Earthy and warm, the inside of cob homes exude an incomparable charm.
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Category Archives: Featured Articles
Meat me on the patio: Amazing grill setups
In the spring, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love, according to Tennyson. They also turn to that special grill that’s been out of use for most of the winter in much of the country. Whatever you prefer to throw on the barbecue, from steak to salmon to bananas (hey, we’ve seen it done), your mouth is sure to water at the sight of these amazing grill setups we found.
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/20-incredible-grill-setups/#ixzz3Z2pH0uMg
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These incredible barbecue grill setups go way beyond just a single grill sitting next to the patio furniture.
Tesla’s announcement: The coming revolution in energy storage – The Washington Post
Late Thursday, the glitzy electric car company Tesla Motors, run by billionaire Elon Musk, ceased to be just a car company. As was widely expected, Tesla announced that it is offering a home battery product, which people can use to store energy from their solar panels or to backstop their homes against blackouts, and also larger scale versions that could perform similar roles for companies or even parts of the grid.
For homeowners, the Tesla Powerwall will have a power capacity of either 10 kilowatt hours or 7 kilowatt hours, at a cost of either $ 3,500 or $ 3,000. The company says these are the costs for suppliers and don’t include the cost of installation and a power inverter, so customers could pay considerably more than that.
The battery, says Tesla, “increases the capacity for a household’s solar consumption, while also offering backup functionality during grid outages.” At the same time, the company said it will producing larger batteries for businesses and utility companies — listing “projects” with Texas-based Oncor and Southern California Edison.
The anticipation leading up to this announcement has been intense — words like “zeitgeist” are being used — which itself is one reason why the moment for “energy storage,” as energy wonks put it to describe batteries and other technologies that save energy for later use, may finally be arriving. Prices for batteries have already been dropping, but if Tesla adds a “coolness factor” to the equation, people might even be willing to stretch their finances to buy one.
[Powering your home with batteries is going to get cheaper and cheaper]
The truth, though, is Tesla isn’t the only company in the battery game, and whatever happens with Tesla, this market is expected to grow. A study by GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association earlier this year found that while storage remains relatively niche — the market was sized at just $128 million in 2014 — it also grew 40 percent last year, and three times as many installations are expected this year.
By 2019, GTM Research forecasts, the overall market will have reached a size of $ 1.5 billion.
The Hermitage – Tiny House Blog
Hassan Hall, natural builder and self-styled woodsmith, combines permaculture principles with an ancient, artisanal approach in his ecologically sustainable homestead: the Hermitage.
Tucked away on the wild margins of Dancing Rabbit Eco-Village amidst a riot of herbs and flowers, the Hermitage is a much beloved home and sanctuary for Hassan and his partner Danielle, a shamanic practitioner, while they prepare to have children and pursue their vision of right-living using the model of ecological sustainability. It is a testament to the potential of natural building technology, made entirely of recycled, upcycled and locally harvested materials.
Source: The Hermitage – Tiny House Blog
Mexican Architect Javier Senosiain
As more and more tiny homes make their way into the mainstream, we are beginning to see a trend taking place in terms of architecture, that is, shapes inspired by the flow of nature.
These tiny homes was conceptualized by Mexican architect Javier Senosiain of Arquitectura Organica, a type of design he calls “bio-architecture” —the idea that buildings based on organic forms bring us back to our cultural roots and help to create harmony with nature. 
Infused with clever splashes of colourful stained glass light and an array of whimsical stone stepping-ways and greenery, its interior layout evidently exudes a ‘lost in Wonderland’ feel. Even more magical is the exterior, which is shaped like a giant sea shell.
Senosiain said the project came about after a young family from Mexico City were tired living in a conventional home and wanted to change to one integrated to nature. The result is undoubtedly astounding.
Another highlight of this tiny home is that it is earthquake-proof and maintenance proof, a highly crucial feature considering the location.
Senosiain’s bio-architect concept is surely the type of progressive thinking we need moving forward in a world of sustainability. Besides that, it’s just so freaking cool! Who wouldn’t want a house like this?
Enjoy your voyage through Nautilus House, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!
