Earthship New Zealand

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Monthly Archives: August 2009

Inhabitat » Hemcrete®: Carbon Negative Hemp Walls

Developed by U.K.-based Lhoist Group, Tradical® Hemcrete® is a bio-composite, thermal walling material made from hemp, lime and water. What makes it carbon negative? There is more CO2 locked-up in the process of growing and harvesting of the hemp than is released in the production of the lime binder. Of course the equation is more complicated than that, but Hemcrete® is still an amazing new technology that could change the building industry.

Good looking, environmentally friendly and 100% recyclable, Hemcrete® is as versatile as it is sustainable. It can be used in a mind-boggling array of applications from roof insulation to wall construction to flooring.Hemcrete® is waterproof, fireproof, insulates well, does not rot [when used above ground] and is completely recyclable. In fact, the manufacturers say that demolished Hemcrete® walls can actually be used as fertilizer!

Inhabitat » Hemcrete®: Carbon Negative Hemp Walls.

On the water and off the grid – Two artists floating Earthship project

In Providence there are two artists attemtping to build an off grid floating home, called “The Landlord Independent”.

Of course and why not?  An independent building has very little connecting it to one place.  Their sewage management might be interesting though.

“Through with rent and utility payments — through with land-bound living itself — the pair is building a 25-by-40 foot experimental boat out of reused materials taken from old barns and a demolished World War II watch tower.”

Check out the full story at: The Phoenix > This Just In > On the water and off the grid .

Cheap, strong and cool – ISBU housing

Florida Shipping Container Home

Florida Shipping Container Home

The home building industry is becomes greener and greener, but it’s still overlooking an obvious source of reusable material — international shipping containers. `There are lots of them, and they’re widely available across the entire country. At any one time in the U.S., about 125,000 shipping containers are available for conversion to houses.

Shipping containers are strong. Built to hold 60,000 pounds when fully loaded, shipping containers can be stacked nine high below deck and five high above. They won’t pitch overboard in stormy, roiling seas, when the deck of a container freighter can tilt as much as 30 degrees. They can meet the standards of any residential building code, including those with hurricane or seismic requirements.

Read the full article: Cheap, strong and cool | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida’s Information Leader.