Building Materials and Methods

INTRODUCTION[edit | edit source]

Ecovillages and Intentional Communities frequently employ building materials, methods, and styles that are variously sustainable, restorative, and often use locally available materials and methods. The highly local techniques are often called "vernacular," meaning .^[1] Although definitions vary widely, the term vernacular architecture is generally understood to mean local or regional, at least somewhat less formal and academic, and can refer to both historical, classical, modern, or even futuristic. Here, this Solutions Library includes many ideas about vernacular architecture, drawn from both experiences in ecovillages and intentional communities and borrowing from literature and information sources about particular techniques. Eventually, this database of vernacular approaches should be searchable by geographic region, climate type, available materials, <and what else?>.

CATEGORIES[edit | edit source]

Materials[edit | edit source]

Air-crete, hemp-crete

Wood and timber based construction practices[edit | edit source]

• • https://nmite.ac.uk/skills/timber-ted

Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning[edit | edit source]

Insulation[edit | edit source]

Lighting[edit | edit source]

• NexTek power systems DC lighting.
• Emergency lighting.
• Light tubes.
• Occupancy Sensors, other sensors and controls.

Roofing[edit | edit source]

• Standing seam metal roofs.
• ATC insulation for metal roofs. https://apptechcollaborative.org/design-library/

Windows and Doors[edit | edit source]

• High efficiency (Low-E) windows.
• "Tunable" windows (Michigan company with windows that are adjustable for heat and light gain and retention, versus reflection).
• Clear windows allow visible light while also collecting solar PV energy. Two different technologies.

Siting and Landscape Architecture[edit | edit source]

• Surface Water Management

Solar Energy[edit | edit source]

• Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)
  • Solar awnings
  • Solar roofing
  • Solar siding
  • Solar windows. Windows that are solar collectors (two different technologies, one from Ubiquitous Energy).

Water Use and Water-Using Appliances[edit | edit source]

Waste & Reuse[edit | edit source]

Check Architecture 2030 Palette for additional categories.

REFERENCES[edit | edit source]

• 2030 Palette, Carbon Smart Materials Palette [web page, retrieved February 2024], https://www.materialspalette.org/
• Ekodome geodesic dome construction kits, for greenhouses, housing, "glamping." https://ekodome.com/.
• Energie Sprong building envelope retrofits. https://energiesprong.org/
  • Egerter, Amy, and Martha Campbell. 2020. Prefabricated Zero Energy Retrofit Technologies: A Market Assessment. Report by Rocky Mountain Institute for U.S. Department of Energy, DOE/GO-102020-5262. https://+www.nrel.gov/docs/fy20osti/76142.pdf
  • https://energiesprong.org/?country=new-york
• Living Buildings Challenge, a project of the International Living Future Institute, https://living-future.org/lbc/
• Green Building, including natural building practices - cob, compressed-earth bricks, earth-bag, hemp, straw bale, etc.
  • Alternative Building
• Low- and Net-Zero Emissions Energy Designs
  • American Institute of Architects, Let’s make carbon neutrality a reality [web page, retrieved February 2024], https://www.aia.org/design-excellence/climate-action/zero-carbon
  • Project Drawdown, Net Zero Buildings [web page, retrieved February 2024], https://drawdown.org/solutions/net-zero-buildings
  • World Green Building Council, Advancing Net-Zero [web page, retrieved February 2024], https://worldgbc.org/advancing-net-zero/
• Passive solar design
• Passive House design.

RESOURCES[edit | edit source]

• Back to main page: Ecovillages & Intentional Communities Energy and Climate Action Research Project
• Rancho Mastatal, Costa Rica. https://ranchomastatal.com/natural-earth-building