“The unpredictable economy, recent natural disasters and the fickle housing market are driving many working class Americans to live more frugally. Although downsizing, living simply and being environmentally-conscious are not new ideas to any generation, Millennials graduating with unprecedented amounts of student debt are looking to own, rather than rent, a home. Deciding to turn their backs on the McMansions and SUVS of their forebears, more and more Millennials are buying into the tiny house movement.
affordable
NEA Earthbag Technology Report
The Nepal Engineer’s Association (NEA) invited me and Kateryna of Good Earth Nepal to submit a technical summary of earthbag building, which has just been published. An excerpt is below. The full report is also now free online at Earthbag Building.com. You might remember that Good Earth Nepal won the NEA people’s choice design award … Read more
DIY Gothic Arch Shaped Greenhouse
This video shows step by step directions for building a gothic shaped or bowed roof greenhouse with laminated wood like the UM passive solar greenhouse that we reported on the other day. This model supposedly meets Florida’s 160 mph wind code, and can easily be built by most do-it-yourselfers.
Cabin People Episode 1 – Freedom Plus Cabin Tour
“People should be free. Meet Billy, the cabin and what drove him to walk a different path.”
Wood Chip Radiant Heating
“Home Remodel for off grid home power system continued. Boiler reconfigured with water recirculation pump, heat exchanger improved, boiler power now at 60kW or 200k BTU/Hr. Wood chip feed fully automated with manual flame power control (chip delivery speed). Keeping home warm with night T in 20’s (F). Heats home in ~2 hours, good for 24. Next goal, 2000 Gal hot reservoir and home on thermostat.”
Whatever Happened to Rex’s Pallet House?
So where is Rex? How did his pallet house turn out? I’d sure like to know. When people send us owner-builder home projects that cost $4/square foot then obviously tons of people will be interested. Most likely Rex’s house is finished and he’s moved on to other things. If Rex happens to see this, please please email me an update of your house.