by Peter McIntosh | Jun 16, 2015 | African Vernacular Architecture, Guest post, Indigenous Architectural Knowledge, Natural Building Materials & Techniques
The first thing that must be understood about African vernacular architecture is the great diversity that exists with both materials and techniques. People build according to climate but more importantly, with what materials are available locally.
by Peter McIntosh | Apr 19, 2015 | Living off-grid, Solar energy
Before you invest in solar panels or batteries, it’s essential to calculate your daily energy use in watt-hours. By understanding your energy needs and usage, you can make informed decisions about what you truly need, and what you can do without.
by Peter McIntosh | Feb 26, 2015 | Living off-grid, Solar energy
Choosing to take responsibility for your own energy needs is deeply empowering. It nurtures awareness, reduces waste, and reconnects us with our impact on the world. Like growing your own food, generating your own power brings with it a deep respect for the resources we rely on daily.
by Peter McIntosh | Nov 9, 2014 | Adobe, Clay, Cob, Compressed Earth Brick (CEB), Earth testing, Earth theory, Natural building, Natural building methods, Natural mortar mixes, Natural plasters, Peter McIntosh, Sustainable building
(Please note that in order to understand what is written here you will need to have read my previous posts on understanding earth and testing earth) Plasters and mortars are by far the process that I get asked about the most, and for good reason as plasters are what...
by Peter McIntosh | Jun 3, 2014 | Adobe, Clay, Cob, Compressed Earth Brick (CEB), Earth testing, Earth theory, Mud brick, Natural building, Natural building methods, Peter McIntosh, Rammed Earth, Sand, Sandbag, Strawbale, Sustainable building
By Peter McIntosh (Please note that in order to understand what is written here you will need to have read my previous post on understanding earth) Earth requires two properties to make it strong enough for building, compressive and tensile strength. In much the...
