Looking a little like a wedge of hard cheese, this modernistic Swedish passive house is perched on a rock and with a view of the sea in the southeastern Swedish hamlet of Trosa.

Passive house combines eco-techniques and "modern" design

Recycled Satellite Dish Becomes Solar Heater

Photo by Jeff Kubina

This cool water fountain was at the center of the outdoor conference tents. Made of some unexpected reclaimed materials, it provided a nice place to sit and talk, as well as a DIY inspiration for a back-yard project.

Read on to see if it is something you might want to throw together in your own yard....

Image from NASA