{"id":22486,"key":"Wofati_eco_building","title":"Wofati eco building","latest":{"id":1209048,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T01:26:08Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Wofati-allerton-abbey.jpg|thumb|Allerton Abbey Wofati at Wheaton Labs near Missoula, Montana]]\n\nWofati is a type of natural earth-sheltered building developed by [[Mike Oehler]] and expanded upon by [[Paul Wheaton|Paul Wheaton.]] Wheaton coined the acronym, which means '''W'''oodland '''O'''ehler '''F'''reaky-cheap '''A'''nnualized '''T'''hermal '''I'''nertia. \"Woodland\" because it is the optimal location for such a building; \"Oehler\" after the pioneer, \"Freaky-cheap,\" due to the '''F'''airly-cost effective or frugal materials; and '''A'''nnualized '''T'''hermal '''I'''nertia from a book by John Hait called \"Passive Annual Heat Storage\" which inspired much of the reasoning behind the Wofati design.\n\nImagine living in something that looks like a [[log cabin]] from the inside, but:\n\n* it has more light\n* it doesn't need heat or A/C\n* it is three times faster to build\n* it costs about five times less\n\nThe design is basically a pole structure with a [[green roof]]. The structural design accommodates water flow from rainfall, as well as leveraging the use to soil for insulation and the orientation of the land to take advantage of sunlight.\n\n'''Wofati Definition'''\n\n# <span class=\"s3\"></span>Every drop of rain has a complete downhill soil path and never encounters a roof edge.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>There are two layers of membrane. The lower layer, which hugs the structure, and the upper layer, which defines the thermal mass that surrounds the structure.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>The uphill side has an open trench to move water around the structure.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>The uphill side has a roof that extends at least five feet beyond the exterior wall.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>There is at least eight inches of dirt between the two layers of membrane. There is at least sixteen inches of dirt on the top layer of membrane.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>The inner pole structure is made of logs.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>No treated wood is used in any of the structure.\n\n'''Wofati house definition'''\n\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>has all of the properties of \"wofati definition\"\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>At least 35% of the uphill wall is glass or some other material that allows light to pass through\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>The house is not air tight\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>There is a large gable roof to the downhill side with 35% or more glass or some other material that allows light to pass through\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>The house is NOT \"underground\". This is an above ground pole structure with an earthen roof.\n\n'''Wofati cooler definition'''\n\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>has all of the properties of \"wofati definition\"\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>includes venting tubes - much like what is used for a root cellar\n\n'''Wofati freezer definition'''\n\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>has all of the properties of \"wofati definition\"\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>Includes a pluggable vent tube that runs through the core of the thermal mass. The idea is to open these tubes on days that are below 10 degrees.\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>The upper layer of membrane must cover at least five times as much square footage as the available square footage in the structure.\n\n'''Wofati animal shelter definition'''\n\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>has all of the properties of \"wofati definition\"\n# <span class=\"s5\"></span>Must be big enough to drive a tractor inside\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Construction techniques]]\n* [[Compressed earth brick press]]\n* [[CCAT's living roof]]\n* [[Earthships]]\n\n== External links ==\n\n* [http://www.richsoil.com/wofati.jsp wofati eco building] - ''richsoil.com'' article with explanation and instructions, including pictures and video.\n* [https://permies.com/wiki/110256/podcast-World-Book-Wofati-Part#902059 Better World Book - Wofati Podcast Part 1]at [https://permies.com Permies.com]\n* [http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/1611_0/alternative-building/wofati-eco-building wofati eco building (forum thread)] - ''permies.com'' forum thread for questions and ideas on the subject.\n* [https://youtu.be/OIW8TtfqUvo Wofati greenhouse Q&A]at [https://www.youtube.com/c/paulwheaton/ Paul Wheaton's You Tube]\n* [https://youtu.be/XRo7BTz1NmM Allerton Abbey tour - the first wofat!]at [https://www.youtube.com/c/paulwheaton/ Paul Wheaton's You Tube]\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| keywords = Earthen construction, Living roofs\n| description = Wofati buildings use earth and wood for natural insulation. Appropedia shows how this method keeps homes warm with little energy.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Earthen construction]]\n[[Category:Living roofs]]"}