Sustainable Building: Theory and Practice: Build a High-Efficiency Dream Home on a Shoestring Budget

Sustainable Building: Theory and Practice The house of your Dreams does not have to be expensive. The key is all in the planning. How much a house costs, how it looks, how comfortable it is, how energy-efficient it is – all these things occur on paper before you pick up even one tool. Thomas J. Elpel, author of Living Homes: Stone Masonry, Log, and Strawbale Construction, outlines steps to save tens of thousands of dollars in upfront construction costs and long-term maintenance through thoughtful planning and design. Biography: As a young adult, Thomas J. Elpel didn’t want to walk the conventional path of paying rent or a mortgage and working a 9 to 5 job until retirement. With a background in wilderness survival skills, he focused directly on the basics: shelter, fire, water, and food. He built a passive solar stone and log home for approximately what most people spend on a new car, and later added solar panels to generate as much electricity as the house consumes. Elpel successfully avoided the need for a mortgage or a regular job and found the freedom to pursue his interests. Elpel has authored numerous books and produced many videos, on topics ranging from wilderness survival and botany to green building and consciousness. He wrote Living Homes: Stone Masonry, Log, and Strawbale Construction in part to show that it is still possible for anyone to live the Dream – to own a great home mortgage-free: https://dirtcheapbuilder.com/ #sustainablebuilding #stonework #passivesolar