The eTree, an Israeli invention, produces energy, cools and provides water for humans and pets, gives off Wifi signals, adds connectivity to a community, provides shade, offers a charging point, gives rest along the way and light at night. … Read more
‘Smart’ buildings to clean polluted air Design for buildings that filter the air
China-based architect Alexander Balchin has designed a building that can clean polluted air. The tower is designed to filter air for several city blocks outside. Dirty air pulled into a central chimney would be cleaned using systems commonly used in coal power plants. 'The PM2.5 particles can be collected and even reused, as they are almost completely carbon,' Balchin writes. 'This process alone provides eight and a half million cubic meters of clean air per year, enough air for one square … Read more
Algea absorb air pollution Algea farms around highways
Algae consume sunlight and CO2 and spit out oxygen. Therefore places with high emissions are the perfect growing area. This interesting microorganism inspired a group of Dutch and French designers, who proposed to set up an algae farm on top of a highway in Switzerland. It is a brilliant way to filter the pollution in the urban areas. … Read more
An Overview of Natural Building Techniques Descriptions by an architect
Architect Joseph Kennedy lists several natural building methods, including the most important weaknesses and strengths of each. … Read more
The Mukombe handwashing device A smart, DIY tippy-tap
The Mukombe is a hand washing device – a “tippy tap” as it is commonly known within the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) scene – as it just requires a little tip to provide the user with just enough water to wash the hands. In water-arid areas, such a simple device can be essential to hygiene. … Read more
The Humanure Toilet Build your own compost toilet
This is a quick description of how to build your own compost toilet using little materials, the manure can afterwards also be used very well for gardening (once composted properly). … Read more
Corn Cob Charcoal Crusher Turning agricultural waste into smokeless fuels
Burning carbonized cobs produces less smoke than regular biomass fuels, but the carbonized cobs produce a hazardous level of carbon monoxide. MIT's D-lab developed a device to turn charcoal powder into a dense compact briquette that burns safely, but it is difficult to crush the carbonized cobs into a charcoal powder without inhaling dangerous amounts of charcoal dust. The MIT team's charcoal crushing device addresses the gap in this alternative fuel process. … Read more
Earth Oven Building an oven of local soil
Earth Ovens have been used for thousands of years by cultures all over the world and they are still built today by people all over. Earth ovens are made up of just that, EARTH! Sand, clay and straw are used in building these versatile ovens. It takes only 10 to 12 hours to build in total, with some intermediate periods for drying layers, and the oven will last for many years without loosing its capacity or quality. An earthen oven can be used to cook the same things cooked in a normal … Read more
Welding wood with tin cans Strengthening constructions using tin cans
'Welding wood' is a simple strategy to strengthen connections of wood beams in constructions, using tin cans and scrap tin metals. It has the double benefit of being very low-cost as well as recycling waste materials. The link directs you to a simple manual on how to create such connections. … Read more
Vermicomposting bin Make your own efficient composting bin
This is a low-cost design for making your own composting bin. It is designed in such a way that it composts efficiently, letting air through, water out, and worms in. Apart from efficiency, one of the benefits is cleanliness in small spaced areas, as well as enabling to have the composting process happening inside. … Read more
