Here’s another good way to build an inexpensive roof if you have access to wood poles from a forest. Like many of the ideas here on this blog, this design is for areas with few or no building codes. One way to get the wood is with a firewood permit from the forestry department/forest service. … Read more
The following list includes dozens of low tech, low cost ways to cool buildings in hot climates passively without electricity or machinery, i.e., passive cooling or natural cooling. This list is in addition to the 11 or so simple passive cooling techniques that I talked about in my video the other day. Altogether there are over 50 practical methods for cooling your home sustainably.
“Saltillo tile is a type of terra-cotta tile that originates in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. Saltillo-type tiles are now manufactured at many places in Mexico, and high-fire “Saltillo look” tiles, many from Italy, compete with the terra-cotta originals. Saltillo tile vary in colour and shape, but the majority range from in varying hues of reds, oranges … Read more
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_KwwLOg_WI&w=420&h=315] There are a lot of little details you can search on the Internet. This is just a basic introductory video to show you the cordwood/earthbag concept. What I like to do is have the mortar recessed slightly. It looks a little better if the wood is protruding slightly. You smooth this out. The … Read more
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDE3E5vSknM&w=420&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UVQ3QLD6Cc&w=420&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmrF3er7zus&w=420&h=315] It really helps to see finished examples of what others have done. Once again it’s YouTube to the rescue. Cornell University’s Silo House Glenburn Silo Home Silo House aka The Cabin in the Woods (low quality footage but has some good points)
Our recent blog posts about Sukup SafeT Homes and SafeT Home Videos proved popular, so I thought readers might enjoy seeing a few more grain bin homes. Image source: Little Homestead in Boise Image source: Mother Earth News Image source: Greenieweenie Image source: EcoFriend Image source 5, 6: Travel Shack Related: Mother Earth News: Convert … Read more