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Eco-Building 101
Eco-Building Is The DIY of the future.
We are constantly on the lookout for new ways to embrace the green revolution. Going off-grid, planting veggie patches, water-wise gardening and eco-cleaning supplies are all good ways to make your household more environmentally sound.
But what about your actual, physical house? The building? The structure? Is there a way to save the planet, while still getting your dream bathroom? Or kitchen? Or guest cottage??
Eco-building is the answer.
What Is Eco-building? (And Why Does It Matter?)
Eco-building basically means a building that has been made in a way that does not harm the environment, for example because it is made with sustainable materials (= ones that will continue to be available and not all be used up) and uses natural energy for heat, etc.:
(Eco-building is also referred to as Natural building)
How Can I Embrace Eco Building In My Normal Suburban Home?
This building style can be a great addition to most styles of suburban homes. The best option for your first foray into natural building is to build additional areas, loose from the main structure of your home first. Something like a semi-enclosed braai area, an outdoor shower or an outdoor living space with shaped and contoured seating around a fire pit for example.
For dreamy inspiration check out these Pinterest ideas.
Because you’ll be using mostly reclaimed and natural building materials AND you can do a lot of the building yourself, this style of building can be far more affordable than traditional styles.
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The Most Common Form of Eco-building is Cob Building.
Cob, cobb or clom is a natural building material made from subsoil, water, fibrous organic material, and sometimes lime. The contents of subsoil naturally vary, and if it does not contain the right mixture, it can be modified with sand or clay.
If you are lucky enough to be able to start your home from scratch, you can build an entire house with natural building techniques!
For inspiration, look at this beautiful eco-cob house, built from the ground up by the owner with unrecyclable rubbish, sand, straw and clay.
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DIY or Get-A-Guy? A Bit of both…
DIY
While Cob-building can be an exciting DIY project, you do need to do your research well. Attending a Cob-building workshop can give you all the knowledge and tools you need to start your Natural building project.
The Natural Building Collective offers weeklong introductory courses, allowing you to educate yourself on how to build a home for the future.
The Get-a-Guy part:
As with any building project, we do suggest that you get a professional to help guide you with regard to plumbing, waste management and safe electrical wiring.
If you’re serious about a more sustainable future, and up for a challenge, Cob, Eco and Natural is the way to go!
