Spotlight on Berkeley-based Natural Builders
Written by Tim Peterson
Natural Builders are licensed contractors that specialize in building with renewable materials and eco-friendly methods. They reach back into human history to utilize straw as a superior form of insulation. Or they make use of renewable bamboo as a primary building material. Their goals are clear: Improve outdated building methods, increase new ways of providing ecological space, and come up with new building techniques to a changing environment.
In case you’re not sure who they are and what they do, here’s a brief overview. Natural Builders is based in Berkeley, CA. They do what there name suggests: they create green buildings, provide alternative and eco-friendly building materials, and offer connections to creative green education.
Do you want to find a better way to insulate your building? Chances are Natural Builders can give you a great alternative. They deal in energy efficient construction for homes and businesses. The earth is their raw material. Natural clay is used to build adobe homes, while renewable bamboo is used for home framing. Natural limestone plasters are durable and act as insect deterrents. Limestone washes are naturally white but can incorporate earth tones by adding earth pigment.
Another creative building block is the use of earth floors. Its substance is like concrete, but with more flexibility. These floors absorb heat during the day, and then release it into the home at night. All pretty cool stuff and a very planet-friendly way of building.
What others have said
Earth buildings are more than just pretty buildings, they are as you say, eco friendly and their insulation means little extra is required. Also you do not have to plaster wall if you like the rough cast of the earthen wall
Stone and earth homes have all the advantages of the mass built design with added extras, such as minimal upkeep, soundproofing and important great insulation properties.
I’m partial to rammed-earth buildings. They provide excellent insulation in all variety of climates and with proper care can last for centuries. You might not know this but there are parts of the great wall of China which are made of rammed earth and are still standing!
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