Wood, metals, and plastic are all beginning to give way to a new category of materials that combine the best properties of each along with advanced properties. Many of them come from renewable stock utilizing biomaterials as the raw ingredients. One manufacturer of such biocomposites is e2e Materials, which is producing a range of plant-based products which the company describes as “like a form molded plastic – but stronger, fire resistant, biodegradable and looks like wood.”

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This video showcases the pH Living Sanctuary, a factory-built home in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.  The healthy home has been certified by Building Biologists to the IBE Healthy Home Standard, according to California-based pH Living, and has been checked for VOCs, energy efficiency, formaldehyde, mold, electromagnetic fields (EMF’s), communications frequency pollution reductions, and radiation.

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This is an update to a prior article about Tierra del Sol, a community of 22 prefab, starter homes, located in Stockton, California.  Built in modules by California-based ZETA Communities, the homes in Tierra del Sol have three bedrooms, two baths, and 1,268 square feet.  They’re homes are also expected to use about 45% less energy each than a typical home.

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• Sauvie Island prefab.
• Green building is on the rise.
• Staying warm and saving energy in winter.
• Home blends comfort, beauty, sustainability.
• A different kind of container store.
• High design, low cost home.

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Today my alma mater Southern Methodist University celebrates a new master’s degree program in sustainability and development.  The degree covers sustainability-related topics from policy to design in both developed and developing worlds.  SMU will kick off the endeavor mid-day Friday with London sustainability strategist Peter Bishop and the unveiling of a low-cost Pallet House prototype designed by I-Beam Design.

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