Go Green: How to Make a Hemp House of Pain-less Green Building Materials
Hemp Construction Info: www.Hempcrete.ca Green News & PR www.Hempr.com
Zevon Platinum Passive House in Utah
Dave Brach, architect of the first Passive House in Utah, and Benchmark Modern, builder of this modern LEED home, are working on a new project in Park City called Zevon. The home, which is under construction right now, is being built – for the most part – to Passive House standards and will seek LEED Platinum certification when completed.
Specifically, Zevon should meet the airtightness, cooling demand, and total energy demand requirements of Passive House, though it will come up a little short on the heat demand requirements, according to Grassroots Modern.
I had the opportunity to talk to Garth Hare of Benchmark Modern about the project and got the feeling Zevon is on the cutting edge. The Sungazing House, also in Park City, is seeking both Passive House and LEED Platinum certification, so these two homes, Zevon and Sungazing, should make for some interesting talk in the area.
So far, we know Zevon will have Warmboard radiant heating, a Zehnder heat recovery ventilator, and some ultra-efficient windows. Below is a link to Benchmark Modern’s blog documenting construction progress, if you’re interested in more detail.
Building a Straw House
This is the VOA Special English Development Report. Today we bring you a new take on an old tale. It’s the story of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf that blew down one house made of straw and one made of sticks. The only house left standing was the one made of bricks. Now there is new evidence to suggest that houses built with bales of straw can be very strong. They are also environmentally friendly. Pete Walker is a professor at the University of Bath in Britain. He and a team of researchers there have built a house made out of straw bale and hemp material.
During the next twelve months the team will study the effectiveness of these materials in home building. Professor Walker says there are many good reasons for using straw. He says it is a renewable material that is readily available and does not cost much money. Professor Walker says straw takes in carbon dioxide as it grows. So it has no harmful effects on the environment. He says straw helps the environment in other ways.
The Simply Solar House: Green Building on a Budget
The Simply Solar House: Green Building on a Budget
“The Simply Solar House” is unique in its practical approach to designing a highly energy efficient house using common construction materials and practices. Drawing upon their experience building a solar house in central North Carolina, the authors describe the key features of energy efficient home design in simple and easy to understand language. This book is the perfect guide for cost conscious homebuilders who are inspired by the Green Revolution and passionate about preserving our environmen
Rating: 
(out of 3 reviews)
List Price: $ 11.95
Price: $ 6.81
Actor Pierce Brosnan’s New Solar House
Actor Pierce Brosnan and wife Keely are longtime environmentalists and in the act of building their dream house in Malibu California. The solar powered up mansion features the traditional solar rooftop panels that will generate electricity for the cabana, pool, house as well as a revolving compost heap!
This is also a “smart house” featuring a centrally controlled climate and lighting systems. The lights automatically turn off if the system doesn’t detect any movement in the room after 5 minutes. A feature most grandparents would love.
Read more about Brosnan’s eco-palace at the Daily Mail.
