Emporia
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House Feature
The Runges' Earth-Block Eco-Ranch
After Ryan and Melissa Runge purchased 30 acres of ranchland near San Antonio, Texas, they realized their property was next door to AECT (Advanced Earthen Construction Technologies), a compressed-earth-block company. "The owner was 82 years old and looking to sell his business," recalls Ryan Runge. "Once we learned about the business and the making of compressed earth blocks, we thought, 'Why don't we build our new house with these?' There's nothing to not like about earth block."
Insect-, fire-, storm-, mold-, and even bullet-proof, Runge says, compressed earth block "is readily available all over the planet. People have been building with earth for thousands of years." Moreover, he adds, "the blocks really lend themselves to building an off-grid home because they provide a great deal of thermal mass that makes the house super energy efficient."
The DIY Network was also intrigued and asked the Runges to build their off-grid, 1,000-square-foot Earth Block Ranch for the network's "Building Off the Grid" series. By then, the Runges had also purchased AECT and were ready to make the compressed earth blocks for their new home at their business.
Runge, now president of AECT, says the couple decided to start small with their zero-concrete, off-grid project. The build includes solar, geothermal, and a water reclamation system. "Melissa drew out the plan on a piece of graph paper," he says. "It made sense to start with two bedrooms and one bath, using straight lines and a shed roof that would facilitate water collection. We realized we could always add on later."
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By Camille LeFevre, Home Feature Editor
Apr 9, 2025 · 3 min read
"AECT's compressed-earthen-block machines produce from 240 to 480 blocks per hour--and are extremely energy-efficient as fabricating them uses a minimal amount of electrical power or diesel fuel," Runge says. "Our company has been involved in projects in more than 50 countries across the globe, and we're continually making advancements that reduce construction time and labor costs."
In one day, the team dug a rubble trench foundation lined with gravel for the home. Rubble trench is "fast, eco-friendly, and doubles as a French drain," Runge explains. A rubble trench also eliminates the need for cement and rebar. "With earth-block construction, you need a stout foundation," he continues. "A rubble trench supports a lot of weight, and it doesn't move around."
Once the earthen floor had dried, they treated it with linseed oil. "We heated the linseed oil to 240 degrees then rolled it on," Runge explains. "The oil seals and waterproofs the floor. We like how it feels under our feet and how it looks."
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Camille LeFevre
Camille LeFevre is an architecture and design writer based in the Twin Cities.
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