An Earthship is a home that is a radically sustainable building. Constructed of recycled materials, Earthships can be built in any climate and are made to produce their own power, potable water and sustainable food while dealing with waste onsite. Earthships are the brainchild of architect savant Michael Reynolds whose life’s mission it has been to help others to design and construct Earthships of their own.
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Decoding the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certificates

When selecting or promoting products, it is vital that you opt for sustainably produced materials in order to protect old-growth forests and other habitats. There are a number of certifications pertaining to the building industry which will help dealers and consumers to select products that have been sustainably harvested. Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility and choosing environmentally-friendly products will promote proper forest management, protect local eco-systems and wildlife, stimulate local economies and provide resources and incomes for the people who live and work in forest areas. It’s imperative to educate consumers on what the certifications represent so that they can make responsible choices.
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While the focus in green building initiatives has been efficiency and creating robust building envelopes that help to conserve energy, reducing water use is an equally important aspect of every green build. As water resources become scarcer, water costs increase and on-site water treatment systems can go a long way to mitigating water wastage. Water treatment systems not only help to conserve water, but those that utilize wetlands can make attractive additions to the landscaping as well. Of course, on-site water treatment isn’t right for every project, and you will have to consider the site and the owner’s propensity for reducing their water consumption.

Why choose on-site water treatment?

Potable water carries with it a huge carbon footprint and the price we pay on our utilities bill is just a fraction of its true cost. It’s not only bringing potable water to domestic homes that costs money, but also the treatment and transportation of wastewater in a safe and hygienic way that adds to the already high costs. Saving potable water and reducing water consumption can go a long way to reducing utilities bills and preserving the environment.
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Shipping containers are ubiquitous and well-travelled. They are shipped from port to port and can contain anything from potato chips to luxury cars. Containers need to be made of tough stuff in order to sustain their utilitarian lives of international travel, stacking, storms at sea and loading and transport stresses. It’s this very strength that has made them the perfect candidates for some very surprising uses.

From Comfy Homes to Pop-up Shops

The disparate number of containers in North America results from more goods being shipped from Asia. It’s often cheaper to buy new containers than it is to ship empty containers back to their ports of origin. This surplus of cheap containers has been utilized to create practical, environmentally friendly, weather-resistant spaces for everything from offices to houses and coffee shops. Read more

As temperatures increase and fresh water supplies decrease, our gardens are becoming a liability we can no longer afford. The costs of creating and maintaining ornamental gardens with large lawns requires so many valuable resources and creates such a large carbon footprint, that many home and business owners are searching for alternatives.

Environmental Impact of Gardening

Each week, 54 million Americans mow their lawns; a feat that requires an astounding 800 million gallons of gas per year and produces 5% of the county’s greenhouse gases. According to the EPA, one gas mower emits 88 lbs. of CO2, and 34 lbs. of other pollutants into the air annually. It’s not just the emissions that wreak havoc with Mother Nature, it’s estimated that 17 million gallons of fuel are spilled each year as gardeners refuel their mowers; more than the Exxon Valdes environmental disaster. Think also of the fuel for hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and chainsaws as well as the pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers which have a huge impact on the food chain, water supply and health of residents.
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Traditional flooring options, such as synthetic carpeting, imported hardwoods or synthetic linoleum, are not sustainable or healthy. The process of creating these types of floors is wasteful and generates pollution. The flooring releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air which negatively affects the indoor air quality and is responsible for a plethora of respiratory ailments and allergy symptoms. Natural options such as hardwood are better, but at the cost of deforestation, it doesn’t seem worth it. Now homeowners have a greener choice as sustainable flooring selections which do not release harmful substances into the atmosphere become more widely available.
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