Natural alternative building

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Go to for a wealth of free natural building photos and resources.

Why is exploring natural building alternatives so important?

95% of our original forests have been destroyed.

Current building construction accounts for...
# 40% of the world's energy usage
# 40% of the debris dumped in landfills
# 18% of the world's fresh water usage

And results in 30 years of debt for the average home owner.

This video is about the reintroduction and refining of traditional common sense, on site building practices across the globe.

Kleiworks at has trained locals in the art of natural building in Thailand, Argentina, the United States of America, Laos, China, Burma, India, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Australia, Brazil and England.

Even if you're not building a home you can help revive sensible, sustainable, ecologically friendly building by making a tax deductable donation to the kleiworks training fund at

Channel: Howto & Style
Uploaded: January 8, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Author: Undersizeme

Length: 00:07:18
Rating: 4.68
Views: 51811

Tags: cob earth plaster mud brick natural building global warming bamboo construction

Video Comments:
babbabybwoo (January 6, 2009 at 9:28 am)
It's cheap to build anyway. You don't have to hire a contractor and pick up a mortgage that might lead to losing your home to foreclosure. If it's good for the earth that's good too. I guess you'd need to double reinforce your roof or use lighter materials if you're worried about an earthquake.
BowtieHeep (December 25, 2008 at 1:19 pm)
the world is overpopulated as it is, high-tech will only work where skilled laborers lack employment. these people live where resources are in the back yard and cost effort not dollars... we are not so lucky in that respect but until you fork over the money to provide people with advanced green housing we are stuck with what's cheap. these people think more of enjoying their time under the house roof while it lasts not when it will end, just as it should be
alln205 (November 9, 2008 at 5:18 am)
Look, all I am saying is that thousands of people are killed every year by traditional building methods. And that even includes people that live in wood houses that die in fires. All over the Third World people die in earthquakes and are buried under rubble of stone or mud houses. The answer is with high tech green buiding technologies, not mud. Also, earthquakes are always rare, until they kill you. I'm in NYC right on a fault line, and yes, a lot of people will die when the quake hits.
OnePeopleOneChina (December 13, 2008 at 7:40 pm)
alln25: Don't you be stupid! If you use LOCAL materials & methods, you must also be aware of natural hazards that occur LOCALLY - If you are knowledgeable, you do NOT build a 3 story multifamily urban mud house! You use materials that are suitable for the LOCAL environment.
ratsackatl (December 18, 2008 at 10:46 am)
allot of those "mud houses" that collapse use compromised versions of true unfired earthen building. There are earthen building with uncompromised mixtures that have been in place for centuries. My Check it out, let me know if you are unable to locate this info.
VeganActiv (November 5, 2008 at 6:08 pm)
Damn, those clay villages are beautiful. I can't wait to build my clay home.
alln205 (November 8, 2008 at 10:31 am)
You get an earthquake and the whole thing comes down on yer head. Every year tens of thousands of pleople are killed in places like Iran, Turkey, China, who used indigineous methods. This is stupid. How do you build a 3 story multifamily urban mud house?
VeganActiv (November 8, 2008 at 8:34 pm)
Never heard of steel? Earthquakes where I live are rare and far between and never extremely bad.

I'm simply using the clay ideas as insulation, instead of brick.

Wood, brick and steel home collapse, shift and warp. Keep your opinions to yourself.
RazorVrakking (November 21, 2008 at 6:52 am)
very carefully
OxEyeChai (November 3, 2008 at 8:50 pm)
Why does this Video make me Angry, it really should'nt, but It really does strike a cord with me.