Articles
Many of the following articles originally appeared in The Healing Garden Journal. They have been written by Thomas Hirsch, principal of Bungalow Builders, unless otherwise noted.
When it comes to heating our homes, most of us want the same things: warmth, comfort, and a system that doesn’t cost the Earth—literally. That’s where masonry heaters come in. Masonry heaters are timeless, ultra-efficient stoves that are not just cozy, they’re an efficient, low carbon alternative to other heating equipment – including traditional wood stoves. Last winter, SEEDS EcoCorps and Bungalow Builders worked hard to construct the intricate internal parts and external facade of a new masonry heater inside of the SEEDS Workshop located in Historic Barns Park.
A nice write up from Northern Express covering Bungalow Builders' 2024 round house project featuring straw-clay walls, recycled glass aggregate, and locally-sourced black locust lumber!
As the temperature drops and we begin to spend more time indoors, we have creature comfort needs to maintain a reasonable temperature. The “Sick Building Syndrome” takes a strong foothold this time of year. How we choose to heat our homes determines both our comfort as well as the level of indoor air quality.
More and more people are becoming aware of the negative environmental impacts that current building practices perpetuate and are striving to make choices that promote personal and planetary health.
The long winters in our part of the country can often lead to a host of complaints like cabin fever, lethargy, headaches, allergies and other respiratory ailments.