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Low-Cost, High Performing Living Roofs
A living roof, or green roof, describes a system that allows plants to thrive on the surface of rooftop without access to groundwater.
The idea is to create a self-sufficient ecosystem on your rooftop that relies exclusively on rainwater once the plants are fully established. This type of roof provides energy-efficiency benefits in the summer, because the plants provide a net cooling effect.Â
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One Person's Waste...Is Another's Treasure
Salvaging building materials brings new life to otherwise discarded items. Â Figuring how to reuse materials can inspire creativity and save loads of money in construction costs. Â But you need to have a plan, or you risk spinning your wheels and burning out from all the leg-work involved.
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Passive Solar Design Basics
Passive solar design takes advantage of solar orientation to minimize (and sometimes eliminate) heating & cooling needs.
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What is a Rubble Trench Foundation
A rubble trench is a simple, inexpensive, & effective foundation system. This is one of the oldest types of foundation systems and was...
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The Big Picture of Natural Building
Straw and clay are the fundamental materials when building naturally. And understanding the properties of...
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Strawbale Overview
Straw has been used as a construction material for as long as there has been agriculture. Early structures implement straw-clay combinations
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Clay Wall Building Overview
Clay soil provides a versatile building material, used for thousands of years to create beautiful and durable structures.
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Hybrid Natural Building Materials
The thing is...most natural building methods are actually a combination of materials. Like a stew.Â
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Natural Paint & Plaster Overview
Before there were companies that made and sold building materials, people made their own paints and plasters.
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