“Climate and weather in the high desert of Arizona are harsh. Granted, we don’t have the severe cold of northern states, but monsoonal rains driven by 50 mph winds and intense sun that will burn skin through a long sleeved shirt can be tough on a building made of straw and adobe clay.
DIY
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.
Pine Needle Gasifier
“Monoculture pine forests that have infested the middle level elevations of Himalayan region are depriving the local population of availability of water, fodder and fuel wood.
$300 Solar Heater
A Fredericton-area man says his heating bills are decreasing thanks to a solar furnace that cost him $300 to build.
Smokeless Rammed Earth Stove
Rammed Earth for Everyone has some very interesting rammed earth cookstoves and wood stoves with lots of photos that show how they’re built. Looks simple enough for any do-it-yourselfer. Cost would be negligible if the forms were reused to build additional stoves.