Over the years we’ve profiled thousands of affordable and sustainable housing ideas that include affordable homes made with natural building materials, earthquake and hurricane resistant housing, renewable energy, appropriate technology, permaculture, and on and on. In fact, we’ve covered almost the whole range of homesteading and sustainable living topics in addition to our main focus on natural building. We’ve done this because all these things are so closely interconnected. How can you have a sustainable home without a sustainable toilet, a renewable energy system and home garden? How can you build a sustainable home without affordable land? Most affordable land nowadays has depleted soil, so how do you improve degraded land to support a homestead?
appropriate technology
How a New Source of Water is Helping Reduce Conflict
“We are standing above the new Sorek desalination plant, the largest reverse-osmosis desalination facility in the world, and we are staring at Israel’s salvation. Just a few years ago, in the depths of its worst drought in at least 900 years, Israel was running out of water. Now it has a surplus. That remarkable turnaround was accomplished through national campaigns to conserve and reuse Israel’s meager water resources, but the biggest impact came from a new wave of desalination plants.
Water Vortex Power Plant Debuts in Switzerland
“A new way to generate electricity is being implemented in Switzerland. It’s a special water vortex power plant that bears the name of well known inventor, Bertrand Piccard.” This may be practical for homesteaders and ecovillages who want to live more sustainably off grid and be more self sufficient.
Turn $20 Into $3,500 With a Do it Yourself, Solar Water Distiller!
I found some very good ideas for a DIY solar water distiller on the video linked below. The problem is the bulk of the video turned into a long political rant and so I’m not posting the video here. Instead, I’ll summarize the key ideas: 1. You can get glass topped patio coffee tables for free or very cheap on Craig’s List (and at yard sales). The glass is used on top of the distiller, and the table serves as a base.
Rocket-fired Griddle Oven — Free Plans
Kelly Hart posted an interesting story the other day about a Rocket-fired Oven and Griddle that really caught my eye. I think lots of readers would be interested in learning more about this stove. There’s some additional info on the Firespeaking.com website that will prove useful.
New blade-less wind turbine — breaking the conventional windmill design
“Vortex Bladeless has designed a new form of wind energy, and state that it is “more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way to produce energy.” The Vortex Bladeless website states that their product reduced manufacturing and maintenance drastically and requires no energy or training to use.