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GROUP DETAILS
Created: Dec 02, 2008
Updated: Nov 17, 2009
Membership: Open
Semi-Private
Topic: "Garbage Warrior" - how are we stepping outside of the constrictions that our societies/go
Posts (1 - 4 of 4)
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I also have recently watched "Garbage Warrior" and have been inspired by the principles Mike Reynolds embodies in his earthship homes - using local and recycled materials, capturing locally available sunlight, heat and water, using a whole systems approach to integrate the satisfaction of our needs within a particular place.
I have been playing with a design for a small cottage that would be highly energy efficient. Some of the design elements include:
Walls - high thermal mass south wall (cob or rammed earth) under glass greenhouse - insulating north wall (light straw-clay or straw bale) - east and west walls from recycled materials (papercrete mixed with cans and bottles)
Electrical system - solar troughs create steam that drives a generator o sufficient for both household and transportation needs
Heating system - greenhouse heats high thermal mass south wall - heat from solar trough electrical generating system - ground source heat pump, appropriately sized - radiant floor heating - on-demand water heater for use in coldest months and as a back-up
Water - cistern for rainwater collection - grey water to greenhouse and kitchen garden
Here are some links to sites that show and explain some of these elements further: Garbage Warrior: http://www.earthship.net/web/
I would like to enroll others in my community to volunteer to build one of these dwellings as a prototype for what's possible and give it away to someone who really needs it.
Once one is built, we could consider building a co-housing community composed of such dwellings as well as shared common facilities such as a dining hall/meeting space, workshop, laundry, etc.
I would be interested in any responses or suggestions on these ideas. I look forward to all contributions to this discussion.
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Hello Lauren, great question.
I also saw this documentary recently and the most interesting part for me what when the guy mentioned the "freedom to fail" and how much this is so wrong in the society we've built. Looking from the other side of the coin, because testing with houses (as in with bombs) is not like testing with light bulbs, it's understandable that there's a system to regulate it. The fact that the system is hard to change, well... we've built it that way. The highlight of the movie for me was less the tech and the creation of the architect, and more the willingness to step into the unknown to pass that bill.
The act of creating collective spaces so people develop together in an environment where it's free to fail, for me, it's a way of creating the next dominant way of doing things.
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Yes, Augusto! I get really excited about creating collective learning spaces where people can "fail".
I came across the "common ground" initiative in new orleans http://www.commongroundrelief.org/?q=node/17 and i'm intrigued with the work they're doing around bioremediation.
I wonder where else in the US projects like this are popping up....? |
I watched the documentary, "Garbage Warrior" last night and what I was particularly struck by (besides how beautiful the upcycled rainbow of glass bottles appeared in the wall of one of the homes) was how this architect, Michael Reynolds, was challenged to step outside of his comfort zone and work with the New Mexico politicians so that he and others could continue to work on sustainable, "off the grid," housing solutions.
It made me wonder - where are we stepping forward to be a true pioneer over the dominant system that we live in?