1. Earthships: Homes made from earth and recycled materials that rely on passive solar heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets.
2. Strawbale homes: Houses constructed from straw bales that are stacked like bricks and then plastered over with clay or lime.
3. Cob houses: Made from a mixture of clay, sand, and earth, cob houses are an ancient building method that requires little to no energy for heating and cooling.
4. Passive houses: Passive houses are designed to use no more energy than they produce, making them highly efficient.
5. Green roofs: Building green roofs in rural areas can help to mitigate urban heat island effects while providing space for growing plants or even food.
6. Solar-powered homes: Homes that rely on solar energy for all or most of their electricity needs are becoming more common in rural areas where there is ample sunlight.
7. Rainwater harvesting systems: Collecting rainwater in rural areas can help to reduce the demand for groundwater and surface water.
8. Permaculture design: Designing homes and landscapes with permaculture principles can help to reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote biodiversity.
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