From BWBNewsletter at builderswithoutborders.org Thu Sep 11 22:34:38 2008 From: BWBNewsletter at builderswithoutborders.org (Builders Without Borders newsletter) Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:34:38 -0600 Subject: [BWBNewsletter] BWB events in Washington D.C. Message-ID: *Dear Friends - * *You are invited to a free series of events that Builders Without Borders is presenting in conjunction with the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) and Amicus Green Building Center, during the week of September 21 - 27, 2008. **Topics include: Energy Efficient Home Building - Cutting-edge Strategies and Policy** See below for a list of events. A pdf poster is attached. ** *This May, as part of the U.S. Botanic Garden's exhibition "One Planet-Ours! Sustainability for the 22nd Century," Builders Without Borders created a display to demonstrate energy-efficient straw-bale construction. The BWB straw-bale "Eco-house" was built mostly from local, "low-carbon" natural building materials ? straw, earth, wood, stone, slate and bamboo -- that also promote healthful indoor air quality. Its location at the USBG is in the heart of Washington D.C., adjacent to the National Mall and across the street from the Capitol. Stepping inside the BWB Eco-house one can experience the insulating power of straw bales, combined with the mass and safe moisture storage of beautiful clay-base plasters. On the exterior, the bale walls are protected by a traditional lime plaster and a long-lasting standing-seam metal roof. Nearby, a bamboo shade structure and an adobe/cob arch reveal the elegant simplicity of building with natural materials. Visit * www.builderswithoutborders.org *to see photos, the building team, and links to our supporters. Between September 21 ? 27 BWB events include lunch-hour presentations at the U.S. Botanic Garden, a green building tour, and a hands-on straw-bale workshop. For more detailed information see www.builderswithoutborders.org/USBG/Schedule.pdf *Please Forward to friends and colleagues in the D.C. region, who might enjoy these presentations, and/or enjoy a visit to the BWB Strawbale Ecohouse, which is open 10AM to 5PM through November. The US Botanic Garden is located at 100 Maryland Ave, Washington D.C., and the BWB exhibit is on the east terrace. * *Sincerely, Catherine Wanek Co-director Builders Without Borders www.builderswithoutborders.org 575-895-5400 Energy Efficient Home Building - Cutting-edge Strategies and Policy Tour a LEED-certified, Green-built elementary school*. An opportunity to visit a LEED-certified 27,000 square-foot elementary school incorporating passive solar design, day lighting, a green roof, and energy-efficient straw-bale walls finished with lime plaster. Friends Community School, 5901 Westchester Park Dr, College Park, MD www.friendscommunityschool.org *Sunday, September 21, 1-2 pm * *Hybrid Houses -- The Top 10 Energy Saving Building Strategies *--* *A* *showcase of contemporary homes, designed to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, and enhance the health of homeowners. U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave, Washington, D.C. * www.usbg.com/education/events/index.cfm * *Monday, September 22, 12-1pm * *Greening the Next Generation -- Learn about a cutting-edge curriculum for sustainable construction that prepares future designers and builders for "Green Collar" jobs. *U.S Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave, Washington, D.C. www.usbg.com/education/events/index.cfm *Tuesday, September 23, 12-1pm * *Green Building in the Washington, D.C. Region -- *Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. building professionals talk about climate-appropriate materials and methods, code acceptance. U.S Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave, Washington, D.C. www.usbg.com/education/events/index.cfm *Wednesday, September 24, 12-1pm ** Open House at the Strawbale Eco-house -- *Tour the BWB exhibit, and see its construction (in a digital display). The BWB team will be on hand to answer questions about natural and ecological building. Also, learn about local resources for green-building supplies and services. U.S Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave, Washington, D.C. www.usbg.com/education/events/index.cfm *Thursday, September 25, 11am-2pm **Hybrid Houses -- The Top 10 Energy Saving Building Strategies -- *A showcase of contemporary homes designed to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, and enhance the health of the homeowners. Amicus Green Building Center, 4080A Howard Ave, Kensington, MD www.amicusgreen.com *Thursday, September 25, 7-8pm * *Growing Green Building Policy -- *Learn about New Jersey's green evolution, including creating a state-wide Green House Gas Reduction and Energy Master Plan, establishing green building standards, and bolstering economic growth through "renewables." U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave, Washington, D.C. www.usbg.gov/education/events/index.cfm *Friday, September 26, 12-1pm **Family Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden -- *Tour the BWB Exhibit and see its construction (in a digital display). The BWB team will be on hand to interpret the exhibit, and answer questions about natural and ecological building. Plus, you can learn how to bake a cake in a solar oven! U.S. Botanic Garden,100 Maryland Ave, Washington, D.C. www.usbg.gov/education/events/index.cfm *Saturday, September 27, 10:30am-4:30pm ** American Clay Plaster Workshop -- *($25 workshop fee) A hands-on workshop teaching the techniques, tricks and characteristics of American Clay ? a natural, non-toxic, mold resistant, breathable plaster. It's easy to apply and fun to learn for do-it-yourselfers and pros alike. Bring a hawk and finishing trowel (not a drywall mud or scored trowel) or you can purchase a set on the day of the workshop. Wear "painting" clothes. Please call 301-571-8590 for more information and to reserve your spot. Amicus Green Building Center, 4080A Howard Ave, Kensington, MD www.amicusgreen.com *Saturday, September 27, 10am-1pm **Growing Green Building Policy -- *Learn about New Jersey's green evolution, including creating a state-wide Green House Gas Reduction and Energy Master Plan, establishing green building standards, and bolstering economic growth through "renewables." Amicus Green Building Center, 4080A Howard Ave, Kensington, MD www.amicusgreen.com *Saturday, September 27, 1-2pm **Introduction to Natural Building -- *Learn about building with locally available, minimally-processed materials combined to create beautiful, energy-saving homes that are good for people and the planet. Amicus Green Building Center, 4080A Howard Ave, Kensington, MD www.amicusgreen.com *Saturday, September 27, 2-3:30pm * *Hands-on Strawbale Workshop -- *Experience how easy it is to stack bales into walls, and learn the basics of straw-bale building. Amicus Green Building Center, 4080A Howard Ave, Kensington, MD www.amicusgreen.com *Saturday, September 27, 3:30-5pm* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: BWB Presentation Poster (USBG).pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 225619 bytes Desc: not available URL: From BWBNewsletter at builderswithoutborders.org Thu Sep 18 22:48:12 2008 From: BWBNewsletter at builderswithoutborders.org (Builders Without Borders newsletter) Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:48:12 -0600 Subject: [BWBNewsletter] Ecobuilding in Siberia Message-ID: <9DB2A1780F3D824502AF2DF2@d00-64-106-126-253.dhcp.unm.edu> Hello Friends, Today I spoke with Jacob "Kuba" Wihan, a Czech natural builder who is now in Russia with three other builders from the U.S. This "Builders Without Borders" team has made some exciting breakthroughs, and I'm writing to share the news and to ask for your support. Can you help by cosponsoring Kuba's trip? Kuba is facilitating a strawbale workshop in the Altai region of southern Siberia, lead by Jeff Ruppert, Cindy Smith, and Paul Koppana. With over 60 participants from as far away as Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Novosibirsk, as well as from local villages, this workshop is having a resounding effect in the regional newspapers, radio, and TV. It even beat out the Georgian conflict for top spot on the evening news in the city of Barnaul. Our partners think this coverage will help strawbale building receive certification in Russia, a step they have been working toward for years. This Builders Without Borders team returned to Russia last week to continue a project begun in 2005, when they constructed a strawbale building at a small ecotourism center. On that trip they met an architecture instructor from a local university. Now, with funds and sponsorship from The Altai Project, BWB, and the university itself, a strawbale "dacha" is being built on the university's recreation campus. Art and architecture students, individual homebuilders, and natural building proponents have built a unique structure that will serve as office, art exhibit hall, and mini-campus center. This is an eager crowd, hungry for information about natural building; some of the participants are building strawbale houses next year and are already buying wheat straw now. The evening presentations and films often run into the wee hours. The night before our talk, Kuba answered questions until 2 AM about protecting strawbale walls from moisture. Like a multilingual battery charger, Kuba radiates positive energy to the other organizers and keeps things flowing smoothly, even when (as so often happens in Russia) logjams don't until the last possible second. Kuba has gone in search of quality Siberian clay and shepherded the group through the pitfalls of Moscow's airports. Without him this trip would not have been possible. Builders Without Borders and The Altai Project are committed to covering all Kuba's expenses for this trip. Although he is volunteering his time, we request your help in covering his travel expenses. Our goal is to raise $3,000. Please consider sending a donation today! Donate online at www.builderswithoutborders.org (make sure to note "Russia" on your donation), or make check to Builders Without Borders with "Russia" in the memo field and send to: Builders Without Borders 119 Main Street Kingston, NM 88042 USA Or call 575-895-5400. Thank you for your support! Alyson Alyson Ewald Director, The Altai Project Earth Island Institute http://www.altaiproject.org