Earth, straw, and wood are some of the construction materials used by a rural community in the Republic of Cameroon. Beyond being low-cost, the project's main asset is its respect for the local landscape, building homes in harmony with their surroundings.
Called Warka Village, the hamlet is based on vernacular architecture. This means traditional construction techniques and locally available materials, such as stone, bamboo, and natural fibers, are used.
In August 2019, Eternit presented its photovoltaic solar tile at Intersolar South America. This first-of-its-kind product in the country has just received Inmetro certification for production. The model had already been approved by the institute, and with this certification, the first concrete tile capable of generating energy—developed in Brazil—can now be marketed.
Those who install these tiles on their homes will be able to capture sunlight to produce electricity—without the need for additional panels. This technology became globally known through Tesla's solar tiles.
Sesc São Carlos, in upstate São Paulo, has launched a short video series on how permaculture works in practice. Produced by Associação Veracidade, the entire series will be available online for free.
Over six episodes, various social technologies will be presented, such as composting toilets, composting, solar ovens, and rainwater harvesting, among others. Viewers can explore the various ecological possibilities that can be integrated into a sustainable home—even in urban spaces.
Solar energy is officially the cheapest way to generate electricity today, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its newly released annual World Energy Outlook 2020 report. “With sharp cost reductions over the past decade, solar PV is consistently cheaper than new coal- or gas-fired power plants in most countries, and solar projects now offer some of the lowest electricity costs ever seen,” the document states.
An impressive building has risen in Rudrapur, a village in northern Bangladesh. Local techniques and materials were used to shape a space designed to meet a critical need. Named the Anandaloy Center, its first floor functions as a care center for people with disabilities.
The project won the 2020 OBEL Award, an international prize that honors outstanding architectural contributions to human development worldwide.
Using plants to filter impurities from lakes and rivers is already a common practice in sustainability. It is an alternative that avoids artificial chemicals in favor of maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Now, students at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) have gone a step further, creating floating planters made of mycelium to clean pollutants from waterways while restoring wetland habitats.
Exponential population growth versus a lack of affordable housing is a challenge affecting urban areas worldwide. To address this issue, the Italian firm Mario Cucinella Architects proposes a new circular housing model: a 3D-printed home made from organic materials.
The prototype uses regionally sourced materials, such as local clay, making it the first printed house of its kind. This reduces emissions from transporting materials and also ensures the building process is zero-waste.
A Danish company named KiteX has developed a wind turbine for those seeking an “off-the-grid” lifestyle. Collapsible and portable, the turbine can be carried in a car to generate power even in remote locations.
Constructed with fiberglass rods, the turbine weighs only 10 kg and is easily transportable. When needed, users simply unpack, assemble, anchor it to the ground (using a set of high-strength nylon tension straps), and begin capturing wind energy. The company estimates that 15 minutes is enough for one person to set up all the components.
Icon, an American construction robotics startup, was founded with the promise of building emergency housing using 3D printers. A model home was built in Austin, Texas, in 2018. Two years later in the same city, the company began delivering a series of homes for the unhoused.
A recovering heroin addict, Tim Shea was previously homeless, with his last home being a van. The 70-year-old American was the first to receive the keys to a printed home in September 2020.
Located 60 km from Belo Horizonte, Caeté is the latest Brazilian city to adopt free public transportation. The initiative took effect on July 1 and will undergo a six-month trial period, with the potential for permanent implementation. Approved by the City Council, the bill allows residents to use the municipality's six bus lines free of charge. Previously, the fare was R$4.
The program is funded through a monthly subsidy of R$90,000 paid to Transcol Caeté, the transit concessionaire operating in the city, which had previously considered suspending services due to financial difficulties.
A small shelter for people experiencing homelessness has been designed in Ecuador. Combining a sleeping space and a kiosk, the structure features four wheels, allowing it to be moved as needed.
The project, named “El Ambulantito,” was designed by the firm Natura Futura Arquitectura. The emergency shelter model consists of foldable components. “El Ambulantito was born from a reality we witness every day. A temporary shelter and production device for people who are homeless or in transit from one city to another, it prompts reflection and awareness while public policies address the issue,” the architecture firm explains.
Renewable energy storage, particularly for wind and solar, remains a challenge. However, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are taking a major step toward creating an eco-friendly cement-based battery. Still in the prototype stage, the project focuses on the construction industry.
In search of sustainable and scalable materials, researchers Emma Zhang and Luping Tang, from the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, developed a new concept for rechargeable batteries. The process begins with a cement-based mixture containing small amounts of short carbon fibers to increase conductivity and flexural toughness. A metal-coated carbon fiber mesh—iron for the anode and nickel for the cathode—is then embedded into the mixture. This is the first concept of its kind in the world.
During an extraordinary session on August 17, lawmakers of the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo (Alesp) approved Bill 356/2015, which mandates the inclusion of rainwater harvesting systems in architectural projects across the state of São Paulo.
Proposed by Representative Marcos Damasio (PL), Bill 356 mandates rainwater harvesting systems to promote sustainability and environmental preservation. The system would be installed during renovations of existing buildings and would be mandatory for new constructions, ensuring that new projects incorporate rainwater harvesting from the design phase.
A study conducted in Australia has proven that green roofs help increase the efficiency of solar panels. Essentially, the panels perform better when they do not get too hot.
The study analyzed two identical office buildings located side-by-side in Sydney. One was equipped with a conventional photovoltaic solar system, while the other featured solar panels surrounded by vegetation. Both systems were monitored over an eight-month period spanning both summer and winter.
Imagine housing strangers in your backyard. Some time ago, the idea might have sounded absurd, but the boom in the tourism market (before the pandemic) made alternative lodging options, such as CouchSurfing and Airbnb, highly sought-after. In Seattle, Washington's largest city, a project is seeking volunteers willing to open up their backyards to install tiny shelters. Unlike programs aimed at young travelers, this initiative has a social purpose: the goal is for people to actually live in these spaces.
The *Block Project* was conceived by architect Rex Hohlbein after he opened up his own property to house a homeless artist. For Hohlbein, the community must get involved if it wants to solve the housing crisis affecting major cities. Seattle ranks among the 100 most expensive cities in the world to live and work, according to Mercer's 2021 global survey.
A large floating solar farm has begun operations in Thailand. Solar cells installed on the water's surface harness sunlight during the day, while three turbines convert hydropower at night.
The system combines two types of renewable electricity generation at the Sirindhorn Reservoir in Ubon Ratchathani province, located about 660 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok. A total of 145,000 solar panels have been installed. The 45 MW of peak power produced by the project complements existing dam operations, which can generate an additional 36 MW and supply electricity to three provinces in eastern Thailand.
With a canal network spanning over 100 kilometers, Amsterdam has just unveiled a fully electric, autonomous boat. Designed to operate as a water taxi, the vessel can transport up to five people at a time.
Named Roboat, the vehicle can operate uninterrupted for 10 hours without a pilot on board. Charging is done wirelessly, via proximity and without human intervention. Other integrated technologies include sensors and 360-degree cameras powered by artificial intelligence.
A type of garden roof tile has been developed by a Dutch company. This “two-in-one” product promises to transform any conventional roof into a green oasis, bringing several benefits to residents.
Unlike traditional green roofs, where plants must be installed on top of the structure, these tiles come with the vegetation already “built-in.” Each unit is covered with a mix of sedum and substrate. Best of all, they require very little maintenance.
