It was the first fully permitted cob house in Canada Watch out, there’s a new green building rating system in town, and the first three projects built under its auspices have just received certification. All systems work with nature to create a space that is safe and provide for our needs sustainably without compromising the needs of future generations to enjoy the same level of comfort. The cob used in Eco-Sense also incorporates pumice to boost insulation. And despite the longing for our sisterhood it was a pleasant change to the hustle. The Mudgirls revolution was born. built as a collaboration CobWorks, Cob However, as Ann tells The Globe and Mail in a great, Take a few minutes to explore the Eco-Sense, BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA). After 13 years straight of gathering people from all over the world, getting muddy and learning, we had our first building season without one single workshop! business. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next, especially in terms of residential projects. What’s more, the home has a green roof, composting toilets, a grey water system, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, solar thermal heating, COOL IT! One of our amazing clients Allison Whitlock is currently writing a blog about her and her co-land owners building a natural home on Galiano Island BC. Above: Another more whimsical addition to a conventional home. A 1 1/2 inch cob floor right on top of the existing hardy board and overlaps onto the ply wood, finished with oil and wax. Basically this means that Eco-Sense is North America’s first built-to-code cob — an adobe-like material made from sand, clay, straw and water — home that can withstand earthquakes and support a second story. use entirely local materials but here are a few: Ben Law's Given that so many LEED-certified homes can best be described as sleek, modern and high-performing, Eco-Sense comes off as refreshingly — for a lack of better words — folksy. There are also quite a few cob house out in B.C. However, as Ann tells The Globe and Mail in a great 2007 profile: "We look at ourselves as being very mainstream. An earthen plaster was applied over some metal screen to ensure its stability. They reckoned that if nobody else was going to change the rules to support basic human needs and respect the biosphere, then we are all free to make our own rules. Our objective is to live a reasonable life where our home is an extension of nature; where the systems incorporate bio-mimicry for both function and beauty. Now that this season has passed us by, we look to the future. This stove surround has a 4 inch layer of cob fixed to the wall with screws poking out as you can see in the picture with the youngest Mudgirl, Esme. It was the first fully permitted cob house in Canada built as a collaboration CobWorks, Cob Cottage Company and Elke Cole with a team of volunteers. Part story of rebel women, grassroots self-governance, and community-building, part incendiary political and economic tract, and part practical guide to building natural homes for real people. The house is 600 sq.ft (56m2) on 2 And finally, a big congrats to Eco-Sense and all the other inaugural Living Building Challenge projects. The hearth is the heart of the home. Welcome to the BCSEA website! ©2020 BC Sustainable Energy Association Copyright © Mudgirls Collective. One of our amazing clients Allison Whitlock is currently writing a blog about her and her co-land owners building a natural home on Galiano Island BC. woodland cottage in France. Cottage Company and And although Eco-Sense is technically a private residence, Ann and Gord Baird fancy it much more than that, dubbing it “a home, a lifestyle, a work ethic and a design for life.” Various educational tours and workshops are held at Eco-Sense with the Bairds turning their home into a full-fledged career with consulting services, speaking engagements, and the like. It has been hard not seeing each other, not sharing, not getting to play with all of you! https://adventuresinbuildingwithcob.wordpress.com. Take a few minutes to explore the Eco-Sense website — the Bairds have some truly interesting insights particularly when it comes to green building versus natural building. We plan on sharing this with others through our actions and education programs to challenge our culture’s desire for a consumer economy. I mean really, how many homes have their own mission statement? Completed by owners/builders Ann and Gord Baird in December 2008, Eco-Sense is "North America’s first code approved seismically engineered load bearing insulated cob residence.” The cob used incorporates pumice to boost insulation. This house is a permitted light clay and cob hybrid home, they are taking it on as owner builders and making great … Our objective is to live a reasonable life where our home is an extension of nature; where the systems incorporate bio-mimicry for both function and beauty. Browse the BCSEA Business Member Directory, registered Canadian charity #86490 0501 RR0001. oak playhouse, Michael Buck's They'd have fun, sharing whatever they learned with whoever wanted to come along for the ride. This house is a permitted light clay and cob hybrid home, they are taking it on as owner builders and making great progress and the Mudgirls are helping and along for the wild ride ! cob cottage in England and Menthe Mawaw's tiny floors and cost about $56,000 (£35,000) to build. What’s more, the home has a green roof, composting toilets, a grey water system, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, solar thermal heating, wind power, solar photovoltaic panels, and more. The house is 600 sq.ft (56m2) on 2 floors and cost about $56,000 (£35,000) to build. Based around the question “what if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?” LBC certification is gained through seven performances areas also known as “petals:”, Completed by owners/builders Ann and Gord Baird in December 2008, Eco-Sense is "North America’s first code approved seismically engineered load bearing insulated cob residence.” Eh? All rights reserved. together keep sheep that provide wool for her Described as “the world’s most rigorous green building performance standard,” The Living Building Challenge is the certification arm of the Seattle-based International Living Building Institute, an offshoot of the Cascadia Green Building Council. The roof of the home is totally load bearing on the cob walls. cottage Few natural buildings Elke Cole The beautiful cob home is owned by Alexis and her partner who Based around the question “what if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?” LBC certification is gained through seven performances areas also known as “petals:” Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Completed by owners/builders Ann and Gord Baird in December 2008, Eco-Sense is "North America’s first code approved seismically engineered load bearing insulated cob residence.” Eh? especially on Mayne Island where a cob school exists.

Rob Roy of the Earthwood building school (in Northern N.Y. State) teaches cordwood building and also has books and videos. Given that so many LEED-certified homes can best be described as sleek, modern and high-performing, Eco-Sense comes off as refreshingly — for a lack of better words — folksy. Please take a moment to tell us about yourself so we can keep in touch and you can enjoy browsing the site. Last but not least is Eco-Sense, a private home in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, that’s been bestowed with “Petal Recognition” for conquering the Site, Water, Health and Beauty requirements. By joining the BCSEA community, you will receive our monthly newsletter, information on free monthly webinars, invitations to conferences, and updates from our regional chapters on their activities and local events. Our home will exhibit a practical example of sustainability both locally and globally showcasing luxurious simplicity. Pat's ultimate goal is to build a '10 Mile House', This beautiful bath house was built in 2011. A powerful, positive antidote to troubled times. Kids and adults both - splashing around, showering and filling the place up with steam day after day. They didn't take to the streets to lobby banks and governments to change their ways – they didn't have time for that. An iron oxide pigmented, wild clay plaster has been applied to the cob layer. with a team of volunteers. Our home will exhibit a practical example of sustainability both locally and globally showcasing luxurious simplicity. This little beauty is holding up wonderfully to the wear and tear of well used wood stove. roundwood cottage, James O’Keefe's This thick layer of earth holds a lot of heat and adds soft curves and movement to the space. development by  Blackfly Solutions and virtual wave media, The BC Sustainable Energy Association is aregistered Canadian charity #86490 0501 RR0001. They had babies to feed and house. Here we have a decorative touch added to a conventional old farm house. - Resources for Teachers, Parents and Kids! Basically this means that Eco-Sense is North America’s first built-to-code, And although Eco-Sense is technically a private residence, Ann and Gord Baird fancy it much more than that, dubbing it “a home, a lifestyle, a work ethic and a design for life.” Various educational tours and workshops are held at Eco-Sense with the Bairds turning their home into a full-fledged. So stay in touch, reach out if you wanna hire us and we can get this ball rolling. Still much is uncertain as we head into the second wave but we have hope and we ARE taking on new fall and winter work as long as it meets our needs for health and sanity! Gaining full “Living” status is the Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, N.Y., (this project isLEED Platinum) and the Tyson Learning Living Center in Eureka, Mo. They decided to teach themselves how to build houses using the most abundant material on earth – mud. where every material required for the construction of a home comes On North America's West Coast, there's a group of rebel women who ten years ago chose to break free from a rigged economic and social system. They chose action. The white layer is a thin lime plaster to create hardness and meet these clients aesthetic of clean white and natural lines. We're just building a house out of dirt." The pigmented lime plaster has stood the test of time. They'd learn by building, gathering skills and allies. We plan on sharing this with others through our actions and education programs to challenge our culture’s desire for a consumer economy. All systems work with nature to create a space that is safe and provide for our needs sustainably without compromising the needs of future generations to enjoy the same level of comfort. It does seem that by next spring we should be able to go back to workshops as usual.