Djiboutian Red Crescent Society (DRCS) volunteers learned how to build an earthbag structure, during a two-day training seminar held by DRCS, October 28, 2010. The training took place on October 28 and 29 in partnership with a team from the U.S. Army 418th Civil Affairs Battalion. U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Erickson, a graduate of … Read more
The video and text below is from the Eco Preservation Society. They say they know of a bamboo preservation technique that lasts 300 years in the tropics if kept covered. Please visit their site for more information, and if you learn the details of their bamboo preservation method, please share with us. The Eco Preservation … Read more
Greenhouses are very popular for extending the growing season, but heating them in cold climates is expensive. In contrast, pit greenhouses — greenhouses built into the earth — use free solar energy from the sun for heating. The temperature of the earth (usually around 55-58 degrees Fahrenheit) helps stabilize the temperature in the greenhouse. One … Read more
A new article by Arvid Linde in Green Home Design compares typical earth-sheltered homes with structures made of earthbags. Linde raises a number of interesting points. I agree with his assessment that most earth-sheltered designs contain a lot of high embodied energy materials, notably concrete and steel, and therefore are not as ‘green’ as they … Read more
I’m always searching for new ways to utilize small diameter poles, which are abundant throughout western US forests and elsewhere. This double pole roof design is very simple. Roof poles are raised on a frame wall to create sufficient space for a superinsulated roof. From below, the sloped ceiling features exposed wood poles, and tongue … Read more
As a way to gather and share the best original earthbag building ideas for my upcoming earthbag book, I’m running a contest called Earthbag Building 2.0. The goal is to help take earthbag to the next level and hopefully mainstream its use. Winning entries will be credited with your name, and if your business is … Read more