ECO-BUILDING online learning platform
This site is the official site for the Erasmus+ project ActEco 2019-2021
(see disclaimer in the footer).
Earth Building
Online Courses about Clay, Earth, Cob, Adobe, Mud, Rammed Earth, Earthen Floors, Plasters, Renders, Finishes...
Strawbale Building
Online Courses about Loadbearing, Infill in Post & Beam or Hybrid (CUT, OrganiCut, Greb,...), Wrapping
Sustainability & Training
Online Courses about how to make a Sustainable Change in Life, School and Training
There are OPEN COURSES (without registering), short FREE COURSES (to register, with trainer-evaluation) and more in depth ADVANCED COURSES (with trainer-evaluation, to register and finish previous courses before) on this ActEco Platform. See more in “About” how to register or login.
Basics of Photovoltaics
An introduction to the application of photovoltaics in buildings. It shows how much solar energy is available and how much of it can be used and explains how different types of solar cells and solar modules are manufactured and what design options and advantages they offer in the building sector.
Basics Thermal Solar and Solar Cooling
The technology of solar thermal energy can be used to heat water (or air). The functionality is explained, the components are described, different collector types, storage tanks and system types are compared. Including a closer look at Solar cooling.
Building a Straw Bale Maze
ACTeco course. Straw bale mazes are popular with kids and adults. But there are some rules to be followed to build a safe maze and have fun too.
Building with Straw Panels
This course is to train architects and builders to design and assemble straw bale houses using prefabricated straw wall panels.
Climate Change
The lesson briefly explains how and why is the climate changing, what are effects and suggests some actions how to deal with change.
COB – Introduction
A 10-minute course will introduce you to the principle of cob technique, its properties and will show examples of cob houses. (ECVET knowledge level 1)
COB (level 2)
A 45-minute course shows traditional and contemporary methods of cob, mix preparation and building of the wall. Discover creative designs and properties of cob! (ECVET knowledge level 2)
CREATE
Lessons made by our Trainees: PED of Straw Bale Houses, Earth Sheltered Houses,...
Earth Decorations – Introduction
A 10-minute course shows wonderfull decorations in the world cultures and possibilities of earth decorations in modern houses. (ECVET knowledge level 1)
Earth Decorations (Level 2)
A 45-minute course shows decorations of different cultures, different colours of the earth and various decorations by earth building techniques and earth plastering. (ECVET knowledge level 2)
Earth Masonry – Introduction
A 10-minute course shows how and why it is good to use earth bricks in new buildings. (ECVET knowledge level 1)
Earth Masonry (Level 2)
A 45-minute course shows history vs. today's use of earth masonry, types of masonry, bonding, working process, surfaces of brick walls, vaults and domes. (ECVET knowledge level 2)
Earth plaster – Introduction
A 10 minute course about basics of earth plaster, nice examples and what its advantages and disadvantages are. (ECVET knowledge level 1)
Earth Plaster (level 2)
A 45 minute course about composition of earth plaster, preparation of mortar, layers of plaster, surface treatment and properties. (ECVET knowledge level 2)
Earthen architecture
In 20 minutes, this introduction to earthen architecture will enable you to discover some historical and contemporary buildings built in earth.
Earthen construction techniques
This 20-minute course briefly introduces the different earthen construction techniques. Find out what is behind the words: adobe, rammed earth, cob, daub, etc.
Free Short Course Straw Bale Building (ECVET)
How to make a successful ONLINE COURSE
ACTeco course: How to make a successful ONLINE COURSE with WordPress, Zoom and Learndash
Interior Design with Earth Plaster – Introduction
A 10 minute course shows how to think about colours and surfaces of earth plasters in the interior to achieve desired feeling. (ECVET knowledge level 1)
Interior Design with Earth Plaster (Level 2)
A 45-minute course shows theory of colours connected to earth, the possibilities of textures and factures of earth plaster and gives basic insight into Interior design. (ECVET knowledge level 2)
Learn Earth
The course consists of 9 different units 20-45min long: Material, Earth Plaster, Earth Decorations, Rammed Earth, Cob, Masonry, Renovation.
OffGrid Tiny House
ACTeco course about energy-independent "Off-Grid"-Houses, energy consumption, tiny house constructions and examples.
Online Training & Communication
ACTeco Advanced Course Communcation (techniques) for both online and real communication. We introduce the main tools (graphic, text, photo, video, sound) as well as tipps and tricks how to make your trainings more interactive with mostly free tools. And we introduce Learndash and WordPress.
Physics of earth
This 20 to 30 minute course is an introduction to the physics of earth. On the sand and clay grain scale, discover "how it stands".
Rammed Earth – Introduction
A 10-minute course about rammed earth will show you examples of modern buildings, how a rammed wall is made and what the trends are. (ECVET knowledge level 1)
Rammed Earth (Level 2)
A 45 minute course teaches about new and traditional use, what raw materials and mixture for rammed earth to use. The course also shows formwork, process of ramming and development trends. (ECVET knowledge level 2)
STEP U1: INTRO INTO STRAW BALE BUILDING
This course is already available. Content: History and Modern Straw Bale Building, Customizing & Handling: quality, orientation, measuring, shaping, dividing, rebinding, cutting and notching bales, density, moisture, tools for straw bale building and storage of bales.
STEP U2: INFILL & PREFABRICATION
This course is already available. Content: handling tools, plan & construct INFILL double post walls, HYBRID constructions (CUT, OrganiCUT, GREB), execute different infill construction methods, know about PREFAB straw bale elements and advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques.
STEP U3: Load Bearing Straw Bale Construction
This course will be available on April 19, 2021 (had to be postponed). Content: Ioad bearing construction methods, resizing, compressing and fixing bales, construction of window boxes, base- and top plates, connection to roofs and ceilings, selecting good quality straw bales, structural behaviour, innovative examples of load bearing construction.
STEP U4: Straw Bale Wrapping & Renovation
This course is already available. Content: checking existing constructions, different wrapping and insulation methods (full bale with hybrid construction, binding, compressing; straw flakes with battens, planks, pallets, boards; prefab), finishing, inside insulation
STEP U5: Finishes – Clay, Lime, Cladding
This course is already available. Content: tools and machines for rendering and cladding, prepare the plaster base, plaster/render mixture (clay, lime), wall and supporting constructions for cladding, cladding systems, airtight, wind and rain proof details, calculating rendering and cladding quantities.
STEP U6: Building Physics
This course is already available. Content: Heat Transfer, Fire Protection, Moisture Transfer and Sound Insulation as well as Healthy Room Climates, Energy Efficiency and common mistakes and solutions in connection with Thermal Bridges, the lack of Airtightness and Windproofness. We show Energy Standards in different countries and how to achieve the standards in Straw Bale Building.
STEP U7: Architecture and Planning of Straw Bale Buildings
This course is already available. Content: principles of solar design, national building laws, building materials, cost estimation, technical details, sketching a basic design and a construction plan, understand and repair most common faults and damages in straw bale construction
STEP U8: Communication and Calculation
This STEP course explains, how you communicate to your clients, what you need to be convincing, how to estimate the building costs and make a detailed calculation. We also show essential (free) recommended programs for image + text, a slideshow, a video. We introduce the most recommended and easy to learn free programs.
STRAW – Loadbearing (Level 2)
Lesson shows basic features of straw loadbearing technique, and gives idea of different special ways of using loadbearing technique.
Straw Bale Infill (Level 2)
The lesson explaines what is straw bale infill, shows different possibilities and different typical and special constructions of infill. (STEP - knowledge level 2)
Sustainability in general
Sustainable (Straw) House – a Case Study
ACTeco course shows a case study house. Building step by step of a sustainable, passive standard, family house. It is built with natural materials, low impact foundation, green roof, producing own energy.
Sustainable Building and Climate Change
45 minute lesson explains complexity of sustainable building, why building industry impacts climate change and what could be done to lower the impact.
Sustainable Renovation
Lesson shows importance of sustainable renovation and complexity of it.
Tip 002: Density-Check of Straw Bales
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Density-Check of Straw Bales; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 003: Measuring Straw Bales
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Measuring Straw Bales; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 006: Safety on Straw Building Sites – Slipping
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Safety on Straw Building Sites – Slipping; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 011: Save Energy While Carrying Straw Bales
ACTeco Short Course: An introduction in Save Energy While Carrying Straw Bales; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 014: Straw Bale-Tools – Cutting Straw Bales
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Straw Bale-Tools – Cutting Straw Bales; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 017: Straw Bale-Tools – Shaving Surfaces with Hedge Saws
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Straw Bale-Tools – Shaving Surfaces with Hedge Saws; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 018: Straw Bale-Tools – Cutting Bales with Chain Saws
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Straw Bale-Tools – Cutting Bales with Chain Saw); Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 019: Straw Bale-Tools – the Straw Bale Hammer or Persuader
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Straw Bale-Tools – the Straw Bale Hammer or Persuader; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 021: Dividing Straw Bales with Bale Needles
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Dividing Straw Bales with Bale Needles; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 022: Straw Bale – The essential Infill-Boards
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Straw Bale – The essential Infill-Boards; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 023: Straw Bale-Tools – How to handle Infill-Boards
ACTeco short course: An introduction to straw bale tools - handling infill boards; time frame: 10 min
Tip 024: Straw Bale-Tools – DIY-Stuffer in two Sizes
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Straw Bale-Tools – DIY-Stuffer in two Sizes; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 026: Customizing Straw Bales – Stuffing Holes
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Customizing Straw Bales – Stuffing Holes; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 027: Customizing Straw Bales – Filling Gaps
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Customizing Straw Bales – Filling Gaps; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 029: CUT-Technique
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in CUT-Technique; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 032: OrganiCUT
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in OrganiCUT; Time-frame: 40 min
Tip 033 INFILL: Adjusting Constructions to Bales
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in INFILL: Adjusting Constructions to Bales; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 035 INFILL: Diagonal Bracing against Shear/Wind Forces
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in INFILL: Diagonal Bracing against Shear/Wind Forces; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 038 INFILL: Double Posts
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in INFILL: Double Posts; Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 061: Direct plaster (lime)
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Direct plaster (lime); Time-frame: 10 min
Tip 062: Wooden Cladding
ACTeco Short Course: An Introduction in Wooden Cladding; Time-frame: 10 min
Training for Change
ACTeco short course: Introduction to Training for Change -Sustainability.