Establishing shelter outside of a cave or rockshelter is one of the oldest inventions of humans. Archaeologists have recognized several styles of homes and dwellings made over the past 30,000 years, beginning with the earliest recorded ancient houses of mammoth … Verder lezen
Reclaimed wood is processed wood retrieved from its original application for purposes of subsequent use. Most reclaimed lumber comes from timbers and decking rescued from old barns, factories and warehouses, although it also may come from less traditional structures such … Verder lezen
Masonry heaters, also known as masonry stoves, kachelofens, Russian fireplaces, Finnish fireplaces, Swedish stoves, tile stoves, contra-flow fireplaces, radiant fireplaces and mass-storage fireplaces have been around in many different forms in almost all ancient northern cultures, from the 7200 year old Kang … Verder lezen
Lime-ash floors were an economic form of floor construction from the 15th century to the 19th century, for upper floors in parts of England where limestone or chalk were easily available. They were strong, flexible, and offered good heat and … Verder lezen
A Nubian vault is a type of curved surface forming a vaulted structure. The Nubian Vault technique is an age old method of timberless vault construction, originating in upper Egypt. It uses only earth bricks and earth mortar. Nubian vaults built over 3,000 years ago … Verder lezen
The term off-grid refers to not being connected to a grid, mainly used in terms of not being connected to a main or national electrical grid. Off-the-grid homes are autonomous; they do not rely on municipal water supply, sewer, natural … Verder lezen
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. Uses include water for garden, water for livestock, water for irrigation, and indoor heating and cooling of houses, as well as drinking water. Harvesting … Verder lezen
Greywater can be defined as any domestic wastewater produced, excluding sewage. The main difference between greywater and sewage (or blackwater) is the organic loading. Sewage has a much larger organic loading compared to greywater. Some people also categorize kitchen wastewater … Verder lezen
The small house movement (also known as the “tiny house movement”) is a popular description for the architectural and social movement that advocates living simply in small homes. The traditional dream of a large and spacious home may be becoming a … Verder lezen
Some people go way beyond the recycle bin when it comes to re-purposing materials. Some of us live in a house that is completely built of recycled and reclaimed materials. Everybody with some time on their hands, a bit of … Verder lezen