Cardboard-Confined Rammed Earth

A group of researchers at RMIT University in Australia has been looking at discarded cardboard and wondering if it could do something useful. Their experiments led to a mix of cardboard, soil, and water that behaves like a building material, not packaging. Early trials point to real potential, especially for builders who are trying to … Read more

Restoring Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site near La Junta, Colorado has been closed to the public due to safety issues with the structure. The current fort building was constructed in 1976 on the footprint of the original mid-1800s trading post that was a meeting place and major settlement along the Santa Fe Trail for trappers, … Read more

A Fruitful Legacy in New Zealand

What Clare and Tony began in New Zealand nearly three decades ago with a property scattered with timber trees is now a vibrant food forest, home to more than 200 fruiting plant varieties, many of them rare or unusual. There are 27 varieties of apples, grapes, avocados, bananas, pineapples, Sichuan pepper, berries, nut trees, passionfruit, … Read more

Remodeling a Farmhouse-Style Home in Belgium

Marc and Ann bought a  farmhouse-style home in Belgium in the 1990s. Later they decided to renovate it in a sustainable way. The house and its location hold strong emotional value for the couple, as they hope to grow old there. This type of home dominates the local landscape and fails to meet today’s energy … Read more