Autonomous ecological housing, fully equipped with effective support systems, is capable of “maintaining” itself. And without causing harm to the environment. But it’s quite possible to build it and equip it with smart technology.
We will tell you how to build an eco-house with your own hands, using exclusively natural building materials - clay, sand, straw, wood. For you, we have collected, studied and presented information about the most promising options. They described in detail the technology for constructing environmentally friendly housing.
The recommendations we provide will provide effective assistance to beginning builders. To facilitate the understanding of a difficult topic, photo selections, informative diagrams, and video instructions are attached to the text.
Interest in the construction of eco-houses is growing every day - projects that previously seemed fantastic are being brought to life and showing amazing results. Some principles of eco-friendly housing are familiar to anyone who has lived or vacationed in a village.
To this day, outside the city, houses are built from rounded logs, timber, bricks - that is, natural materials that do not contain harmful artificial impurities.
Scheme of a two-story residential building using the “double timber” technology – walls, internal floors, ceilings are made of two layers of wood (profiled dry pine timber)
Advanced villagers and summer residents have long installed septic tanks and biological stations - compact modern waste processing systems. Household drains decompose naturally, then the solid sediment is used as fertilizer, and the liquid is purified (up to 98%) and put into secondary use - for watering the garden or vegetable garden, and maintaining the territory.
Diagram of a biological water treatment system with two chambers (aerobic and anaerobic) and a filtration field. After purification, the liquid enters the ground
The solar collector is mounted on the roof of a separate building, specially built to house the water heating system. Hot and cold water enters the house through an underground pipeline
It is irrational to install in regions with forest plantations or other protection from the wind, however, on the seashores, reservoirs, in the steppes and mountains they justify the installation costs.
A house made of eco-materials is now a panacea for rising heating tariffs, and living in it is much more pleasant than in its stone counterpart. You can build it yourself without specific construction skills or outside help. There are several options for constructing such houses, they depend on the chosen material.
What materials can you use to build an eco-house?
On a private plot, you can build housing from available materials, so some begin construction literally from earth and other readily available materials. Let's look at the most common construction materials that can be purchased for pennies.Logs
Wooden houses are again in demand. For their construction, fallen trees and waste obtained from the sawmill are used. Externally, such houses look like stone, but upon closer inspection it immediately becomes clear that they are made of logs.The logs are stacked on top of each other, similar to how firewood is stored under a canopy for kindling a fireplace. They are held together with concrete or clay mortar. If the logs have a diameter of 30-90 cm, then they can be used for the construction of frameless structures or using a frame. Recently, the cement mortar that binds the logs has been replaced with adobe mixture.
Rammed earth
This is ancient technology. The process of forming building materials from an earthen base is not much different from its ancient counterpart.To obtain the necessary earthen materials, you need to mix clay, gravel, concrete and moist soil. All these components produce a compressed solid material that perfectly regulates the temperature of the building. It can provide warmth in cold weather and coolness in warm weather. This structure is termite-resistant, durable and fireproof. It costs “a penny”, since the land is freely available under your feet.
The construction of an earthen building takes place without large columns of dust, as happens when using stone materials and cement. Now rammed earth is not so popular, but in some countries houses are still built from it.
Straw
When first considering it as a reliable building material, one gets the impression that this is the worst option, but in practice it turns out that straw pressed into bags has excellent strength and high thermal insulation properties. It can be used for the construction of load-bearing walls and used in piping with vertical bars.
Compressed straw is laid on top of the stone foundation. Packages with the main building material are fastened together using flexible bamboo poles or wooden posts.
The outer part of a thatched building is treated with soil or lime plaster. Both of these coatings have good air conductivity, thereby preventing the accumulation of moisture inside the building and preventing its dampness.
Hemp
It is used as thermal insulation and the main building material. This plant is natural and non-toxic. For the construction of buildings, bone concrete is used, which consists of hemp fire, cement (lime), water and sand. The low density of the resulting material makes it lightweight, but at the same time gives it good thermal insulation properties, thanks to which you can significantly save on heating costs. The resulting hemp material allows air to pass through, but retains moisture, so mold and harmful bacteria do not form on its surface.Bags of earth
To build such a house, you need to stock up on numerous polypropylene bags, and to fill them, use the soil under your feet.The process of obtaining building material consists of filling bags with wet soil and then compacting them. When laying stuffed bags, the material is tied with two rows of wire. If a tall building is being built, it is better to provide a platform on which the bags will be stuffed, so as not to lift them up. Damp earth is not easy to weigh.
Earthbags are used for housing construction where the soil contains a small amount of clay. It is optimal to use them to construct rounded building decoration elements, such as domes. From the outside they can be covered with earth and planted with grass or flowers; this is an unusual and warm home.
Adobe
It is made from clay, sand and straw. The mixture is formed into cubic shapes. When hardened, these bricks are very strong and durable - they can be used to make any kind of construction. The material is very warm and resistant to weather disasters and even fire. A house built using it is inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
Glass bottles
They are a durable and strong material, some might argue that they are easy to break, but this is not the case. If you observe the proportions of the cement mortar that binds them and the correct arrangement of the bottles in a row, you can achieve a durable residential structure.There are several subtleties when constructing a glass structure. The bottles are still hollow and there is air in them, so in cold regions, if the bottoms look outward, then they need to be insulated from the inside. Such buildings are rarely used for housing; they are increasingly used for household and household buildings.
A building made of multi-colored bottles will be a real decoration of the site; it looks like a three-dimensional mosaic.
Building an eco-house from logs with your own hands
It consists of several stages:Foundation devices
Houses made from logs are often made in a round shape. A strip or point foundation is laid under them (). First, they dig a shallow ditch, then make an air cushion from crushed stone. If a point foundation is used, holes are dug around the perimeter of the proposed building and filled with concrete.If the building is round, then there is no need for a frame; cement bonding perfectly recreates a monolithic structure. In the case of building a building with corners, it is necessary to provide a frame of beams, between which the building material will be laid.
You need to stock up on logs in advance and prepare them: the prepared logs are freed from bark and dried. This is necessary so that the walls of the building are not subject to shrinkage. It is better if all the logs are from the same type of wood.
The mortar can be made of cement or clay mortar. It is prepared from clay and sand, which are taken in equal parts. Straw, sawdust or hay are added to them - they serve for reinforcement. To obtain homogeneity of the mixture, it needs to be kneaded for a long time.
First, part of the mortar is laid out on the foundation, and then logs are laid on it (see also). The solution is poured between them and leveled. Instead, a clay mixture is sometimes used. The edges of the logs should protrude slightly from the edge of the wall being created. You need to immediately think about the location of windows and doors and leave openings for them when building walls.
Sometimes, for better thermal insulation, only the outer and inner walls are cemented, and the space between them and the wooden blocks is filled with sawdust or straw. As soon as the walls are erected, they need to be covered with a roof to prevent moisture from getting inside the structure. If the material for it has not yet been purchased, then you can install a temporary version. The walls dry out completely after six months, so this type of house is not suitable for cold climates.
Home roofing and finishing
To make the structure completely environmentally friendly, the roof can be made of reeds or tied straw.
Such a house does not need external decoration, but if its owner is not satisfied with protruding lumps, then he can lath the walls and level the walls, and then plaster them.
Do-it-yourself energy-passive cheap eco-houses (video)
From the video below you can see how the new eco-friendly houses differ from their stone counterparts. The owner of the site talks about his original round house, built of straw, which withstands natural disasters. The unusualness of the house also lies in the fact that it was built in an unusual way: first the foundation was poured, and then the roof was covered, and after that the walls were built. The roof was completed first due to the need to cover the main building material, which does not tolerate dampness.The foundation of the house is inexpensive, since it is not made as wide and deep as for stone houses. You can save even more on it if you use ordinary glass bottles, they will fill some space and due to this, less cement mortar will be used on the foundation. And the durability and thermal insulation of bottles is much greater than that of the same brick. Straw retains heat in a room five times better than wood and brick.
Ecology and economy are the main advantages of straw construction, which have been confirmed for several years. It is noteworthy that even multi-storey buildings can be built from such a fragile material as straw. In the following video you can see an overview of the modern eco-house that the family built with their own efforts:
Eco-housing is gaining momentum, and many people, having viewed their new projects, now doubt the construction of stone houses. After all, an eco-house can completely replace full-fledged housing, and besides, save a lot on construction and operation. All of the above options for eco-houses have good thermal conductivity and reliably protect from precipitation and wind. They are most often chosen by innovators who are several steps ahead of others and are thinking about their environmentally friendly future.
In foreign countries, in particular in the Scandinavian countries, ecological housing has become a common option for a private home. Eco-houses are comfortable for residents and safe for the environment. The property's own heating system operates without the use of fuel, and organic waste is processed naturally and becomes fertilizer for the garden plot. Let's take a closer look at what non-traditional technologies can be used in your home to make it environmentally friendly.
Features of insulation and heat supply
Typically, the heating system of a house operates by burning organic fuel: fuel oil, coal, gas and even firewood. During the combustion process, large amounts of waste products are released into the air. How to avoid this? Firstly, the house should be insulated as much as possible, and secondly, it is worth considering alternative energy sources. A heat pump or solar panels require a considerable initial investment, and using a cavitator is a fairly economical option, although not familiar to most owners.
Oddly enough, houses made of clay, sand and straw have gained enormous popularity. Round buildings retain heat perfectly in the southern regions, but they are not suitable for northern latitudes with harsh winters
Arrangement of an eco-house during construction
Ecological materials for building a house are considered to be any natural resources - wood, stone, brick, as you know, made from clay, clay itself, straw blocks.
In northern and temperate latitudes, preference is given to wooden buildings - warm, “breathable”, most suitable for a changing climate. Depending on the type of soil, a pile or strip foundation is erected, a log house is installed on it, for the construction of which wood can be used in any of its forms: round timber, laminated veneer lumber, rounded logs.
Sheathing is done with wood board, clapboard, block house. Thermal insulation mats with a vapor barrier are laid between the walls of the log house and the cladding. The optimal material for windows is three-layer laminated timber, which has the thermal conductivity of wood, but is more durable. The foundation is decorated with stone or ceramics, which not only serve as a decoration element, but also protect the lower part of the building from moisture and wind. Thus, the house turned out to be environmentally friendly. How can you arrange a heating system so that it does not contradict the general trend?
Coniferous wood veneer, which is the basis of laminated timber, gives the structure extraordinary strength and wear resistance. In addition, timber houses do not require additional finishing work, as they look quite presentable
Hydrodynamic fuel-free heat generator
The operation of the heat generator with a cavitator is ensured by connection to an electrical source, without which the operation of the pump motor is impossible. The principle of cavitation is based on the fact that the liquid, circulating in a closed circuit, gradually heats up, that is, it does not require additional heating by the boiler, as a result of which scale usually forms. Modern equipment is equipped with a cavitator installed in the circuit. It does not play a role in heating the liquid, but the main conversion of kinetic energy into thermal energy occurs in it, and it also serves to protect the pump from premature wear.
The heat generator circuit diagram includes: 1 - main pump; 2 - cavitator; 3 - circulation pump; 4 - electric/magnetic valve; 5 - valve; 6 - expansion tank; 7 - radiator.
The efficiency of a fuel-free heat generator can be increased by using an additional storage tank and a “warm floor” heating system. To ensure a sufficient amount of hot water, an indirect heating boiler is connected. A solar collector can become a backup, and in the summer season, the main source of heating. Thanks to solar systems, the heat generator is completely turned off in the summer.
To connect the heat generator, it is enough to connect it to the power cable and two pipes of the heating system: inlet and outlet. As you can see, it takes up little space
The use of cavitation in water supply
Cavitation turns out to be very useful if the eco-house is located far from civilization, and water from nearby sources needs to be disinfected. Let's first consider traditional methods of water purification, and make sure that hydrodynamic technology has undeniable advantages.
Traditional water disinfection technologies
Some of these techniques are used everywhere, others - occasionally, but they are known to everyone who studied physics and chemistry courses at school:
- chlorination;
- ultraviolet irradiation;
- ozonation;
- iodization;
- ultrasonic disinfection.
The most popular method of chlorination has as many benefits as harm. Not only does chlorine not destroy all bacteria, it is involved in the synthesis of new substances that are toxic and hazardous to health. Of course, the environmental friendliness of chlorinating water for home use is out of the question.
Ultraviolet radiation is useless for neutralizing water with turbidity and the presence of suspensions, so this method is only good for clear liquids. Ozone does an excellent job of cleaning water, but its production requires high voltage and a large amount of electricity, and the substance itself is toxic and explosive. Ultrasound technologies are not sufficiently developed; the main development has so far been found only in medicine - for the disinfection of instruments. There is also little use of iodine, which is only in demand for cleaning swimming pools.
Ecological hydrodynamic method
This technology is so effective that it allows water purification on an industrial scale, that is, one installation is enough for 2-3 houses (if the productivity is 500 l/hour). The only condition for complete disinfection is the absence of suspension. To carry it out, water is taken from the upper layers of the source (river or lake), and then the water is additionally filtered and settled in a special tank. After cleaning by cavitation, even domestic wastewater that has passed through a deeply purified septic tank becomes potable.
The operating principle of the cavitation unit is simple. The water passes through the filter, then the heat exchanger and enters the hydrodynamic system, where it is processed by cavitation. Then it returns to the heat exchanger for cooling, from there to the cooling condenser and reaches the final stage - additional filtration. You can use several filters with carbon or carbon-silver cartridges. With the help of cavitation, water purity reaches 100%, and energy consumption is reduced by 40-50%.
This illustration confirms the flawless operation of the water disinfection installation. One of the containers contains dirty sewage water, the other contains water that has already been purified using the cavitation method.
For uninterrupted operation of the water disinfection installation, a voltage of 380 V, a power consumption of 7.5 kW, and a power supply frequency of 50 Hz are required.
Household waste disposal
The issue of disposal is the most pressing, since it is household waste that pollutes huge areas of land. Some materials take decades to decompose, others release substances that are hazardous to nature, and as a result, the animal and plant world suffers, and along with them, humans themselves. It turns out that in a private home it is possible to install equipment for processing both solid and liquid waste.
Application of biogas plant
A biogas plant is necessary to process solid waste and provide buildings with heat, gas and even electricity. Inside the installation there is a fermenter in which waste rots. The result of decay is biogas, consisting of carbon dioxide, methane and some other substances.
For storage, biogas is pumped into cylinders. The decomposition process occurs more efficiently at a temperature of +35°C and stirring approximately 6 times a day. It is better if the raw materials do not contain substances that interfere with the development of bacteria. These include detergents, washing powder, soap, antibiotics. To increase productivity, warm water is added to solid waste in small portions.
Industrial biogas plants are successfully used on farms. The productivity of biogas production is so high that its quantity is enough to heat greenhouses, nearby farms, and private houses
Septic tank for waste treatment
Liquid waste is processed using septic tanks. This technology is already quite developed, and many domestic companies are engaged in the manufacture of complex equipment for the treatment of household wastewater. The most famous are the products under the names "", "", "", "".
Liquid waste from the house goes into a large tank, divided into several tanks. The suspension settles to the bottom, where it is subjected to anaerobic action. The purified liquid is discharged to the filtration field, and from there it is used for the needs of the garden plot. After the procedure, the water becomes 97-98% purified.
Thus, using modern technologies in the installation of water supply, heating and sewerage systems, it is possible to build an eco-house that is absolutely safe for the surrounding nature, nevertheless, quite comfortable and cozy.
Ecology of consumption. Technology: These houses look wonderful and are a pleasure to live in. If you're looking for a more affordable and eco-friendly home, look no further than one of these options, sourced from around the world.
Many people dream of building their own home, but the financial cost of starting from scratch usually seems prohibitive. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you look at it another way, using natural methods, almost anyone can build their own eco-friendly home using durable and environmentally friendly materials.
When building such eco-houses, the features of the terrain are used and natural materials such as soil, bamboo, wood and clay are used to equip the space without much impact on the environment. These houses are very well insulated thanks to thick walls made from environmentally friendly materials, and are therefore cooler in summer and warmer than ordinary houses.
Naturally, this leads to less use of cooling and heating systems and, accordingly, to reduced energy bills. Smart eco home builders are also using passive solar energy strategies to maximize efficiency. These houses look wonderful and are a pleasure to live in. If you're looking for a more affordable and eco-friendly home, look no further than one of these options, sourced from around the world.
House in Colombia in the shape of a dome, made of bags of soil, which is cool
The unusual domed shape of the house called La Casa Vergara is eye-catching, but what’s inside is even more amazing. A house in the city of Bogota, built by an architect named Jose Andres Vallejo, made from “earthbags,” bags filled with—you guessed it—soil. These bags are stacked on top of each other and lined with concrete on both sides, a combination that can withstand earthquakes and is also resistant to water damage. Raw wood beams and plenty of light make it feel a little closer to the ground, and the $28 per m2 price tag puts this home within reach of a buyer.
A Hobbit house with a green roof that can be built in just 3 days
Pre-assembled by Magic Green Homes, these adorable Hobbit Homes can be built in just 3 days. Houses with a green roof measuring 400 m2 are so easy to assemble that almost anyone can do it. To build such a house, you do not need any heavy equipment, but only long pieces with holes, twisted together and sealed. Magic Green Homes adapts these homes to any location and makes dreams come true.
Build your own resilient eco-house
For anyone who wants to build their eco-friendly home but doesn't yet know where to start, Cal-Earth's guide may be of service. A group of teachers in California are teaching others how to build tear-resistant homes using eco-friendly, durable materials using their own hands. This company specializes in reusing military materials and strengthening homes located in disaster risk areas. Bags filled with sand, soil, barbed wire for elasticity, and reinforcement materials such as cement, lime or asphalt emulsion are all components of a house that can withstand the elements.
Passive solar house built from soil bags
Orkidstudio, an organization focused on building humanitarian buildings, has opened an orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya, made entirely of soil bags. The passive solar energy system absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, thereby creating a comfortable atmosphere for children and staff of the orphanage. The orphanage is clad in reclaimed wood and features a plumbing system that draws water from the local rainwater canal. More than just a project to create attractive and efficient amenities, it was completed in just 8 weeks by a team of British architecture students.
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A machine for building eco-houses “produces” entire houses from bags of soil
Building affordable, eco-friendly homes is a sure sign that we're moving in the right direction, and Earth Home Builder makes the process amazingly efficient. A machine with a caterpillar belt, working on the principle of a 3D printer, fills bags with sand, about 400 bags per hour. Considering that only 30 bags can be filled by hand, this machine could radically change access to affordable, secure housing. United Earth Builders, the company that pioneered the technology, is now looking for nonprofit partners to bring eco-homes to the masses.
Budget rammed house in Mexico
One family in Mexico decided to build a colorful house without spending a lot of money, with the help of the knowledge of architect Tatiana Bilbao. The rammed eco-home looks attractive inside and out thanks to the smart decision to add pigment to the material before painting the walls from the very beginning. This tangible impact only improves the thermal control needed during the hot Mexican summer. The Ajijic home features floor-to-ceiling windows and two outdoor terraces from which to admire the breathtaking coastal views. Pine wood flooring allows this family to enjoy the beautiful features of their home without having to spend a lot of money.
Luxury Villa Triksa combines rammed earth, bamboo and recycled wood
By using clay materials during construction, it is possible to create a home that can rival the most luxurious vacation spots. Chiangmai Life Construction built Triksa Villa in northern Thailand, a stunning home made partly from rammed earth and partly a mixture of clay and concrete for the foundation. The walls, built from raw bricks, maintain a comfortable temperature inside, while the bamboo roof, an environmentally friendly and durable material, adds prestige. Reclaimed wood and a modern outdoor pool refutes the notion that eco-friendly building materials can't create an eye-catching piece of paradise.
Rural house in Ghana built from rammed earth and recycled plastic
This unique home is located in the countryside of Ghana, made from rammed wood, recycled plastic and fortified against the elements using natural materials. This house was built on the initiative of Anna Webster, a student who won the Nka Foundation's building competition.
She states, “Our goal was to move away from the unfavorable combinations of these materials, as well as from the primitive idea of applying modern design to the use of sustainable materials.” Waste plastic has now become window screens and roof coverings, and hard-packed soil walls are coated with cassava sealing material to prevent external water damage. The home cost just $7,865 to build and is an example of how a home can be built using scrap materials and a little creativity. published
Experts say that recently eco-house projects have become very popular. This is not just a tribute to fashion, it is an awareness of the need to live in harmony with nature. Not every house can be called ecological. As a rule, low-cost building materials and technologies are used to build such a house.In addition, the eco-house is provided with heat and electricity from renewable energy sources. And the preservation of heat in the room is facilitated by original architectural and design solutions. One of the main requirements for an eco-house isminimal negative impact on the environment.
Features of eco-house projects
- Eco-house projects, or passive houses, as they are also called, use environmentally friendly materials. Usually these are local building materials. Moreover, one of the main conditions is that at the end of its service life, the materials from which the house is built could be easily disposed of on site.
- In the design of eco-houses, laws and forms that are widespread in nature are used. For example, there is no shading on the south side, but a large glass area of the building is assumed. This allows you to make maximum use of natural light during daylight hours. On the north side there is supposed to be a blank wall without windows. A buffer zone consisting of utility rooms is also being designed there. These premiums significantly reduce heat loss at home.
- Low energy consumption at home is ensured by special equipment that uses natural energy: solar, thermal and photovoltaic systems, wind generators, geothermal pumps. And excess energy is accumulated in special storage devices. In addition, the house itself is capable of accumulating heat generated by residents and household appliances.
- Much attention is paid to systems that accumulate precipitation and condensate and purify domestic wastewater. Some of the water may come from an artesian well.
- When operating an eco-house, technologies for processing and recycling organic waste are actively used. Household waste is processed into fertilizer using a bioreactor.
- Having decided to build an ecological house, the developer saves significantly on the cost of the land plot, since a plot of land not connected to communications is quite suitable for the construction of such housing. Therefore, even taking into account the high cost of energy-saving systems, the construction of eco-houses does not cost more than conventional ones. In addition, you do not need to pay for connecting to communications and utility bills will be minimal.
An eco-house has many advantages, and the main one is independence from energy resources, savings on the installation of a water heating system and the construction of a boiler room. Such a house allows you to live in harmony with nature; it will interest those who value a quality standard of living and their own health.
The implementation of the eco-house project itself does not require large funds. But the purchase and installation of environmental equipment will pay off only after 10 years. And this is an undoubted minus. In addition, it is not possible to build an eco-house everywhere. It makes no sense to build such a house where there is not enough solar energy to maintain comfortable living conditions in it.
If you are thinking about purchasing an eco-house project, we advise you to carefully weigh the pros and cons. And if there are all the conditions for such construction, make up your mind, it’s worth it. And we, in turn, will provide you with reliable and high-quality products.