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Igloo Bottle
Strangely Sustainable: Houses That Will Save The Planet By Lookin' Strange
Here at Nuvo, we try to keep up to date with the latest in ethical, eco friendly practices. However, there's a lot of 'green' scams" going on right now. From green automobiles and groceries, to eco friendly cell phones, everyone's got their own plan to save the world. A excellent way to begin to make a difference is to make houses a lot more energy efficient. Sometimes, though... the plan to save the world can end up getting a little... strange.
Glass Bottle House
What would you do with 500, 000 empty embalming fluid bottles? When faced with this dilemma David H. Brown decided to build himself a house. When he retired from the funeral business in 1952, after 35 years of (I assume) hoarding large, square bottles, he began work on his whimsical folly.
Why is it Sustainable?
Well, the house itself ended up being incredibly energy-efficient; it only needs heating from a single, small heater in the winter and no air conditioning at all in the summer. And, at 1,200 square feet of floor space, it's also a pretty good size. The walls were put together with a single thickness of bottles, which are short and stubby. Strips of wood are placed between the bottlenecks, and strengthened with cement and wire, which supports the inner lining of cedar boards, which are nailed on perpendicularly. All of this creates a strong, weatherproof, and unique home. Judging from the pictures, if you can get over the somewhat icky origin of the bottles themselves, it looks like a pretty nice place to live.
Straw Bale Houses
Houses made out of straw bales are nothing new. In fact, people have been making homes of straw since before the beginning of recorded history. However, recently the technique is getting a second chance. New and improved methods allow for the construction of a safe, inexpensive, robust, attractive and efficient home. Unless, of course, you suffer from hay fever.
Why is it Sustainable?
Because the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says it is. In a recent study the CMHC had this to say about the energy efficiency of Straw Bale Houses:
"The straw bale houses used over 20 per cent less space heating energy when compared to the modelled conventional houses. Some of this may be due to underventilation of the straw bale houses and a small tendency for the model to overpredict energy consumption in the conventional houses. However, the size of the savings and the consistency (9 of 11 houses) indicate that the straw bale houses in this survey require significantly less space heating energy than comparable conventional houses."
Also, no fibreglass insulation means fewer chemicals used. With the additional of wall surfacing done with an earth/clay render you have a house constructed completely out of products derived from your average farmer's field and is much more efficient than one made commercially.
Foam Domes
It's impossible to argue with it, the Japanese are responsible for a lot of weird. They have some of the most bizarre housing developments in the world, and this is one of them. Right now you can buy yourself a handy kit that will allow you and a handful of your buddies to put together a 146 square foot dome made completely out of fully expanded polysterene foam. It's not only waterproof, rot-proof, and termite-proof, it's also extremely resistant to earthquakes, hurricanes and typhoons. Apparently, The Future of Housing closely resembles a cross between an igloo, and an ice cream cake.
Why is it Sustainable?
Well, for starters, you can build a home without killing any trees. They are also ridiculously energy-efficient and durable. However, the largest part of what makes them sustainable is the cost. A single kit will go for around $30,000. Think about it, you can get yourself a multi-dome complex for less than a third of the average cost of a house in Canada. You just have to reconcile yourself to the concept of living in a giant, pink igloo.
About the Author
Jonathan Meier is the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for Nuvo Hotel Suites, a small
boutique hotel
specializing in
extended stays
in downtown Calgary, Alberta. When he's not at the Hotel dealing with the daily dose of craziness he's usually out in the mountains near his hometown of Canmore where he can be seen climbing, skiing, or doing anything at all that doesn't involve computers.
How Much Does It Cost For Guinea Pig Supplies?
I know these are the things I need to buy: C&C Cage, Timothy Hay, Water bottle, food bowl, bedding or fleece, igloo ( hides )
What else do I need to buy? Or is that it?
And how much does it cost in total to buy all those things?
im a very organized person when it comes to this
when i costed mine out it came to approx $260 but i took stuff out.
here's my list + cost:)
1 big tupperwear bin- $7.97 ( bedding )
2 medium tupperwear bins - $12 ( hay & food )
1 small tupperwear bin - $3 ( treats )
cube set + chloroplast = $67,98
2 food bowls= $3.98
1 water bottle = $11.99
Timothy Hay complete pellets = $37.98
Green Veggies ( romaine lettuce, parsley, green beans, celery, carrots etc.) = $10
Timothy Brand Hay = $ 29.98
Dust pan + brush = $5
2 hide away castles = $25.98
chew toys = $20.97
tunnel = $12.99
2 cozy cavys = $ 25.98
4 blankets = $6
other stuff i had down but didn't include in costs were: play pen, syptic powder, cage cleaner, hay roller and carrying tote.
hope i helped!
Igloo Gloo Ep 13 The Bottle