The video that we have watched these past few days is about how to build a structure with green features. The video demonstrated a sustainable house in Albuquerque and how it was productive and energy efficient because of the elements that were included into the design.
The structure was made of strawbail, adobe, kaolin clay, a steel roof, photovoltaic panels, and even bamboo arches to simply name a few things, but most importantly it was made with recyclable material.
The objective of demonstrating the construction of the adobe home was to state that being conscious of what is better for the environment and our pocketbooks over time takes a lot of time to sort out the details, but overall it is worth the time and effort to construct something that will last and be comfortable to you or your client.




Vocabulary:

1. awareness- conscious of
2. sustainability- the usage of recycled materials in your city that produce an energy efficient building.
3. greywater system- the water system that deals with the water used for shower, and faucets in your household.
4. crossventilation- permits the air that is naturally stored in household to vent out side.
5. web concrete
6. steel ladder
7. gringo block is a block that attaches a frame wall to adobe.
8. shims are pieces of wood or other material that is used to fill in gaps between walls.
9. UF cable
10. compact fluorescent generate less heat and are a good economic choice.
11. Non-VOC paint does not contain any volatile organic compounds.
12. white Kaolin clay does not expand or crack.

key notes for building with awareness:

• radiant floor heat
• plastic septic tanks
• adobe walls for thermal mass ( serve as storage unit)
• windows placed so each room gets natural lighting from two sides
• have windows face south
• North side windows- small
• openings to offer cross heat
• strawbail keeps out the heat and cold
• adjacent water heater with bathroom and kitchens save energy and water.
• A steel roof doesn't contaminate runoff and is very easy to work with.
• When mixing to make adobe try to aim for a 70-80% of sand and the rest pure clay and some chopped straw.