Green Buildings Feature Projects



Bill H., Pennslyvania
Green Techniques:
- Slab-level drip rain capturting system for use for non-potable water purposes providing over 40,000 gallons of water per year. Graywater is distributed to the fruit and nut trees next to the home through a system of underground pipes.
- Rain gutters ag ground level channeled through pipes into a 1,000 gallon concrete cistern buried underground which feeds the PVC plumbing system for the kitchen and bathroom.
- Installed a BioLet 20 Deluxe composting toilet, reducing water usage and electricity with plans to install a solar panel system to completely power the toilet.
- 3′ x 6′ double-hung large windows to provide passive solar warnth in the interior space and heat the concrete slab.
- Supplemental passive solar heating elements were installed in the concrete floor with a super-efficient Vogelzang Durango woodstove.
- Part of the house was converted into a fully insulated “food room” to house the freezer and canned food.


Fuller’s Hillside Nursery, Kentucky
Green Techniques:
- Greenhouse was built on the south facing wall to take advantage of solar gain in the winter.
- The back porch opens up to the greenhouse and the 10′ x 30′ concrete porch floor works as a bio-mass to hold the heat.
- Greywater system intalled with rain gutters were placed on one side to collect rain water.
- Composting toilet.
- Tankless hot water heaters.
- Solar panels.
- In the future, there is a possibility for a windmill.


Urban Chicken Coops, Boulder, Colorado
Green Techniques:
- Backyard chickens provide a local, healthy food source.
- Chicken manure is used for vegetable fertilizer.
- Local vegetables are grown and consumed.
- Building design of steel and wood incorporates the coops into the urban landscape.
- Metal roof arches are energy star rated and the wooden slats keep the interior shaded and ventilated.
- The design and ease of construction support an economical way to urban homestead.

Solar Powered SteelMaster Garage
Green Techniques:
- Solar panels on the roof used to generate power for the garage.
- Skylights and garage door windows allow natural light to illuminate the building during daylight hours.
- Fireplace utilized to generate heat.
- Posted in Application Extras
- 8 Comments








Hi, what you´ve made is still a dream for me. I am dutch and bought an old farm in Inland Spain. all I want is to sell it and buy a nice piece of land and build a house like yours !!!
well, extremely well done folks !!
Regards, Marit
Posted by marit amons on July 26th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Thank you for your post. We will be here when you are ready to build!
Posted by michellewickum on August 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
The project I will be conducting is located in Clark Fork, Idaho. The structure will be approx. 24×53. It will be insulated inside and outside using “Foam it Green”. It will sit on a 6 inch steel reinforced concrete slab with footers for weight bearing walls. It will have 1 standard door and two windows on one end. The other end will have a 16 foot wide roll up Garage door with the possibility of another walk through door added to the same end. What I am doing is gathering prices for materials and labor costs to construct the unit. Will you reply?
Posted by John G. Duvall on October 26th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Thank you for your post! We will have a green building specialist contact you soon with information.
Posted by Spike on October 26th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I want to build chicken hangars, and anything for this project.
Posted by atia on February 13th, 2010 at 5:09 am
Thank you for your post! We will have a steel building specialist contact you soon!
Posted by Spike on February 15th, 2010 at 7:40 am
hi; have you built residential in the Austin Texas area or in other major cities in the southwest?
Posted by Alan Terry on August 3rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
Alan – Thank you for your post! We have residential steel buildings all over the country. Please check out our Texas page to see some of our projects in your area.
Posted by Elizabeth on August 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 pm