Permaculture is a combination of the terms “permanent” and “agriculture”. It is a concept about approaching human agricultural systems and settlements as a part of the natural system and not in conflict with nature; imagine an edible and sustainable infrastructure. The goal of many people who practice permaculture design is … Read more
As the demand for fossil fuels lessens, so does the negative impact on the environment that harvesting and using these resources produces. Although the economy has driven down the number of new cars being built, there is still a hefty car population that needs restructuring. Making personal transportation cleaner and … Read more
Mention solar energy and we think about panels on our roof generating electricity or hot water. But have you ever thought about cooking with the heat of the sun’s rays? For many people in developing countries solar cookers are a cheap and practical alternative to cooking with other fuels. Solar … Read more
Solar panels are becoming increasingly common in domestic properties. Is it really possible to heat and light your house from the power of the sun alone? There are a variety of methods of collecting the sun’s heat. At its simplest, passive solar collects heat through your windows, walls and floors. … Read more
When we think about getting hear from the ground we probably imagine geothermal energy; large magma chambers miles underground powering geysers and hot springs, or being tapped to generate electricity through steam turbines. But living next to a volcano can be a risky proposition and might be seen as an … Read more
Many of the best eco trends are less about new technologies and more about reviving the innovative technologies that existed when civilizations thrived without depending on copious amounts of fuel. Did you know that there were actually ancient refrigerators that sufficed quite well in preserving food? Naturally, the still work … Read more
Rain barrels are a fantastic and sustainable way to conserve water and to store and use rain water for gardening and landscaping. Most commercially available rain barrel systems integrate into a building’s existing rain gutter system and effectively collect the rainwater from the roof of the structure and funnel the … Read more
Green lawns have long been a staple of residential neighborhoods; they are favored by homeowners associations for their uniformity and by home builders for their ease of installation. However, lawns are just not suited for many geographic areas and arid areas require irrigation and extensive watering. In most cases, chemicals … Read more
At first glance, a wind turbine on your roof or in your garden seems like a great idea. Wind is free; you can lower your carbon footprint; and you can reduce you electricity costs. Domestic wind turbines come in two flavours. Mast mounted sit on a mast or tower and … Read more
Born out of necessity in 2002 during an extended power outage in Brazil, Alfredo Moser created an innovative solution to keep light flowing in his workshop. He cut holes in the roof of his workshop and hung water-filled bottles; the water refracted the light so it spread through the house … Read more
You may ask yourself what is hydroponics? It is the technique of growing plants without the use of soil. Although, there are other methods of growing plants with nothing more than water; this process is known as nutrient film technique or N.F.T. This process is quite popular and is used … Read more
A haybox cooker is a box full of insulating material that keeps a meal hot enough so that it cooks without having to keep it in the oven or on the stove for hours [1]. It’s a bit like an insulated thermos flask, except rather than coffee or soup it … Read more
The Native Americans of the dry American Southwest creatively solved the problem of farming with very little rainfall by independently inventing and implementing the dry land farming agricultural technique. The ancient Anasazi people as well as the long-present Hopi, Tewa, Zuni, and Navajo tribes continue to use the innovations of … Read more
In many ways sustainable living is a return to the old ways of doing things. Unlike other construction materials such as concrete, wood, and steel, mud house construction is not environmentally destructive and it is relatively inexpensive. Mud House Construction: Learning from the Old Ways Just because a construction process, … Read more
Renewable resources are natural resources using natural processes that can replenish themselves over a period of time. All renewable resources are a part of the natural environment and make up the eco-systems on the planet. They are threatened by industrial progress but also must be monitored so as not to … Read more