Wow, it's been an incredible month!  This site has seen the most activity in its history, and I'm constantly amazed at the pace of green building innovation.  We're in a crazy market, yet this space isn't letting up at all.  Certainly, we now know that Living Buildings can be cost effective, Earth Day will be controversial, homes can be better and more affordable, and buildings should consume less energy.  Check out some of the articles we've written in April — right click and open?  Also, try Twitter, if you're looking for a greener job. 

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Readers liked Caleb Schafer's $70k Simple Modern Home, so I thought it'd be interesting to quickly mention his thesis project, which was all about green design and construction.  The project was to design and build a modern, straw bale bunkhouse for his parents.  Caleb and his dad built the structure with reclaimed barn beams (power washed and sealed), reclaimed Malaysian hardwood flooring, local straw, locally harvested lumbar, and materials from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  It's a reclaimed straw bale bunkhouse!

Update: Caleb tells me they spent a total of ~$15k to build this.

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This house — designed by Paul Raff Studio — has been recognized by GreenSource Magazine as the Best Green House for April 2009.  The 3,500 square-foot home was optimally situated to receive natural light and efficiently built using SIPs.  With automated shades, passive ventilation, and mature deciduous trees, the Cascade House stays cool in the summer and absorbs warm light in the winter. 

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