Cob takes a tremendous amount of human energy to create. A batch might take an experienced cobber 15 – 20 minutes. It takes me a little longer, since I have to bring materials from 200 feet plus to the site.
Now that I’ve moved some 50 tons of material I decided that I need a worker bee! Continue Reading…

So how does one calculate the material needs for a project?

I’ve often wonderd about how people calculate material needs. You usually don’t want to pay for more than you need, and you sure don’t want to run short of material in the middle of a job!

Continue Reading…

The University of Minnesota’s Borealis III comes in 2nd at the 2005 North American Solar Challenge.
First to the finish line, was University of Michigan’s ‘Momentum’. This race is the longest solar car race in the world. Covering approximately 2,245 miles from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Hunt Utilities Group, LLC has created a large research office building constructed with strawbale and cob up in the Northland of Minnesota. Much of the work has been documented in their website www.hugllc.com. Their guiding philosophy is to shorten the loop by using local construction materials, local energy sources ( the sun ), raising food locally, and recycling water… To be a symbiont, not a parasite.

This wonderful artwork created by Pete Anderson.
Photo by Paul Hunt.

Goals for the Research Campus

• Every building will be able to heat and cool itself without fossil fuel
• The campus will create no sewage effluent
• Some of the houses will use little or no additional water other than what falls upon their roofs
• Use permaculture in the planning, development and growth of the campus
• Raise food in adjoining greenhouses for ongoing harvest year round
• Build a community that lives in a manner that is sustainable without degrading the environment

Hunt Utilities Group, LLC
2502 24th St SW
Pine River, MN 56474
(218) 587-5001
Fax (218) 587-5002
www.hugllc.com

Google Map

Update: Jan 2006
See HUG Video »

Green Communities™
A series of Live Online Events supports The Enterprise Foundation’s Green Communities program. Each event digs into a section of the Green Communities Criteria. To be eligible for Green Communities grants, loans and tax credit equity, a project must comply with provisions of the Green Communities Criteria. The Criteria promote public health, energy conservation, operational savings and sustainable building practices in affordable housing design. Go to www.GreenCommunitiesOnline.org for more information about the program.

Whether or not you plan to apply to Green Communities for funding, these events will provide you with practical steps and examples of how to make your housing developments healthier to live in and environmentally sound.

For these and other future Live Online Events, go Here.