pdc+++ module 4 class 7 permaconstruction
TRANSCRIPT
Energy & EcoTechnologyModule 4 of the PDC+++PDC
++
+We dedicate this Module to the Mother &
Father of Integral Permaculture: Dana Meadows & Howard Odum, two original
pioneers who helped humanity make great strides in understanding systemic
thinking, in all four quadrants.
This class provides a solid introduction of the science & technology of the home, covering bio-climactic principles as well as choice of materials, location &
design context. But we also question the great emphasis which is put on more & larger
construction by the alternative movement these days.
BioConstruction or EcoBuilding are terms which technically mean 'construction which promotes life' or 'ecological building', not something which is centered - yet again - on consumerist values: putting human whims & comfort above all
else.
How or when are these 'bio' & 'construction' terms used in contradictory ways? Do we need to coin a new 'perma-construction' term?
Class M4.7PermaConstru-Action
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?
Construction
BioConstruction
PermaConstruction
PermaConstru-Action is one which follows PermaCulture Ethics,
Principles & Guidelines
& takes into
accountALL
quadrants
Class 2.5 of the PDC+++¿How do we ensure optimal resource use &
best choice of materials, interventions & technologies?
This is something so basic that it is quite common to fall into old habits, simply copy what others have done or (even
worse) use the materials 'we like', those we are familiar with, or technologies we find pleasant instead of those
which do, in fact, best fit the criteria of sustainability.
In this class we look at the importance & thinking behind the hierarchy of resources & the scale of interventions, two tools amongst various which we use to ground our designs.
The objective is to create systems that are ecologically sustainable, economically viable, that satisfy needs, don't exploit or contaminate &
that are self-sufficient in the longer-term.
Guidelines for Integral Design1. Make a sketch of your habitual design PROCESS
(e.g.. of the last thing you designed)
2. Observe how it differs from the Design Frameworks (shown in class M2.4)
3. Analyze your Design Motivations (see class M2.3) & if it fits well with your Vision & Mission
4. Are there other designs that could represent a better use of resources (that YOU control) for sustainability?
5. Make a list of the various designs you could make (a brainstorming) & then a PMI analysis of each one.
6. Present this in your Design Portfolio!
1
2 3
456
Collective
Individual
Intern al
Externa l
RESOURCES
Energíes coming into our system –
Sun, wind, rain, people …
living componentsAnd technology
Useful Reserves RESOURCES
Some are
needed to keep
the systemSurplus = YIELD
trade
conserve
Too much = pollution
COMMON HERITAGE
Forests, water, soils, air, seeds …
PEOPLE work CLASSIFICATION - For analysis of USE - RESULTS
0) cause pollution if NOT used, all our 'junk'
1) INCREASE by modest use,
Cut-&-come-again salads, information, creativity
2) UNAFFECTED by useReturned water (hydroplant),well managed ecosystems, a view,
good climate …
3) DISAPPEAR/ DEGRADE if not used waste water, crop
failure, fish-escapes
4) REDUCED by use natural forests, coal, oil, poorly-
managed marine and forestry resources
5) POLLUTE if used pesticides, nuclear, oil, scorn,
contempt ...Managing resources - regulate all uses to create a sustainable harvest
Use 4 y 5 only to create
infrastructure
ENERGY ACCOUNTING
“HARVEST” of a system is
theorically unlimited- IMAGINATION -
physical
biological
spatial
technical
preservation
social
cultural
Legal /administrative
temporal Considers ‘upstream costs’ (input enegy) &
‘downstream costs’ (e.g. health)
CiclesNiches in
time“catching the flow”
A sustainable system produces all the energy and resources thatit needs for its maintenance and growth. What remains is the “harvest”
Input energy < Maintenance energy + HARVEST
ENERGYACCOUNTING(Sustainability)
“HARVEST” of a system is
theorically unlimited- IMAGINATION -
physical
biological
spatial
technical
preservation
social
cultural
Legal /administrative
temporal
Input energy < Maintenance energy + HARVEST
e.g. Short-Life Housing Coops
- Legalization of squatters -
lots of alternative people together!
A sustainable system produces all the energy and resources that it needs for its maintenance and growth. What remains is the “harvest”
extinction of biodiversity
& the gray wave
PETROL PEAK CLIMATE CHANGE
monetary instability
& the
information revolution
20002020
see class 5.10designing with
MythThe External
Collective moves ALL the other
quadrants
... things are a lot more interesting than we usually
imagine ...
in the last 20years, the 500 largest firms in the world
increased their production & sales by 700% whilst
REDUCING their labour force
right now are alive 3/4 of the 65+ year olds that
have ever lived. A fundamental problem of
the 21st century.
we are destroying 200 species per day - all being tranformed to
human biomass
“May you live in interesting times”
hystorical transitions are accelerating
Can we INCREASE in Complexity
while LOWERINGenergy consumption?
Only if we become MORE intelligent :)
... & fast...
Take into account ALL these factors!
BioConstruction vs. PermaConstruction
Is born from a personal or institutional wish
Is born from a real social need
“Natural materials” used following whims, trends…
Materials used following Resources Scale
Consumist culture Activist cultureEthics & PrinciplesM1 y M5
Resources Scale
M2.5 y M4.2
Design motivationM2 (M2.3)
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?
Bioclimatic architecture consists in the design of buildings taking into account the climatic conditions, making use of the available resources (sun, vegetation, rain,
winds) to reduce the environmental impacts, trying to reduce energy consumption,
based on principles intertwined with the local culture.
Swiss Chaletin the Vaud Alps
Cave houses in Granada, Spain
Hórreos in Galicia, Spain
Animals downstairs, warm floorStraw upstairs, warm roofSnow protection
Cool & DryRodent protection
Cave effect:warm in winter & cool in summer
Vernacular architecture:
localized needs & materials
reflect local traditionsevolves over time
reflects environmental, cultural, technological,
& historical context
Isolating cover
Summer
sun
Winter
sun
Thermalmass
Thermalmass
Constant 14ºC soil layer
Atmospheric temp
soil layerIntermediate
tempsoil layer
Most of house underground: high insulation
High thermal mass easy to heat in winter
Shaded in summer (also with plant shade)
Isolating cover
Thermalmass
Thermalmass
Constant 14ºC soil layer
Atmospheric tempsoil layer
Intermediate tempsoil layer
Heat accumulated in daytime released at night
(ideal for desert climates: hot days, cold nights)
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?
Qualities
• air purity• hygrometric regulation• transpirability • thermal isolation• natural temperature regulation because of progressive carbonatation
• no radiation• no additives
The Lime CycleCalcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Quarried Limestone
Lime Burning
Calcium Oxide (CaO)
QuickLime
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Lime Slacking
Water (H2O)
Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2)
Lime putty
Using & Drying
Mortar, Render, blaster ...
Water (H2O)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?
Wood is one of the oldest building materials (& multi-purpose)
Structureinternal & external fittingslaminatescarpentryin structures & exteriorsfloors, etc
Advantages:• low cost (lightweight & low energy
consumption needed for production & processing)
• inexhaustible natural resource (with sustainable production: endless solar enegy)
• more resistant than steel•& concrete• can be cut and worked with using
simple tools and machines• strong in tension, compression &
flexible
also veryeasy to recycle
Carbonsink
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?
TransformingRubbish
into DreamsHelp us invest in a healthier world for the future
generations
Needs lots of imagination
... & personal growth (apparently)
A Big Challenge for All of Us
❖ In Spain we generate more than 550kg of rubbish per person per year
❖ In the Canaries 750kg per person per year (3/4 of a ton)
❖ In each square kilometer of the sea there are floating 18,000 plastic remains ...
❖ ... killing many animals every day
Urgent social need
❖ Soft plastic and plastic fibers’ decomposition time is between20 & 50 years
❖ Hard plastic’s decomposition time is more than500 years
❖ Two huge floating plastic dumps, collected by Pacific currents
❖ Bigger than the USA in area
google Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Urgent environmental need
The Plastic Problem
The Plastic Problem
❖ If it’s burnt in dumps, the problem might be worse:❖ DIOXINS, some of the most toxic known substances,
are generated … & nowadays found even in mother’s milk
dump in Graciosa Island - Canarias
Health, environment, social problem…
Let’s Transform
with some compassion, creativity & imagination
... Beyond Recycling ...
PROBLEM
into SOLUTION
¿Which Materials
& Resources
will be used in a
really Sustainable Society?
❖ We always use the highest possible types in
this Resources
Scale that…
The Resources Scale is a tool used in Permaculture Design
These > > > > > > ONLY if highers can’t be used & to create structures to harvest the others, the most sustainable resources
(classified by use consequence)
0) cause pollution if NOT used, all our 'junk'
1) INCREASE by modest use,
Cut-&-come-again salads, information, creativity
2) UNAFFECTED by useReturned water (hydroplant),well managed ecosystems, a view,
good climate …
3) DISAPPEAR/ DEGRADE if not used waste water, crop
failure, fish-escapes
4) REDUCED by use natural forests, coal, oil, poorly-
managed marine and forestry resources
5) POLLUTE if used pesticides, nuclear, oil, scorn,
contempt ...
We Create “Hobbit Domes” "
small (for 1 person or couple) 95% rubbish: plástic, cardboard, newspapers & tiresiron supportsuper-isolated from cold and heat& very cozy
mini-homes in a new EcoVillage
in the Canaries
when plastic is protected from heat light & the weather, it stays inert, hygienic & long-lasting
Creating the future environments: where it’s possible to live WITHOUT generating rubbish, recycling everything
That will becomeInvisible in the
Landscapeblended into Nature100% invisiblemore isolationsurface for plants+ very beautiful
This is the first prototype ... it can’t be seen anymore: trees & vines cover it completely
covered by trees and climbing vines
Dome BioClimaticssuper-isolated (air, plant shadow) air circulationvery importantthick papier-mâché layer “breathes” inside (painted with lime)
absorbs humidity (for respiration) in winter
“Living in a littlehouse” is animportant personaldevelopment phase
“inner bioclimatics”?
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?
Spiral Island
RichardSowa
Michael Reynolds (Garbage Warrior)
Dan Phillips
allrecycled
Bio = Life
Living Constructions =
BioConstructions
The Vine Bridges in the Iya Valley, Japan
Really BIOlogic
The Root Bridges in India
PermaConstruction vs. BioConstruction
BioClimatics
• Lime, Wood & Plastic
• Innovative Examples
Direct link to this chapter in the e-
book:
www.bit.ly/Perma
Construction
M4.7 * What is Sustainable Construction, & How many Types
Exist?