improvements, save on utility bills and even increase how much home you can afford. An EEM expands the amount you can borrow when you invest in efficiency upgrades. If you qualify, … Read more
John Root is a longtime solar pioneer and this is his journey to powering an off-grid hot tub at 6,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains: “I’ve been living on- and off-grid for 40 years. I started out building hot-air solar collectors and designing root cellars with sunspaces on top. For those designs, I fed … Read more
“This House Never Ends” is a renovation project in Melbourne, Australia, designed by Steffen Welsch Architects. The design applies passive solar principles with thermal mass, insulation and cross ventilation. It uses double-glazed timber doors and recycled brick. A 4.75 kilowatt photovoltaic system powers the house, while a heat pump and induction burner negate the need … Read more
A collaborative team in Amsterdam have created a floating neighborhood called Schoonschip on a canal. It consists of 46 dwellings with more than 100 residents. Each dwelling has a unique architectural style and various exterior finishes. The project seeks to conserve natural resources while decreasing pollutants. Construction at Schoonschip will be completed later this year. … Read more
Witchcliffe Ecovillage in Western Australia will serve as home to around 700 people and be a model of sustainability for communities worldwide. The Ecovillage site spans about 300 acres of former farmland. Project co-founders and partners, Mike Hulme and Michelle Sheridan began the project with a plan to create “the most sustainable residential community possible”. The … Read more
Rosie constructed a fine off-the-grid home out of five 20ft shipping containers. The home is situated in the middle of a spectacular conservation block and her modern shipping container home has been wonderfully designed to take full advantage of the surrounding landscape. This home is completely off the grid, with solar power, rainwater collection and … Read more