Feelgood Style

Solar power potential is active in many minds these days. It really makes sense for the yurt lifestyle, but creativity is required since you can’t rest solar panels on a fabric/vinyl yurt roof.

Here stands John M. Brown on his yurt site in Glenville, West Virginia. He is so kind to share his knowledge on a yurt blog that dates from August 2005 to March 2008. Not only are the pics, info and floor plans great, but see dear John’s solar electric block diagram from his FAQ page. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a number of reasons to have single or several walls in a yurt, ‒ whether it be residential, commercial, or otherwise. And if you’ve been following the Yurt Living series, you know those walls are more like partitions, not flush with the ceiling. Sounds restricting, but actually not so. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday I heard a series of interviews with Americans about their holiday gift plans. Responses included phrases like “Wal-Mart,” “Gift Cards,” and “one big gift instead of 10 small ones.” Clearly, families everywhere are rethinking their gift-giving traditions. My own family has had The Talk about how this year we’ll have to reign in the spending; some relatives will have to forgo gifts altogether. Always, the discussion is heavy with sadness, resignation, even guilt.

If you’re in the same boat, there’s no need to be glum, chum! Instead of filling your brain with which big-box store is offering the best sale on crap you’re not even sure Aunt Deloris will like, use that cerebral space to get creative this season! I promise you, this year has the potential to be not only the most affordable, but also the most enjoyable one yet. How? By deciding as a family (or office group, book club, etc) on an eco-friendly/budget-friendly/helping people-friendly theme. Let me explain by throwing out a few examples: Read the rest of this entry »

Within the Yurt Living series I’ve dabbled a bit on interiors. Rebecca MacKay’s book, Round Design: Modern Yurt Interiors was acknowledged as the closest thing to hiring a professional. Another book, Add Wheels To Your Furniture For Faster Cleaning by Lifehacker author Angus Kidman, was noted as a good idea. But that was it! I’ve been amazed at the lack of yurt interior designers.

So with determination, my search continues. But hey, ― maybe it’s not necessary? Read the rest of this entry »

It’s ironic I’m writing about windows while my yurt in the tropical rain forest of Hawaii is enduring the heaviest rainfall I’ve ever witnessed. The awnings are proving their worth well.

Why don’t I close the windows? Well, I’m getting there. It’s just that I don’t have a deck around my 3-foot elevated yurt and therefore a ladder is required. The picture tells the story. Read the rest of this entry »

A Place to Feel Eco-Fabulous

The  ecofabulous lounge at Opportunity Green was appointed with gorgeous sustainable furniture used throughout the conference space, and is a flawless manifestation of Opportunity Green’s commitment to design. I’ve been to a few sustainability-oriented conferences in my time, and this is the only one that celebrates sustainable design, and helps designers and clients alike to better understand sustainable design. It was so uplifting to see so much creative talent using sustainable principles to make gorgeous clothes and accessories.

The ecofabulous lounge is that chic yet welcoming boutique where you want to just hang out and be surrounded by gorgeousness. The lounge has a corner dedicated to Vie Bungalow, another corner for Arcona facials and product sampling, and the uber-eco PACT underwear, repping for the men, with his & hers boy-cut briefs.The Ekla sofas were gorgeous and seemed a great place to relax and chat with people.

Read the rest of this entry »

Seems yurt manufacturers have been surveying customer comments. Good thing, as that’s how progressive changes occurred at the Colorado Yurt Company. They recently added a new design because customers relayed their preference to open their windows from inside.

This is good news for yurt dwellers without an exterior walking deck and with a raised platform. For those, it’s go outside with your ladder.

Fully Operable Windows is the new description in Colorado. It opens like a traditional home window with a crank. Each window is big enough to meet code requirements for egress. Made with a thermal pane and Low-E glass in a Doug fir frame. E-glass means low emissivity glass, a new technology for energy efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »

This event hosted by ecostiletto.com at Environment Furniture looks like a great opportunity to meet our comrades at arms here in the eco blogosphere. I’ll be there for sure. It’s the day before the Opportunity Green conference, so if you’re in town for the conference anyway, be sure to check this out. There will also be a fashion show of vegan clothing modeled by the Project Green Search finalists.

Since yurt kits are typically shipped to the building site without a floor, anything other than a local resource requires orchestration. That’s because the floor is ideally finished before the yurt is erected.

Alterego in Maryland can discuss the feasibility of FSC certified hardwood, cork, bamboo, linoleum, or rubber floor materials for your yurt structure. The company is owned by architects who offer sustainable products with modern designs. Read the rest of this entry »

Very few globe-scattered yurt companies offer flooring. The exception is special event yurt providers and concierge service companies.

If you purchase your yurt near the location of your site, the yurt salesman may help connect you with an appropriate supplier. Otherwise, you are entirely responsible for the yurt flooring. No need to get the heebie-jeebies though. Read the rest of this entry »