design overview: diy scenario DESIGN SUMMARY A lack of resources can sometimes be just the push we need to help us think creatively. The low budget / DIY scenario combines a range of technological possibilities that replace high cost with community effort. Similar to other scenarios, the DIY design minimizes resource demand by incorporating effective insulation, passive technologies, high-efficiency fixtures and appliances, and intelligent control mechanisms, while maximizing efficiency through retention, recapture, recirculation, and reuse of various energy and material flows used and produced on-site. The primary difference between this scenario and the previous one was the exploration of which technologies could feasibly be built using low-cost or recycled materials and operated by the community itself. Reed bed filtration and other self-built mechanical and bio-filters will provide on-site water and waste processing, allowing recirculation of rain and grey water, and significantly reducing the demand for potable water. Furthermore, water filtration and anaerobic / vermiculture composts will enable the extraction of valuable nutrients to use for fertilizer and biomass production. Solar radiation will be used for lighting lighting, heat and electricity. Cost-effective DIY small-scale wind kits can harness wind energy to provide extra electricity during peak and during the night. Due to the challenge presented by electrical storage, and the additional cost of battery terminals and load distributors, it will most likely be limited to the batteries contained in personal and domestic appliances or any electric vehicles that may be on site. Instead, all the electricity produced throughout the day will be either used immediately or sold to the grid. Using the grid simplifies peak-load balancing issues, eliminating the need for additional costly infrastructure and enabling users to access current from the grid when needed. Furthermore, to facilitate on-site load balancing issues and reduce the need for each building to have its own inverter, several central inverters will be dispersed throughout the community, allowing for sharing of electrical energy between interconnected segments. Recommendations for optimal times to perform certain tasks like laundry, as well as guidelines for appliance and fixture purchases will be provided. The boats on the de Ceuvel site can also potentially be retrofitted with greenhouses angled against each houseboat, collecting and storing heat and providing year-round food cultivation. The greenhouse food production will use self-assembled hydroponics and aquaponics systems that are partially automated and require little maintenance. Community scaled and community-operated greenhouses will provide additional food production and resource accumulation. The water surrounding the site will be used for evaporative cooling and refrigeration. Rainwater will be collected for use in domestic, public and irrigation applications. Shared community washing and kitchen spaces might provide for an opportunity to experiment with DIY gasifiers, which could be used for cooking or energy generating purposes, and potentially useful for on demand / backup energy needs, like charging electric vehicles. The jetty between the houseboats will contain the piping and other infrastructure, potentially also acting as the site for water filtration activities. KEY FEATURES › › FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY The DIY scenario creates significant cost-savings by eliminating the need for external labor for installation and internalizing various production processes. The key to success lies in the ability of the community and its members to organize and execute both the acquisition of the necessary tools and materials and the construction of the required system components. The features that are selected must have high functionality but low complexity to allow for technically untrained individuals to effectively assemble and operate them. The best process for building each item should be well documented and easily replicated to allow for the ability to teach others the procedure, and recreate the system in other locations. During the construction phase members would attend periodic workshops on how to build, operate, and maintain various system technologies. Lessons could also be opened to people outside of the community, serving as an additional source of income. Purchasing all the materials in bulk will provide significant savings. Significant gains in efficiency will provide for greater returns on initial investment, offsetting the added materials costs. Solar collectors include a home-made solar tracking device. Less efficient reclaimed boats will be modified with solar rooms and greenhouse attachments. 128 / 146 Pagina 127
Pagina 129Interactieve online webshop, deze gids of lesmateriaal is levensecht online geplaatst met Online Touch en bied het van papier naar digitaal converteren van web clubmagazines.
548 Lees publicatie 217Home