Introduction: Sustainable House Next to the Mississippi River

In science class I have been working on a homemade sustainable house. Sustainable homes are houses that don't effect the earth in a harmful way and safe energy/ money . Examples: wood from a sustainable forest and solar panels.

Step 1: Sketching My Plan

For my plan I thought that I would make the house right next to the water because of easy water source. The house is a simple model and I thought I wanted the windmill on the ground but I decided to make it on the roof.

Step 2: Whats a Biome

A biome is a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, its like a forest or tundra. My biome is near the Mississippi river so I can get fertile soil for my crops.

Step 3: Sustainable Aspects

Sustainable wood: It makes the house more sustainable because the wood is from a sustainable forest is good so it doesn't affect the environment. The sustainable wood makes it Eco- friendly and it doesn't affect the forest it came from. Solar panels: Solar panels can help a sustainable home because it can help get energy from the sun and not having to pay so much for electricity. Energy efficient air conditioning: Energy efficient air conditioning is good for a sustainable home because it will help with the energy and reduce the money spent. Energy efficient lighting: Energy efficient lighting is good for a sustainable home because less energy use reduces the demand from power plants. Dual pane windows: Dual pane windows are double glass windows that act like insulators. They help keep the cold out in the winter and heat out in the summer. Food waste: This is when you take your unfinished/ gone bad food and put that in a garbage bin. Cut holes in the bin so the food can break down in a way that it can create soil/ fertilizer for your garden. Windmill: I will use windmill to turn the wind's kinetic energy into renewable electricity. It will be a house sized one. Conserving water: Turn off the tap when it's not in use.Soak your dishes in warm water first. Run your dishwasher and laundry only when its full. Cut those long showers short. Don't use lots of water for your garden hose and sprinklers. Well water: I will use well water and a purifier to make the water clean so I don't get sick. Insulated walls: Insulated wall will keep warm air in and cold air out.

Step 4: Materials

The materials you will need to build this house are....

  • tissue box
  • cardboard
  • colored paper
  • black, grey, and white paint
  • paper
  • hot glue gun

Step 5: Putting It Together

I started by painting the tissue box with white paint and cut a rectangle out of the cardboard and placed the green and blue colored paper. I glued the box and paper on the cardboard and made little rectangles for the stairs. I used black paint to do the windows, door and soar panels but I mixed them and made grey to detail it. Then I made the garden with cardboard and white and black paint, I cut small rectangles and painted them white and put one black stripe to look like there connecting. Next I built the well, steps and the disposable garbage bin. the well was made out of pink construction paper and painted it black and same with the garbage bin but grey. The windmill is make from a plastic straw and white paper and hot glued them together.

Step 6: Finished Product

When I was finished I thought it looked good and it all came together. I put some finishing touches on it and took off any extra hot glue. I fixed up the windows and doors with white paint.