Still researching Environmental building Solutions - of all the types I've read about, I think an Earthen Building is the way to go. Build walls of recycled or renewable materials, then build the inner and outer layers up with Cob. Also makes it easier to integrate a rocket stove.
Earthen Building Standards.
Since 1999 New Zealand has had Earthen Building Standards within the Building Code. This means any buildings designed and built in accordance to the standards automatically meet many of the provisions in the NZ Building Code. Earth Buildings are still required to meet other standards such as External Moisture, Light and Heat efficiency. It is possible to construct your earth house without the need for structural design by an engineer by using NZS 4299 Earth Buildings Not Requiring Specific Design.
The Standards referred to are:
NZS 4297:1998 Engineering Design of Earth Buildings (Specific Design)
NZS 4298:1998 Incl Amendment#1 2000 Materials & Workmanship for Earth Buildings
NZS 4299:1998 Incl Amendment#1 1999 Earth Buildings Not Requiring specific Designs
These can be purchased from Standards New Zealand.
More information can be obtained from the Earth Building Association of New Zealand, and the Waitakere Council has this very informative booklet available on various types of Earthen Homes:
http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/ec/bldsus/pdf/materials/earthbuilding.pdf.
We are a young couple with kids and the crazy idea of buying some empty land, living off the grid and building ourselves up till we have a functioning house and lifestyle block. This blog will document our adventures, discoveries, successes and failures as we try to do this. The land we are going to buy has nothing on it. No trees, no connection to electricity or phone, no water, no sewerage, no buildings. Nothing. We are starting from Scratch.
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