[Greenbuilding] Best House

Mon Dec 18 09:46:13 CST 2017

Just a quick mash-up of brainstorm stream-of-thought….

Gennaro is right on-point balancing the overall sustainability goals and what the market will adopt. Since there are different markets, first define THIS market. Since the idea is “cabins” in the hills—remote, rural, Northeast, etc., I’d think an element of rustic is doable, but the new twist would be modern rustic. Modern = comfortable, not so much labor.

My first hunch for envelope is straw or cob, or hempcrete or aircrete. Lime and/or clay interior and exterior (good breathability, natural, safe, durable and flexible for changing climatic conditions). If a village, could district heat be viable? If not, is ductless split not a slam dunk?  High-efficiency wood stoves in each unit also high on the list (maybe as an upgrade option and/or Plan B if district heat falls through).

Modern water management could get creative—stormwater retention, greywater, etc—should be a given. Plan this into roof designs and orientation of structures and plots. Maybe it feeds community garden/farm? Maybe blackwater treated with common-area biofiltration/wetland segregated from agriculture? Recreation through community natural pool = nifty. Composting toilets I’d think are also leading candidates.

Co-op ecovillage-style shared cooking, communal living has a market but I think is long-term shaky (could be trend that taps out). Maybe small kitchens or kitchenettes in each unit with central living space with larger cooking apparatus. And a fire/BBQ pit, naturally! Harken to Native American communities.

HTH,

-- 

Jason Holstine

Amicus Green Building Center

“Sustain Your Space”

e: jason at amicusgreen.com

w: www.amicusgreen.com

p: 301-571-8590

f:  301-571-8597

tf: 866-587-9140

From: Greenbuilding <greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org> on behalf of Michael O'Brien <obrien at hevanet.com>
Reply-To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Date: Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 4:05 PM
To: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Best House

Hi, guys—

Our house has a clay floor, clay plaster, clay paints, a cob wall and an outbuilding with light clay walls. Very sustainable! If there are clay artisans where you plan to develop, worth talking to them.

Best, Mike

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 17, 2017, at 11:43 AM, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

Image of a mud hut attached. It falls drastically short on many levels. 

Thanks!

Gennaro

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 2:36 PM, Reuben Deumling <9watts at gmail.com> wrote:

Oh. 

Really?

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 11:32 AM, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

Mud huts are not sustainable. 

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 2:31 PM Reuben Deumling <9watts at gmail.com> wrote:

Mud huts. 

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

Hi,

I appreciate the benefits of Insulated Thin-Shell Concrete but am not sure if that's more of a transition solution rather than a long term solution. Anything with concrete is suspect to me for long term solutions. It makes me think of early vegetarian food that tried to be like meat instead of finding its own identity. For me insulated concrete is still in the world of our current construction, which I'd like to transcend to a whole new level. A good metric for me is to ask what would happen if everyone in the world started using that material. First off is that affordable? Is it the most sustainable solution? Is it viable on a production level even?

Thanks!

Gennaro

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 2:06 PM, ErgoDesk <ergodesk at gmail.com> wrote:

Gennaro, It's time to show the World that there are people who care about the cost. quality, safety and destruction of our forests. This year was a perfect example, we had floods and fire that indicates that there are problems how we live here on earth. I think its time to show how simple and inexpensive building a quality Home Construction can be. 

Insulated Thin-Shell Concrete, check it out here for several sequential slideshows on the entire process.  http://www.greenbuildershawaii.net/photos/gallery1.htm

Sincerely,
George Hawirko

Ph: 604-477-7897

http://about.me/StyroHome

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 9:45 AM, Reuben Deumling <9watts at gmail.com> wrote:

Those are a lot of questions, Gennaro. Sounds like a fun project. My only suggestion would be to install lots of meters up front so those who end up living there can track their usage (of water, electricity, etc.). Feedback of that sort is super important to realizing low impact living. 

I'm looking forward to Rob Tom's response (if he is still in the wings).

On Sun, Dec 17, 2017 at 9:34 AM, Gennaro Brooks-Church - Eco Brooklyn <info at ecobrooklyn.com> wrote:

I'm looking to buy some land in upstate NY and build ten cabins using the most cutting edge building techniques in the world. 

I'm thinking single rooms with a bathroom and a larger building for congregation.

So.......what would these look like if they are to be the very best in green building. Or building in general....

Would they be scattered around the land, bermed, a combination of earthship and passive house?

For maximum efficiency would they be all together in one building with combined plumbing and sewer? I prefer the aesthetic that they be hidden in the countryside rather than one big visible building.......

And to be truly cutting edge they need to improve on the way people interact. Is there a central meeting place with hall and dinning area? Or does each cabin have a kitchenette?

Your thoughts?

Thanks!

Gennaro

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-- 

Sent from Mobile, excuse the brevity.
Gennaro Brooks-Church, Director
Eco Brooklyn
347-244-3016

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<mudhut.jpg>

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