Guest post: Hybrid alternative and natural building blocks at the Delft ECD (Early Childhood Development Centre)
In Delft, an impoverished township on the outskirts of the Cape Flats, local government is changing its approach to building early childhood development centres (ECDs) with a pioneering project showcasing a hybrid of natural building methods and up-cycled waste...
Passive Solar Design Strategies with Thermal Mass and Natural Insulation
Discover how to design an energy-efficient home that naturally stays warm in winter, cool in summer, and produces more energy than it consumes. Passive solar design is the starting point of sustainable building as it uses the energy provided by the sun and stored in...
How to Design an Off-Grid Solar System: The Technical Essentials – Part 2
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.
Owner-builder journey | A home that would grow a forest
Five years ago, Peter McIntosh gave me +- 900 sun-baked mud bricks, for an extension to my house. With little start up money, a trickle of income, some plans on google sketch up, a pickaxe and, most importantly, plenty of time, I finally started the process a year ago…