Uncategorized

"Natural building" is an umbrella term than connotes any sort of building that is accomplished with the use of natural materials primarily, as opposed to the use of man-made or industrial materials. There is, of course, a blurring of this distinction when any specific material or building technique is examined, because the influence of technology is all-pervasive in today’s world. Still, it is worthwhile to focus on those ways of building that minimize the use of products that require considerable embodied energy for their manufacture or transportation. The objective is to build with simple techniques that don’t further pollute the environment, consume more fossil fuel, or unnecessarily extract the resources of Mother Earth. Such techniques, by their very nature, have an aesthetic value that tends to blend in with the environment and "feel" natural.

Read more of the Article    

Strawbale buildings are all the rage in alternative construction today, and with good reason–they are cheap, easy to build, and very energy efficient. Strawbale buildings look similar to adobe, with massive walls, wide window sills and typically rounded corners, but with the added benefit of a higher insulation value. The soft, sometimes curvy edges of strawbale construction can lend a fairy tale look to the finished structures. The fun part of strawbale construction is that anyone can do it. Anyone can help stack the fluffy, oversized bricks in place.

Strawbale homes and outbuildings were first developed by pioneers in the Sand Hills of Nebraska where there was lots of straw, but few trees. The early pioneers built houses of sod, up until the late 1800’s when baling technology provided the first compressed, string-tied rectangular bales. The next logical step was to stack those bales like bricks to make warm walls. Strawbale buildings from the early 1900’s are still in use and in excellent condition today.

   Read more of this Article  

More Strawbales Links    

More Natural Building Links   

Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms.

The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.

Read more of the Article    

More Permaculture Links   

Biodiesel can reduce global warming, acid rain and oil wars, but unsustainable production practices are already causing environmental destruction.

Country music legend Willie Nelson talks about what attracted him to biodiesel, his commitment to American farms and small towns, and why he
thought his wife had gotten into his "stash."
 

For more information:
BioWillie® premium biodiesel

how to make biodiesel

For more information:
Onsite Power Systems

how to make biodiesel

For more information:
Onsite Power Systems

CEO of E3 Biofuels discusses company’s pioneering closed-loop system for ethanol production with virtually no fossil fuels.

The 3/27 Methanol test is an easy test to see how well reacted Biodiesel is using nothing more than biodiesel and methanol.

A walkthrough of the steps for making biodiesel at home, and driving your car for 65-75 cents/gallon

Scientist David Fridley explains the inherent cost and production problems with ethanol and similar biofuels.

tanker train run to Rotterdam ,Netherlands. Location Blerick,Netherlands

CEO of E3 Biofuels discusses company’s pioneering closed-loop system for ethanol production with virtually no fossil fuels. (more)

Japan is a forested country with about 70% of its land comprised of bountiful woodland. The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute is the only research organization in Japan that comprehensively researches forests in order to know, protect, and utilize this asset. The institute is currently developing a bio-ethanol production technology based on simultaneous glycosylation fermentation using alkali pretreatments and cellulose-producing microorganisms. As a raw material for bio-ethanol, woody biomass doesn’t compete with current food-based ones….

Research at Oklahoma State University

November 2006 (Medialink) — With the recent run up in gas prices and the lingering war in the Middle East, there has been talk of renewable energy sources to power our cars and J11544trucks. Ethanol, a biofuel, can be produced not only from corn, but sugar cane, switch grass, and wood. And using it, instead of gasoline, decreases the amount of pollutants a car emits. But the question remains, "Are there any cars that can run on it?" Brazil started an ethanol program. Recently, Brazil introduced flex fuel vehicles. These vehicles can run both with ethanol, gasoline, ethanol and gasoline in any blend. So these vehicles can be used anywhere. Sweden is also dedicated to reducing its dependence on oil. …

Scientist David Fridley explains the inherent cost and production problems with ethanol and similar biofuels.

CEO of E3 Biofuels discusses company’s pioneering closed-loop system for ethanol production with virtually no fossil fuels.

Japan is a forested country with about 70% of its land comprised of bountiful woodland. The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute is the only research organization in Japan that comprehensively researches forests in order to know, protect, and utilize this asset. The institute is currently developing a bio-ethanol production technology based on simultaneous glycosylation fermentation using alkali pretreatments and cellulose-producing microorganisms. As a raw material for bio-ethanol, woody biomass doesn’t compete with current food-based ones….