Ecosan is a shortened term for ecological sanitation. It refers to a system of human toilet systems which separate solids and liquids at source, safely and in a hygienic manner without causing pollution; and uses the nutrient value contained in the waste for growing plants. Typical sanitation solutions have included the septic tank or simply a pit latrine. Both tend to pollute ground water and are environmentally unsatisfactory.
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Pallet Wood Kitchen Cabinets
Pallets are a great free resource for building low cost houses and furniture. We’ve covered lots of different uses of pallets on our blog – floors, paneling, furniture and even entire houses. Here are three nice kitchens made primarily from recycled pallets.
The Complete Guide to Alternative Home Building Materials & Methods
“In the United States alone, the annual construction of over one million new homes causes a very substantial drain on natural resources. Today, approximately 60 percent of the timber cut down in our country is used for building homes. Using alternative home building materials and creating a greener home are about creating better homes that are environmentally friendly, are less expensive in the long run, and create healthier occupants.
Using light straw clay (slip straw) as interior wall fill
Good, clear straw/clay tutorial. Put those kids to work!
“An instructional video by Cedar Ridge Farm.
Light straw clay, also known as slip straw, is a healthy and simple material for filling interior (and exterior) walls. The process of packing the straw-clay mixture into the walls requires only simple tools and labor.
Help us spread the word about straw bale building in Romania
“Hello, my name is Grzegorz and I am an architect. I come from Poland, but I currently live in Romania where I am an active proponent of straw bale building. Together with my wife Maria, and our many enthusiastic friends we are trying to spread the word about straw bale construction.
Making a Dent in the Universe
I’ve been reading up on Paul Polak’s work at Paul Polak.com. His new book The Business Solution to Poverty with co-author Mal Warwick has inspired me to dig deeper in search of more affordable housing solutions. They explain why governmental and philanthropic efforts to end poverty have fallen short and will never end poverty because “they lack the incentives of the market to attract massive resources”. Donations and tax money will never end poverty. It’s just Business 101 if you think about it.