Phoenix Haus brings European prefab technology to the midwest

One of the big beefs with Energy Star for housing is that all it cared about was energy; beat the standard code by 15% and you got it. No matter that the best way to make a house efficient is to make it tight, leading to all kinds of air quality

When I wrote about Robert Llewellyn's solar car charging in rainy England, commenters noted that solar at home is unlikely to benefit most car drivers, as they will typically charge overnight. Situations will obviously vary

Neither jobs nor electrical stability will be sacrificed by the state's proposed plan to protect the climate by reducing emissions 25% by 2020.

These lovingly photographed, colourful rowhouses are what's left after all the neigbouring ones have been demolished.

Hawaiian engineers think that it can address many of the world's problems. Are they too ambitious?

An architectural tradition dating to the 9th century, Iceland's turf houses are an enduring inspiration.

Located in Rotterdam, this Concept House features a huge rooftop garden, and uses natural heating and cooling techniques to keep maintenance costs down.

In Haida Gwaii the trees are so big that you could live in them.

Another summer site that is now open is the Duncan House, a Usonian design by Frank Lloyd Wright that was moved from Chicago to Polymath Park, a resort near Pittsburgh. Usonian houses were "ypically small, single story dwellings without a garage or

We have never actually explained this in one post on TreeHugger. I am going to try.

Dan Rockhill and his students keep pushing the building envelope.

If 10 percent of Americans adopted these 7 changes, we could cut total domestic emissions by 8 percent in 6 years.

What happens when you give a futuristic cloth-like material designed for BMW coupes with a bevy of design students and funding from one of the world's leading

Keep your plants in fighting shape, even after the first frost sets, with a geodesic-dome greenhouse of your very own. And raise a homegrown cantaloupe to Buckminster Fuller while you're at it.

It can; but until Americans are willing to trade quantity for quality, nobody will bother doing it.

A dozen units survive, according to Alastair Gordon in the New York Times

Of course, Bucky answered, "Why not?" On Pi Day, we look at the Dymaxion and other round houses."

The biggest one is that no matter how clever the design, it is the land that matters, not the house, and that nothing has changed in 70 years.

This man wants to prove a point about rising global carbon dioxide levels by locking himself inside this DIY greenhouse for the next three days.

This is beyond climate denial, it's science denial

In the latest installment of 'A Death by 1000 Cuts,' a New York TImes analysis lists the Earth-loving rules that Washington is seeking to reverse.

Not just for barbecues, some companies are switching over completely.

Boston is getting a "CLT Cellular Passive House Demonstration Project" that pushes every TreeHugger button.

This young man's mortgage-free home includes an interesting self-built version of the rare species known as the heated ceiling.

Some pretty smart designers, builders and consultants have a pretty good idea for a sensible building standard.

American organic farmer Eliot Coleman explains how his innovative winter gardening methods work, allowing growers to harvest veggies year-round.

It's the first conference of the North American Passive House Network and it sounds like it was a lot of fun.

Is it possible to keep Kosher and still keep a vegan diet?

Waugh Thistleton Architects demonstrate how we should be building for a low carbon future.

Can a recirculating fan deliver the indoor air quality we should demand?

If you guessed that climate-crisis-fueled, disease-carrying mosquitoes are wiping them out, you may be correct.

They also build a "tree house" for themselves. It's almost an indoor community.

Although the term “Passive House” might seem to refer to single family homes, these concepts can be applied to all kinds of buildings.

A charming treehouse is made from recycled wood and glass.

Hint: it's not the one with the solar panels on the front.

From an existing two-storey transformed into four compact floors, this 11 ft. wide house is redone into a much more spacious home.

One can build a house out of wood and cover it up, or one can celebrate the nature of wood, as this one in Slavonice, Czech Republic does. Designed by E - M.R.A.K. | Martin Rajniš, Kamila Amblerová, Václav Horecký, it is built out of unplaned, uncut

Short on space for growing herbs? Well, this graceful pendant lamp -- which doubles as a mini-greenhouse -- could be one way to add more luscious greenery to one's space and diet.

Charred wood never looked so good.

The architects call it a "Conceptual Object" but it is pretty and real.

Instead of combining the two poles of work and leisure, this simple and functional design separates them into distinct volumes.

This bright pink wonder is small, but packs in quite a bit of the basics.

It could of been a great prototype for affordable efficient housing across Britain.

You may have heard that the iPhone 3G went on sale this morning. I saw a line outside of the AT&T; stores here in Manhattan, and I heard there was a line around the block this morning at the Union Street Apple store in San

Not coming soon from a modular company near you.

This self-sustaining mini-ecosystem is made by a designer who wants to create habitable structures that are also themselves alive.

This modern and comfortable two-bed treehouse in Texas is open to guests.

Currently moored in London's St. Katharine Docks, this lovely modern houseboat is on the market for £290,000.

With the aim of inspiring others to start building things, this self-taught carpenter mother of two is giving away the DIY plans for this tiny house and the furniture inside for free.