The Center for Applied Building Science

05/31/2026

Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewables and battery use, proving what is possible with the right policies

05/26/2026

Hawaii startup built a 3D-printed Navy boat

Building a military boat traditionally requires molds, fiberglass layup, skilled labor, a fixed factory, and weeks of production time. A Hawaii-based startup called Voltage Vessels is working to replace that entire process with a 3D printer, a spool of basalt-reinforced

05/20/2026

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04/22/2026

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04/07/2026

PV-driven hydraulic hydro storage may hit $0.022/kWh LCOE in the U.S. – pv magazine International

An international study has demonstrated that utility-scale solar PV paired with hydraulic hydro storage (HHS) could reach an LCOE as low as $0.022/kWh in select U.S. regions. The system could provide GWh-scale, cost-competitive, and highly reliable long-duration storage, capable of powering large co...

09/29/2025

In the hilly terrains of Turkey, traditional farming has long struggled with soil erosion and water runoff. To address this, an innovative solution has taken root — slope farms now utilize slanted garden beds constructed from interlocked sheep wool bricks. These natural wool blocks are densely packed and shaped to form supportive retaining structures on inclined land, creating tiered beds that stabilize soil and retain moisture.

Sheep wool, once discarded or underutilized, proves to be a perfect sustainable material. It’s breathable, water-retentive, and naturally biodegradable. When shaped into interlocking bricks, it not only reinforces the sloped terrain but also gradually decomposes, enriching the soil with nitrogen and other nutrients. This slow-release fertilization supports robust crop growth without the need for synthetic additives.

Farmers plant vegetables, herbs, and even fruit-bearing shrubs on these tilted platforms, ensuring that every drop of rain is absorbed, not lost. The wool bricks absorb excess water during downpours and slowly release it during dry spells — acting like natural sponges. Over time, as the wool integrates into the earth, new layers are added atop, creating a cyclical and regenerative farming system.

This technique has proven especially helpful in mountainous villages, where arable flat land is scarce. By turning steep slopes into fertile terraces using what the land and livestock already provide, Turkish farmers are embracing a model that is as ecological as it is ingenious.

09/16/2025

Build a Wood Stove that runs a generator, produces gasoline,runs a fridge and act as a water heater at the same time

08/28/2025

In 1948, scientist Mária Telkes—nicknamed “The Sun Queen”—designed a groundbreaking house in Massachusetts that stayed warm throughout freezing winters using only sunlight and salt, without relying on gas or electricity. In collaboration with architect Eleanor Raymond, she created the Dover Sun House, which used Glauber’s salt (sodium sulfate), a phase-change material, to store solar energy and release it gradually as heat. It became one of the first passive solar-heated homes in the world—and it functioned even on cloudy days.

But Telkes's work was about more than just technology—it was about liberation. She believed that energy innovation should serve everyday people, especially women who struggled with smoke-filled kitchens and inadequate heating. Over the years, she developed solar ovens, desalination systems, and off-grid technologies that empowered communities across the globe. With more than 20 patents and a lasting impact on sustainable energy, Mária Telkes proved that clean energy isn't just a future ideal—it has been possible for generations.

Sources:
J. Perlin, Let It Shine: The 6,000-Year Story of Solar Energy. New World Library, 2013.
National Inventors Hall of Fame, “Mária Telkes.”
Smithsonian Magazine, “The Sun Queen and the Science of Solar Homes,” 2021.

08/12/2025