“Sukalatti was built using the same amount of energy required to produce 50 bags of cement at the factory. Without the nylon shade net, producing a single bag of cement would consume more energy than the entire house.”
DIY
Low Tech Ferrocement Roof Building System
“Total roof size 360sqm approx
1 inch wire mesh 22 gauge
Days worked so far: 34 working days till last layer on last section laid.
Total cost so far $2800 not including patio post rebuild. Also waterproofing and painting not included but whole roof is covered.
Tractor Cob
“Many of you might be wondering “Why would I want to mix cob with a tractor?” There are other good methods of mixing cob with your feet, using a tarp, or in a pit that don’t require the burning of fossil fuels. This is true, and any method of mixing cob without heavy machinery is going to be the purest form of cob mixing with the lowest amount of embodied energy.
Farm Hack Open Source Machines
Excellent site for DIY machines with free open source plans. Here are three practical machines that caught my attention:
Ken Kerns: 7 Axioms of the Owner-Built Home
Ken Kerns: 7 Axioms of the Owner-Built Home
1. Build According to your own Best Judgment: So if we are to be at liberty to build our own home at less cost, we must necessarily be free from all building code jurisdiction. This means we must locate outside of urban control—in the country or small township districts.
Natural Building Materials and Methods
Chris Dancey put together a video titled Natural Building Overview that shows many different natural building options. The screenshot above was taken from his video. I like the chart because it shows at a glance the various natural building materials and methods in an organized way.