Homeownership Rate Nears 20 Year Low

The seasonally adjusted homeownership rate, according to Census Bureau’s quarterly survey, was 64.3% in the third quarter of 2014, down from the prior quarter and the reading from one year ago. The homeownership rate remains below the historical 20-year average of 66.9% and has not been this low since the fourth quarter of 1994 when the homeownership rate was 64.1%…. Read More ›
from Home Services Blog http://eyeonhousing.org/2014/10/homeownership-rate-nears-20-year-low/

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101236435758

For those of you expecting winter soon here’s a collection of natural homes in t…

For those of you expecting winter soon here’s a collection of natural homes in their winter coats.

Homes in winter

naturalhomes.org

Naturally built homes in their winters from Sweden to Romania via USA, Wales, Finland, Russia and Sweden.

from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/734854103234323

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235265673

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/for-those-of-you-expecting-winter-soon_28.html

Adobe bricks are made from sand, clay, water and some kind of fibrous material l…

Adobe bricks are made from sand, clay, water and some kind of fibrous material like straw, then shaped into blocks using moulds and dried in the sun. The buildings they make last a long time…

13th Century Adobe Granary

naturalhomes.org

Built using adobe (clay bricks); 700 years later the local farmers are still using the building to store their crops.

from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/735239199862480

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235266058

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/adobe-bricks-are-made-from-sand-clay_28.html

Not all treehouses are made using a hammer and nails. This one is inspired by th…

Not all treehouses are made using a hammer and nails. This one is inspired by the structure of knitting, with the addition and subtraction of columns that create infinite stretchy forms.

A knitted treehouse

naturalhomes.org

While you’re relaxing in front of the TV (if you have one), you could knit this treehouse.

from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/734453539941046

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235264668

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/not-all-treehouses-are-made-using_28.html

Sustainable Mint House is Build From Corten Steel

The firm James&Mau Arquitectura designed an innovative home in the picturesque Tarragona Province, Spain. The house was built by Infinski and instead of using shipping containers as the main building blocks, the builders chose to use 4 prefabricated metal modules made of Corten Steel. The finished home is called Mint House and comes with a number of sustainable features.

The structure of the 100-square-meter house is made from 3 modules (ISO transport) of Corten Steel. The walls are insulated with an insulation layer made of sheep wool and cellulose panels. For heating the home is equipped with Biomass heating and solar panels, while the eco-friendly insulation and sustainable paneling also means that the house has a minimal amount of thermal heat gain. According to the builders, the home enjoys 60% less energy consumption when compared to a traditional home.

Another innovative feature of Mint House are the shutters, which are perforated and decorated with mint leaf shapes. These shutters function as solar protectors allowing air and light to pass through them into the house, while keeping heat out.

Mint House is used as a weekend retreat by the owners, and was designed so as to fit seamlessly into the surrounding natural environment. It was also designed as a sort of “living box” which can be “opened”, “closed”, “switched on,” “heated”, and “cooled down” efficiently, easily and quickly. The home was also designed so that the transition from the interior to the exterior is as seamless as possible.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. AIR House Connects Inhabitants with Nature in Simple, Sustainable Style
2. Sustainable Passive Living in Lake Ridge House
3. Modular Chameleon House Adapts to the Environment for Sustainable Efficiency

from Home Services Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jetson_green/~3/_l4WIVSYNsA/sustainable-mint-house-is-build-from-corten-steel.html

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235265173

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/sustainable-mint-house-is-build-from_28.html

It’s no accident or bad maintenance that plants are growing on the ridge of this…

It’s no accident or bad maintenance that plants are growing on the ridge of this thatched cottage. They are iris and they help to keep the thatch dry.

Chaumiere near Rouen, France

naturalhomes.org

The thatched roof is topped with a bed of clay and iris which hold the reed ends together and remove excess moisture.

from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/733993639987036

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235262918

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/it-no-accident-or-bad-maintenance-that_28.html

Modular Off-The-Grid Home

The Eco Pod is a new modular home created by the UK-based company Echo. The tiny home measures 96.8 square feet and can lend itself well to a variety of living arrangements. A standalone Eco Pod can be used as a home office, or extra guest bedroom. The design of these units also allows them to be joined together to create an off-the-grid home, which can be as big or as small as the owners require.

Each Eco Pod unit sits on adjustable legs, making it easy to place it even on uneven ground. The modular units are also well insulated, using either wood fiber or sheep’s wool. The pods also come with an interior finish and external cladding made of wood. Also, in the UK, the Eco Pods are legally defined as a caravan, meaning that the process of obtaining planning and building permits is likely much easier than it would be for a traditional home.

Off-the-grid functionality is available as an add-on extra. The pyramid shaped roof of each module is perfectly suited to be fitted with a rooftop mounted solar panel array, which provide the necessary electricity and hot water. The energy harvested from the PV units is stored in a battery array, which provides a 12V DC power supply that powers the LED lighting, and can be used to charge laptops and mobile phones, and any other 12V DC appliances. An optional inverter can also supply a 240V supply if needed. When fully charged, the batteries can provide up to 5 days of power. The Eco Pods can also be fitted with a composting toilet, as well as a log burner, a thermal store for hot water use, and a log-burning cooker.

The basic Eco Pod module costs £10,000 ($16,479). Due to the off-the-grid functionality of these modular units, these are an excellent choice for remote areas, vacation homes, or simply for someone who wants to leave as small a carbon footprint as possible.

Related Articles on JetsonGreen.com:

1. Gorgeous Off-The-Grid Modular Home
2. Solar Powered Tiny Travelling Home
3. Wisconsin Off The Grid Container Home

from Home Services Blog http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jetson_green/~3/fuCVynm1hjM/modular-off-the-grid-home.html

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235263423

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/modular-off-grid-home_28.html

Log construction was introduced to Norway from Finland and Russia during the Vik…

Log construction was introduced to Norway from Finland and Russia during the Viking Age. This Norwegian house for seasonal farm workers was built about 700 years ago and is still going strong…

Over 700 years old

naturalhomes.org

The home, now in the Norwegian Folk Museum, was part of a large farm in Norway in the Middle Ages.

from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/733469796706087

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235262518

from Blogger http://alexandrakpierson.blogspot.com/2014/10/log-construction-was-introduced-to_28.html

For those of you expecting winter soon here’s a collection of natural homes in t…

For those of you expecting winter soon here’s a collection of natural homes in their winter coats.

Homes in winter
naturalhomes.org
Naturally built homes in their winters from Sweden to Romania via USA, Wales, Finland, Russia and Sweden.
from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/734854103234323

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235265673

Adobe bricks are made from sand, clay, water and some kind of fibrous material l…

Adobe bricks are made from sand, clay, water and some kind of fibrous material like straw, then shaped into blocks using moulds and dried in the sun. The buildings they make last a long time…

13th Century Adobe Granary
naturalhomes.org
Built using adobe (clay bricks); 700 years later the local farmers are still using the building to store their crops.
from Home Services Blog http://www.facebook.com/naturalhomes/posts/735239199862480

from Tumblr http://msalexandrakpierson.tumblr.com/post/101235266058