New Zealand couple James and Leonie have found a way to thrive in a sustainable tiny home and food forest without breaking the bank. Before building their tiny house the couple lived in a van while traveling, followed by a house truck, and later, a small studio. It was here that they started drafting their … Read more
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
A split-level mud brick house and a sprawling garden full of Australian native plants is featured here. There is an orchard, hothouse, two dams, two large chicken pens and an outdoor pizza oven. The original building was made of mud bricks, but its poorly made mud bricks had to be replaced. The owners removed the … 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