Compressed Earth Block Press

Factor e Live – Episode 8

This week’s episode of Factor e Live features the CEB press in action (in addition to the documentation of our first complete solar panels). It is a perfect union – the LifeTrac open source tractor powers the Factor e Liberator CEB Press....

LifeTrac Alive!

Yesterday, LifeTrac rolled out of the shop under the power of its own engine. It purred like a cat, turning smoothly over the ground with its articulated steering. Brittany, Jessica, and I celebrated with elderberry champagne. Farm-fresh organic, of course....

Summer Heat

We are in a backlog for Factor e Live documentation and updates in general. It’s a busy time – so here is a few notes. I shook the cobwebs off the CEB press, and our team is doing 3D and finite element analysis modeling. We are days from finishing...

Factor e Live – Part 3

This installment of Factor e Live focuses on LifeTrac – the open source, life-time, design-for-disassembly articulating multipurpose tractor/loader. It is the key to powering the CEB Press, permacultural operations, as well as: well-drilling, sawmilling,...

Well – Solar Turbine – LifeTrac Day 1

We have finally completed our water well-drilling adventure. Everything that could went wrong – amounting to a 2 month delay – but the bottom line is that we have a 4 inch-bore well that we estimate is giving us 1000 gallons of water per day...

On Progress

Here is an overview of our overall program of action: On the CEB Press for building – we are presently building the LifeTrac tractor – an agriculture, construction, and general utility device. This device is remarkably pedestrian in appearance...

CEB Infrastructure

In order to build with the Compressed Earth Block press, and in order to produce these machines at Factor e, we need a certain level of infrastructure. Here is what we are doing: Say you want to fabricate CEB presses. Start with a facility: CEB walls...

Ecotechnology Buying Club

It’s time to take our open source product development to the next level. The next on the Compressed Earth Block (CEB) press prototype development is a computer controlled XYZ table for automating acetylene torch cutting of the metal. You may see...

Are CEBs the best kept secret in building?

Yesterday, I came across Basin, which describes itself as follows: ‘The “building advisory service and information network”, basin, was set up in 1988 to provide information and advice on appropriate building technology and to create...

Life with Stuff

We all have stuff hiding in closets, in the attic, and in the basement. Stuff fills the kitchen, the bedrooms, and the garage. Stuff lurks at work, in the car, and even in the backyard. Where does it all come from and where will it end up? The answer...