sustainability

Building papercrete domes

Building papercrete domes

I blog about Mikey and Wendy’s projects very frequently because they’re doing so many cool things. One of the most impressive is their papercrete dome, which is now documented in this Instructable: When my girlfriend (Wendy Tremayne) and I arrived in southern New Mexico one of the first things we did was look around for […]

Laziest man on earth’s guide to living green

Laziest man on earth’s guide to living green

Hammocks: the symbol of lazy environmentalism (and proper permaculture design) Regardless of your green ambitions, it’s never hurts to know the shortcuts to more sustainable choices. Funny and in this category is this guide to green living, even featuring a sustainable introduction: Anyone who thinks it’s tough to be an environmentalist has got it all […]

Bright built barn

Bright built barn

Here’s a house that announces its energy efficiency (or lack thereof): With large intentions, its mission is to demonstrate an alternative method of building that allows levels of flexibility and sustainability beyond the reach of typical residential construction. This building requires NO FURNACE, even in Maine, and provides owners with real-time, easily understandable feedback of […]

Citizen-powered energy grid

Citizen-powered energy grid

The community house at Westwood, with lots of solar thermal collectors on top Here’s a case study about a community in North Carolina building their own power. In part: When most people think about solar strategies they generally consider using them in their own homes. But cooperative or community systems offer a lot of potential […]

Meatricity

Meatricity

Meatricity is the electricity generated by the muscle power of humans or other animals. After a great day working on project ideas for Alternative Energy module in next summer’s Learn 2 Teach / Teach 2 Learn program at the South End Technology Center, I drove by a huge workout gym sort of filled with beautiful […]

Sustainable penguins

Sustainable penguins

Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is in the process of building a new Humboldt penguin exhibit that conserves energy; they’re installing a natural filtration system, and they’re using geothermal energy to keep the pool at a penguin-pleasing temperature range of 50-60 degrees Farenheit. State-of-the-art engineering allows the new penguin exhibit to help us reduce our environmental […]