Information about sustainable buildings and related topics

The sustainable building association

noreply@blogger.com (Sambris) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:43:00 +0000

The AECB is a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building. It brings together builders, architects, designers, manufacturers, housing associations and local authorities, to develop, share and promote best practice in environmentally sustainable building. We pride ourselves on our independence, relevance and practicality.

Thoughts and feedback on passive solar related topics

noreply@blogger.com (Sambris) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Sustainable design, passive solar house HTM holistic housing consultation packages for the earthhome do-it-yourselfer.

You can be energy-free, free from mechanical climate control systems with a truly sustainable zero-energy home design. Our site is packed with plenty of free information, so please take the time to read this passive solar chapter and all of its detail pages (left click on any image). Learn why high thermal mass (HTM™) dry stack block, mortared concrete block, or poured-in-place concrete wall construction is a much better answer than super-insulated (high R value) air-tight construction for any climate. Conventional stick framing, log homes, strawbale, autoclaved aerated concrete and especially insulated concrete forms ("ICF's") are simply not feasible, passive solar, sustainable design materials because they don't effectively store and release energy. For truly sustainable passive solar construction, the building material of choice is high thermal mass.

Earthships around the world

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Earthships are an interesting topic for those who want to keep building costs to a minimum and build the house themselves. Comfort doesnt have to be sacrificed as you can see here.

Michael Reynolds, the Garbage Warrior provides extensive information on all aspects of earthships:

Additional information can be found on the websites below, all focused on earthship-related topics. Most of the sites provide extra information on the local requirements.

Eartships in Brighton (UK, South)
Earthship Fife Center (UK,North)
Earthship (Belgium)
Earthship (Spain)
Earthship Karuna (India)

Cheaper-Than-Silicon Solar Cell Materials

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:28:00 +0000

DailyTech - Scientists Find Nine Cheaper-Than-Silicon Solar Cell Materials

Iron pyrite is the top material picked by a University of California at Berkley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to replace silicon in solar cells. While modestly less efficient than crystalline silicon, its dramatic cheaper in processing costs and very abundant. Adopting it as a replacement to silicon or thin films could dramatically cut costs and enable enough production to supply the world's power needs, according to the team. (Source: Crystals Guide

Creating a Home Graywater System

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:59:00 +0000

Trathen Heckman takes us on a step-by-step tour of how to make a safe, ecological and legal suburban home graywater system. Follow the water as it drains from the bathroom tub (and sink and laundry) through a unique valve leading into the backyard garden. It flows into an optional wetland and underground pond for filtering. The water is then piped below ground to several destinations in the yard, where it will supply water for plants growing above it. Trathen discusses the process with local government agencies, the system design and construction (with pictures), costs, resource books, and why to undertake a graywater system in the first place.

Solar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:07:00 +0000

Solar Thermal uses solar energy both for heating and generating electricity. Solar thermal energy is free | dasolar.com

"Solar thermal technology comprises three different methods to convert solar energy for use. The first method collects the energy of the sun to heat water or air for direct use in solar home heating. The second method is used by large power utilities to indirectly create electricity through concentrated solar heat energy. The third method, known as passive solar, leverages energy efficiency and the design of a building to regulate the amount of solar energy it receives in order to regulate it's temperature."

Taiwan’s Solar Stadium is 100% Powered by the Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Not entirely related to this blog unless you own sports stadium, nevertheless it is impressive enough to be shared here:
Inhabitat » Taiwan’s Solar Stadium is 100% Powered by the Sun

"Taiwan recently finished construction on an incredible solar-powered stadium that will generate 100% of its electricity from photovoltaic technology! Designed by Toyo Ito, the dragon-shaped 50,000 seat arena is clad in 8,844 solar panels that illuminate the track and field with 3,300 lux. The project will officially open later this year to welcome the 2009 World Games."

Eco bath - reuse your water

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Eco Bath by Jang Woo-seok » Yanko Design

"Here’s a lovely simple system that makes use of the fact that toilet water never needs to be as clean as it usually is. The “Eco Bath” concept uses 50% reused water and 50% new water for a toilet system half-ways to nature friendly."

The systen recycles the used water of the wash-basin, neat.

Home Improvement: Cost vs Value report 2008-09

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:13:00 +0000

The magazine "Remodeling" publishes a Cost vs Value report each year which can be helpful to you as well if you consider to remodel or improve some aspects of your home.

Here is a screenshot:

You can find the entire report here.

Heating system taps into power

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Heating system taps into power | CapeCodOnline.com

As solar and wind power compete for the attention of eco-conscious homeowners, Freewatt is a new, lesser-known entry into the market for efficient and environmentally friendly home energy production.

The system uses what is known as micro combined heat and power, or micro-CHP, technology.

This is how it works: Natural gas or propane fuels a generator that can provide a significant portion of an average home's annual electricity needs. The waste heat from the power generation process is then captured and used to heat the house.

18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:03:00 +0000

The Simple Dollar » 18 Things a New Homeowner Should Do Immediately to Save Money

So you’ve just moved into your nice new home. You’ve unloaded the boxes, unpacked most of your stuff, and are just starting to settle into your residence.

Right now is the perfect time to walk through a checklist of ways to save money on your home. Starting on these things as early as possible will allow you to start saving money sooner rather than later.

Efficient Power at Any Wind Speed

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Efficient Power at Any Wind Speed: Scientific American

"...Wind turbines often also employ a transmission to gear the shaft speed up or down to the sweet spot. But both mechanisms add weight, complexity and cost.

ExRo Technologies in Vancouver is commercializing what should be a better idea: a generator that operates efficiently over a wide speed range. Retrofitted wind turbines could produce as much as 50 percent more power over time, CEO John McDonald states."

How much power do i need?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:25:00 +0000

How much power do I need?

Add up the wattage of tools, appliances and motors you want to run at the same time. Then select the generator with the RUNNING wattage rating to match or exceed the total load. Keep in mind that tools and appliances with electric motors or heating elements require additional tool/appliance SURGE wattage at startup. Wattage noted below are approximates only; please refer to tool or appliance itself for specific wattage required Amps x Volts = Watts

10 Unbelievable Eco Technologies and Green Gadgets | World Of Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:25:00 +0000

10 Unbelievable Eco Technologies and Green Gadgets | World Of Technology

From luminescent fiber-optic wallpaper to wood-powered hot tubs, kinetic iPods and cardboard bridges, green technology and sustainable innovation continue to amaze and impress us all.

References and Tools For DIY Solar Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:57:00 +0000

Reference Material for DIY Solar Projects

Reference data for solar designs -- books, websites, publications. Analysis tools, material properties, and information on solar system components. Invaluable for Do-it-yourselfers.

The Glengariffe Passive Solar House

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Solar House

"The Glengariffe Passive Solar House has a South facing Conservatory that supplies 45% of the heating requirement for the house. It was monitored throughout the entire year of 2005, and data of more then 50 sensors was collected at five-minute intervals. The Active Solar House was used to study the effect of a sunspace (or conservatory) on the performance of the entire building."

"Spin battery" provides novel electrical storage

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:55:00 +0000

"Spin battery" provides novel electrical storage

"Spin battery" provides novel electrical storage
by Kate Melville

Researchers at the University of Miami and at the Universities of Tokyo and Tohoku, Japan, have developed what they call a "spin battery" which is "charged" by applying a large magnetic field to nano-magnets in a device called a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). In the future, the new battery could power cars and computers, say the researchers.

Crofting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:26:00 +0000

Scottish Crofting Foundation
Welcome to the Scottish Crofting Foundation
Rooted in Our Community
Calves in Sleat, Isle of Skye

The SCF is a charitable company and the only non-government organisation representing crofting. We:

* work to develop, promote and encourage crofting.
* represent and safeguard the interests of crofters, their families and communities, their cultural heritage and their legislative rights.
* promote the environmental, social and cultural benefits of crofting activity and land use as intrinsic aspects of rural development.
* raise awareness of crofting through information and education.
* promote diversity of people, enterprise, skills and expertise.

Scotland, the land of horrible, boat-divulging loch monsters and breath-taking mountains. But did you know that you can own or rent a croft and be totally self-sustainable, close to nature, working for a purpose and having the best time of you life? Well, almost... it depends on what you have in mind when thinking about the "best time of your life". If you can see yourself raising, breeding and slaughtering pigs, grabbing your daily eggs from under your hen then this might be an intersting link for you.

Channel 4: Brittany Groundhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:33:00 +0000

"Daren and his partner Adi live in Brighton - joined, from time to time, by Daren’s two children Tula and Morris. But now Daren and Adi are selling their three bedroom Victorian house to start a new life in Brittany, in the depths of Northern France."

This lucky couple built a fantastic, self-sustainable house in France, where they spent their time with their two kids and with the help of about a dozen volunteers from all over the world.

How I built an electricity producing Solar Panel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:11:00 +0000

How I built an electricity producing Solar Panel

A hands-on walk-through on how to build solar panels, for a fraction of the retail price.

"I built a wind turbine to provide some power on the remote property. It works great, when the wind blows. However, I wanted more power, and more dependable power. The wind seems to blow all the time on my property, except when I really need it too. I do get well over 300 sunny days a year on the property though, so solar power seems like the obvious choice to supplement the wind turbine. Solar panels are very expensive though. So I decided to try my hand at building my own. I used common tools and inexpensive and easy to acquire materials to produce a solar panel that rivals commercial panels in power production, but completely blows them away in price. Read on for step by step instructions on how I did it."

Ripe for Retrofitting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:14:00 +0000

Kevin Telfer

Ripe for Retrofitting
March 5th, 2009

I have recently completed a series of four articles for Green Building Magazine following the eco-refurbishment of Nicholas Worsley’s detached 1960 home (pictured) in the village of Ripe in East Sussex and writing about it as it happens, step-by-step: a bit like Grand Designs but without the TV cameras. The final article appears in the spring edition of Green Building Magazine.

Nicholas Worsley's eco-refurbishment project

Eco-refurbishment or retrofitting has to be important if any kind of dent is going to be made on carbon emissions from UK buildings. There is a general focus in the media on new buildings, I guess because they’re largely more exciting and photogenic, but the reality is that the majority of the homes built now will still be standing in 2050. In fact, according to the Sustainable Development Commission, of the 21 million houses in Britain now, more than 18 million of them will be inhabited in 2050. That’s a pretty stunning statistic in my view. It means that new build can only have a very litmited impact on the total carbon emissions, hence the need to take retrofitting seriously.

HOMETIME Video Library

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:58:00 +0000

HOMETIME Video Library

Our video library showcases the most popular home improvement skills, the most interesting products, and the neatest design ideas from all those shows and projects.

The Earthship - San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:47:00 +0000

The Earthship - San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

The Earthship - San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua from david kalani nicaragua on Vimeo.

Thirteen Principles of Sustainable Architecture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:13:00 +0000

Green Home Building: Article about Principles of Sustainable Architecture

by Kelly Hart

As “consumers” we are frequently confronted with life style decisions that can impact our environment. There are a few choices in this life that can make a big difference in what the quality of life will be for those who follow us. Going with the flow of our culture is hard to avoid, and unfortunately the flow is not in the right direction for evolving a sustainable future.

Iceland’s Gorgeous Passive Solar Hof House

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Inhabitat » Iceland’s Gorgeous Passive Solar Hof House

Deep in the northern chill of Iceland, just outside the arctic circle, the Hof House sits snugly within its landscape. Built on an existing estate, Studio Granada Architects salvaged whatever materials possible from the site to be incorporated into the new residence, converting telegraph poles into a sun screen and basalt pillars into stepping stones. Even the grass on the green roof came from local site leftovers after clearing way for its foundation. Designed for the extreme weather conditions of the Skagafjörður Fjord, the Hof House relies on passive solar design, geothermal heating, and some pretty hefty concrete walls.