Silo Eco-Home Inspires Sustainable Building and Green Living

This lone-standing grain elevator was the only structure to withstand the EF5 tornado that ripped through Greensburg, KS.

The eco-home, with its six-inch thick concrete walls, can withstand the high winds of a tornado, yet still provide an aesthetically appealing design.

Greensburg GreenTown is a charitable nonprofit organization working in Greensburg, Kansas to rebuild the town following the devastating tornado in May of 2007. The eco-home functions as a bed & breakfast, GreenTown's administrative office and Greensburg's Green Visitors Center. Read more about Greensburg GreenTown.

Visitors can take a tour of the home or rent the guest suite to experience green living firsthand.

The concrete flooring on the first floor was created with SkimStone, providing an eco-friendly and durable surface, and reducing the need for additional floor coverings.

Among many of its green features, the home includes recycled glass countertops by EnviroGLAS.

The home was designed to use minimal space (only 1,000 SF). Its silo form reduces wind drag on the structure, and windows were oriented to optimize natural lighting.

Numerous companies and organizations donated time and materials for the construction of the home. View the list of sponsors and read more about this home: Silo Eco-Home.