“Who here hasn’t thought about the pleasures of going off the grid — the concept of removing oneself from the trappings of modern society, Thoreau-like, in favor of something a little simpler?
green building
Stepped Earthbag Foundations
One of our readers requested information on how to build on sloped terrain. They want to minimize excavation work. The drawing above shows how to build an earthbag foundation in ‘steps’. The basic process involves: 1. determine the slope of the land: change in elevation (‘rise’) over horizontal distance (run), expressed as a fraction (example: … Read more
Knowledge is Power
Sustainable Lifestyle from Spreading the Word
Jon is creating a sustainable lifestyle for himself in a poor country. He is fortunate to have access to a computer and the Internet. With a little help from a friend, he’s discovered a whole new world of possibilities for building sustainable homes, cooking stoves, heaters, renewable energy, organic gardens and more. Jon has discovered some of the free guides on the Internet that explain and illustrate extremely low cost ways of living and building things. He’s not only getting a great (and free) education for himself. He’s also learning valuable skills that can help his local community raise their standard of living, improve their health and create sustainable jobs.
Report on Compressed Earth Blocks
“The following study was done to test the feasibility of interlocking soil/cement compressed blocks in residential construction in North America. The study collected data on compressive strength of the blocks as well as observations on how they can be used.
Rocket Mass Heaters
Rocket Mass Heaters – Super Efficient Woodstoves You Can Build
“Here is a superefficient wood fired heater you can build for yourself in a weekend for less than a hundred dollars. This book explains in detail exactly how to build one, then how to use it in a range of applications.
We discuss materials: where to find them, what to pay and how to make use of found and recycled parts. The section on fire and fuels is thorough but simple; we tried to keep away from numbers wherever possible.