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Skip to content 26 years of online Green Building information Search for: Home Water Indoor Water Conservation Composting Toilets Pervious Paving Materials Xeriscape Greywater Irrigation Harvested Rainwater Energy Heating and Cooling Solar Hot Water, Heating and Cooling Systems Energy Recovery Ventilator Programmable Thermostat Ground Source Heat Exchange Gas Water Heating Ductwork Radiant Barrier Ridge and Soffit Venting Fans Passive Solar Design Earth Sheltered Design Passive Solar Design Earth Sheltered Design Landscaping for Energy Savings Photovoltaic Systems Lighting Electromagnetic Fields Energy Efficient Appliances Building Materials Wood Dimensional Lumber Wood Treatment Non Toxic Termite Control Wood Flooring Engineered Structural Materials Engineered Sheet Materials Engineered Siding Wall Systems Structural Insulating Wall Panels (SIPs) Straw Bale Construction Flyash Concrete Earth Material Roofing Insulation Windows and Doors Cabinets Paints, Finishes and Adhesives Floor Coverings Recycle/Reuse/Etc Home Recycling Compost System Construction Waste Recycling Shipping Container Housing About Portfolio Our Services Web Hosting Plans Web Development Backup Policy WordPress Monitoring, Update, & Backup Service WordPress Site Hardening WordPress Hack Recovery Web Hosting Plans Backup Policy Web Development Site Updates Sponsors Staff, Contractors, & Contributors Disclaimer Privacy Policy Payments Contact Us Resources Books – Videos – Software – Periodicals International Straw Bale Building Registry Green Building Databases & Design Resources Country Abbreviations Menu Scientists create 3D-printed buildings from soil Posted on March 4, 2021 March 4, 2021 by Bill Christensen Eco-friendly technology could potentially replace concrete and revolutionize sector Scientists have developed a method to 3D-print greener buildings using local soil that they say has the potential to revolutionise the construction industry. The technology is designed to be a sustainable alternative to concrete, which accounts for approximately 7% of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. Sarbajit Banerjee, a professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering at Texas A&M University, said 3D printing enabled a versatility that allowed them to print entire architectural facades, although getting such structures to meet existing building regulations remained a significant challenge. Concrete remains the primary material used in many construction projects but it cannot be recycled and requires a lot of energy to mix and transport. The research team’s aim is to print structures using the type of soil that can be found in any garden. “While the widespread use of concrete has democratised access to housing and enabled the growth of cities, this has come at a considerable environmental cost,” said Banerjee. Full article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/21/scientists-create-3d-printed-buildings-local-soil What is a Colloquium? Posted on August 12, 2020 October 2, 2020 by Bill Christensen A small band of natural building enthusiasts and outlaws met in a field over 20 years ago at something they called a ‘colloquium’. The movement they created has grown uncontrollably ever since; reviving and innovating ancient building techniques and training thousands in the essential, empowering art of building. Now, as the world faces resource scarcity, increasing climate refugees and 3 billion more people on the way, this tiny backwoods movement prepares for the mainstream. Join these merry pioneers as they celebrate their successes; sharing stories, techniques and wisdom as they brace to meet the needs of a world in crisis. Thatch-covered Enterprise Centre may be the world’s greenest building Posted on March 20, 2016 September 28, 2020 by Bill Christensen Prefab thatch wall panels (built indoors during the off season) and materials palette which the Treehugger writer calls ‘almost edible’. “John French, CEO of the university’s Adapt Low Carbon Group and project director, … was eager that the next generation of buildings at UEA should move away from high thermal mass and a dependence on carbon-intensive concrete, towards natural and locally sourced materials.” “The building also features a wide array of other sustainable materials including recycled timber finishes, wood wool acoustic boards, spray-on cellulose, and wall coverings made from hemp, nettle fabric and reeds” More at: http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/thatch-covered-enterprise-centre-may-be-worlds-greenest-building.html http://passivehouseplus.ie/magazine/new-build/is-this-the-uk-s-greenest-building.html A 3D Printer that builds homes Posted on September 29, 2015 February 25, 2020 by Bill Christensen Unlike earlier 3D printed houses which used plastic, this one uses clay. Very cool! The World’s Advanced Saving Project, or WASP , has just unveiled a giant 3D printer that – rather like a real wasp – can build a house out of the stuff. The 3D printer, called BigDelta, works much like any other you may have seen – layering up a material into a pre-determined structure. The difference is that it stands 12 meters (40 feet) tall and claims to be the world’s biggest. It was unveiled this weekend at the three-day “Reality of Dream” rally in Italy, where BigDelta was made. In a statement, WASP proposes that its technology could help meet the rising demand for housing, citing a UN calculation that over the next 15 years there will be an average daily demand for 100,000 new housing units. It is thought the technology would be of most use in disaster or war zones , where the speed of production could help those who have become displaced. The use of natural materials could also benefit the environment by reducing cement – a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. You can watch the journey of BigDelta from desktop prototype to field-dwelling giant here. The project site: http://www.wasproject.it/ Original article: http://www.iflscience.com/3d-printer-so-big-it-can-print-houses New LinkedIn “Tadelakt Professionals” group Posted on September 24, 2014 February 25, 2020 by Bill Christensen Ryan Chivers of Atesano Plaster recently started a new LinkedIn group for Tadelakt Professionals. This group is a forum for professional tadelakt applicators and those involved in tadelakt material sales and formulation. Discussions will focus on technical aspects of the craft as well as the business side of tadelakt installation. Tadelakt, for those who are unaware, is a lime-based plastering technique which produces a beautiful water resistant surface with a high polish. My lawn is dead. Because I care. Posted on June 19, 2014 February 25, 2020 by Bill Christensen One of a series of badges promoting water conservation by Katie McKissick It’s summer. Here in the drought plagued Southwest US, it’s a badge of honor to not water your lawn. It’s even more of a badge of honor to replace it with xeriscape , create water-retaining structures like a berm-and-swale system, and recycle your greywater onto your landscape where possible. That’s what I do. For more of Katie McKissick’s work, see: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/symbiartic/2014/06/24/dont-be-a-water-jerk/ Spread the word about Straw Bale Construction to Romania Posted on February 8, 2014 February 25, 2020 by Bill Christensen UPDATE: The Indiegogo campaign has ended, and we heard today that our new Romanian friends managed to raise € 1,266 – not all that they’d hoped for, but hopefully enough to do a lot of what they’ve planned. I’ll update this post more as I hear news. We recently got word of some people attempting to spread the word about strawbale construction and other natural building techniques in Romania. They’re doing an Indiegogo fundraiser to get the funds together to attend and exhibit at the largest construction expo in the country. They only have until midnight on Feb 14th to raise the needed money, so le...