Sonia Renthlei: The problems with current EVs As we all know, our fuel supply is slowly and steadily being exhausted, as our population soars and we continue to depend on the earth’s resources to keep us going. Unfortunately, fuel sources take thousands of years to regenerate which is why we’re struggling to find new ways to feed our demands. As of now, vehicles powered by electricity are trying to replace conventional cars in an attempt to conserve fuel. While this is laudable, there are some problems associated with EVs that prevent them from being truly feasible. Most EVs run on lithium-ion batteries that need to be charged ever so often. This poses a problem for areas where charging stations are scarce or non-existent. Of course, electric vehicles all come with a cable that can be plugged into any household electric outlet of 120 volts. But, the charging process can take a long time, usually up to 10 hours for a full charge and in worse cases, up to 20 hours, depending on the size of the EV’s battery. The maximum distance range of an EV is also significantly slower than conventional fuel-powered cars, increasing anxiety among EV users who have to commute for miles at a time. Hydrogen fuel Lithium shortage Most electronic devices use lithium-ion batteries and this includes EVs. While it’s a pretty abundant material, it needs to be processed as it doesn’t occur naturally in elemental form. Whispers of lithium shortage are already making the rounds, prompting researchers to seek out other sources. In EVs, lithium is required in higher quantities and this requirement is proportional to the size of the battery. Now, if everyone were to switch from fossil fuel-based cars to EVs, supply of lithium could very well diminish, posing another problem for our fuel-starved planet. The process of deriving lithium commercially, too is time-consuming, with two years needed to yield just a ton of the resource. High cost of replacement batteries What makes lithium-ion batteries inefficient is their short lives. Whether you apply them to EVs or other electronic devices that rely on them, they need to be replaced often. However, unlike in gadgets like MP3 players and cellphones, batteries used for EVs are far more expensive. The replacement for a hybrid car battery can cost anywhere between $1,000 to $6,000 depending on the make and year of the car. Customers also need competent dealers to replace it for them, the labor work of which can cost about $900. This isn’t viable in the long run as EV users will rack up a substantial bill, negating the advantages of owning and driving these eco-friendly vehicles. Fuel cells: A cleaner, greener alternative An alternative to batteries that is currently gaining ground is hydrogen fuel cells. This element is found in abundance and can be combined with other elements to power vehicles. Since it doesn’t occur naturally as a gas on earth, hydrogen needs to come into contact with air, the result of which produces electricity, steam and heat. Like lithium-ion-based vehicles, hydrogen-fueled cars produce nil emissions, making them popular with the green brigade. Advantages of hydrogen 1. Hydrogen has the highest energy content This green gas has the highest energy content of any other fuel per unit of weight. As water molecules break down to form HHO or Brown’s Gas, the resultant fuel is much more efficient than conventional gas or diesel. Fuel cell engines propelled by hydrogen run at a much capable rate than internal combustion engines. For a better understanding, 2.2 pounds of hydrogen give almost the same output of energy as a gallon of gas does. 2. Hydrogen is non-polluting Hydrogen as a fuel alternative doesn’t just generate more energy but it is non-polluting as well. The only byproduct you get is water and heat so there is no carbon dioxide produced. 3. Hydrogen is an abundant fuel source Unlike gas and diesel, hydrogen is found in abundance, with an almost inexhaustible supply. This makes it a better alternative to lithium-ion batteries as lithium is limited. Notable trends 1. Mercedes-Benz to debut hydrogen fueled F125! Mercedes Benz F125 Popular automaker, Mercedes, has revealed its hydrogen-powered F125! concept whose design is inspired by the F800. Looks-wise, it’s an awesome vehicle with smooth, flowing lines typical of a Merc production. Gullwing doors lend it a futuristic look that matches its inner workings. Four electric motors crank out 231hp, capable of pushing the machine to top speeds of 137mph. Acceleration time is pretty impressive at 4.9 seconds going from 0-60mph. What is more impressive, however, is its hydrogen consumption: a mere 0.79kg per 100kms. The gas tank is made of carbon fiber with a capacity of holding 700 bars of H2. Additional power is produced from the on-board lithium-ion battery pack of 10kWh, enabling the car to travel 31km before the fuel cell is activated. 2. Toyota FCV-R Toyota FCV-R To be launched in 2015, Toyota has also designed a hydrogen-fueled vehicle called the FCV-R. Still a concept, the FCV-R is a pretty large saloon, equipped with two 10,000psi hydrogen tanks, one under the rear seats and the second under the boot door. The fuel cell has been placed between the front seats while a second battery has been mounted behind the fixed seats at the rear. The company is still trying to bring the cost of the vehicle down before it is launched from the current estimate of 85,000 pounds. 3. Mazda debuts Norwegian-spec RX-8 Hydrogen RE Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE While Mazda’s Norwegian version of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE debuted a few years back, it deserves a mention as it was the company’s first hydrogen-powered vehicle for Norway. Incidentally, the car helped mark the opening of the country’s HyNor project (hydrogen filling stations) to make H2-fueled cars more popular among the masses. The hybrid vehicle has a hydrogen tank with a capacity of storing 2.4kg of H2. Needed improvements 1. High cost Like most alternative fuel sources, processing hydrogen to generate electricity can be expensive. Complex machines and techniques are required which is why the popularity of this abundant resource hasn’t hit its peak. 2. Storage and safety issues H2 may be clean and green but it’s also highly volatile and flammable. While current storage tanks are made keeping in mind chances of leaks and other dangers, they aren’t exactly fool-proof. 3. Still dependent on fossil fuels Energy produced by hydrogen may be high but so is the energy needed to produce this gas. The process of conversion still depends on fossil fuels which makes this ‘clean’ source of energy significantly polluting.
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Why the future of transportation needs better fuel cells not batteries
Dattatreya Mandal: When we are talking about portable homes, the topic covers a broad field replete with flexible housing units, ranging from modular structures to mobile dwellings, but the core functionality of such transportable dwelling system always allude to one factor, and that is man’s response to adverse societal effects on our environment. Land Shortage Over the years, the mass scale of unplanned urbanization has taken its toll on some economic segments of our society, and, hence many of them have decided to forego the city based ’sedentary’ mode of life, thus giving rise to the practice of permanent living in wheeled mobile homes. Finally, portable houses also pose as habitation solutions in case of emergencies like natural catastrophes (cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc) and even conditions like war and famine. Living green in tiny homes On the other hand, the transportable housing industry has not always lived up to the set conventional standards. Studies show, many of the service related attributes like temperature control, insulation properties to even the materials used for construction are not entirely dictated by user comfort or even structural competence. In such unfavorable circumstances, eco friendly portable homes come as sustainable saviors, guided by practicality, compactness and most importantly efficiency. As a matter of fact, it can be seen as an alternative trend undertaken by specialized (and expert) designers, to righteously solve the crucial predicaments of human habitation affected by disorganized land use. Trends a) Eco capsule Eco-Capsule Self sufficiency is the name of the game in the compact dwelling design of Eco capsule. Conceptualized by Nice Architects, the designers have envisaged the aluminum clad capsule as a fusion of a mobile housing unit with a recreational vehicle (RV), powered by non-renewable energy. Coming to structural considerations, the 270 sq-feet area will cater to two people, while its spatial nature will comprise of separate waste collecting compartments, along with a gray water recycling facility. b) Eco friendly portable vacation capsule Eco friendly portable vacation capsule We come across another design in a conceptual stage, but this time the portable vacation capsule has been contrived to cure our traveling bug, albeit in a ‘green’ way. According to the designers of Nau Architecture Corporation, the self sustaining bantam habitat will be wholly powered by sustainable energy. But more importantly, it can supposedly be transported to anyplace in the world, starting from roof tops to wild jungles. c) M_Cube M_Cube Created by industrial designer Benjamin Beck, the M_Cube alludes to the next generation of modular dwellings. This means, the 2.55m x 2.55m unit (in its modular components) can be transported and assembled according to user’s preference. And beyond the efficient compactness, the design will also incorporate an ‘intelligent’ energy glass, for regulatory induction of natural light. d) iPAD portable homes iPAD portable homes When it boils down to portable homes, highfalutin conceptions come dime a dozen. But this time for a change, architect Andre Hodgskin has designed his ‘iPAD’ variety of dwelling units that fuses flexibility with user preference. This means the modular structural components can be easily assembled on notice, while the pad’s interior spatial elements can also be diversified with a variety of color options and extendable decks. e) Habitat Microhome Concept Habitat microhome concept Christened simply as the ‘Habitat’, American product designer Joe Salerno has adroitly conceived his conception as a ‘car-house’. The total scope encompasses a hybrid-like structure, with a separate car space (of 32 sq m) and a duplex space (of 100 sq m). When the Habitat is static, these two spaces fuse to become a credibly sized dwelling, with denominations like kitchen and bedroom. Finally, the conception will also not require conventional fuels, as its integrated systems will generate clean solar and wind energy. What it means for you The housing industry does form an important element of our overall economy and in allusion to its crucial impact, the industry does contribute to significant levels of carbon footprint. For example, housing emanated 30 percent of the total carbon emissions in the UK, for last year. So, in such a precarious ambit, we as ordinary citizens should work towards a decisive goal of collective sustainability. Of course, this does not necessarily entail that we should all pack our bags and be on the move like modern day nomads, but adapting to portable housing does tip the scale on favor of low emissions. As a matter of fact, we can look forth to long term solutions within our urban (and suburb) scope, with flexible yet permanent modular habitats. Added benefits Beyond the scope of sustainability, there are always the constraints of economy bound with our modernistic lifestyle. In relation to this, eco friendly portable homes have a tendency to come at relatively lower prices. Moreover, users can also cut upon their energy costs through long term usage of renewable sources, natural lighting and minimal wastage of building materials.
Sweta: Installing eco friendly composting toilets have picked up pace in the recent times. It is very crucial to spread knowledge about these new sanitation systems, especially when introducing for public use. Composting toilets have already been placed in certain public places that witness a scarcity of water. Cycle Public compost toilet Picture Gallery Cycle Public compost toilet It avoids waste of drinking water without the need to tap into a sewer system. Designed by Marta Visintin, this Public Compost Toilet collects human waste and converts it into fertilizer without polluting the ground water or surrounding water bodies. The tippy-tap toilet system has been designed to reduce the consumption of water while washing hands, allowing you to cleanse them by using just 80ml of water. One side of the toilet is used for urination and the other side is for solid excreta. Urine is collected in a plastic container placed on the other side of the solid waste collecting box. Human urine is rich in nitrogen, especially urea, which is a good fertilizing agent for plants. After diluting the urine with water in a proportion 1 to 4 or 1 to 8 it can be used as a nitrogenous fertilizer for plants. The solid excreta is collected in a tin box and can be replaced with another similar box when it becomes full. The stool is left for a limited period for primary decomposition. After three weeks of composting the excreta, the box is taken and emptied into an earthen pit or a large composting container for secondary decomposition process. This container is now covered with a layer of leaves and is allowed to stay for another 4 to 7 months or more. After this period of time what is obtained is a manure which is excellent for replenishing soil fertility. Via: Cargo Collective
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Concept toilet converts human waste into plant fertilizer
During the first morning of the GreenBiz Forums, Jon Foley, director of the University of Minnesota's Institute of the Environment, laid out a business plan for the Earth that aims to feed 9 billion people by 2050 while shrinking agriculture's eco-footprint.
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How Can We Feed the Planet Without Destroying the Planet?
Rajeev Kumar: Scientists have successfully identified the molecules which naturally clean earth’s atmosphere, making it pollution free. These newly discovered molecules will convert pollutants into aerosol drops that will eventually lead to the formation of clouds. Named after German Chemist Rudolf Criegee, who first hypothesized about this molecule in 1950s, the Criegee intermediates oxidize pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. This chemical reaction produces aerosol-forming compounds like nitrates and sulphates which then help in the formation of clouds. New molecule may solve global warming Also known as carbonyl oxide biradicals, these are produced in the atmosphere by the reaction of Ozone and some chemicals released by plants. According to scientists these molecules are the most important link for understanding the reaction of unsaturated compounds with ozone in the atmosphere. According to them, this reaction directly contributes in the oxidation of hydrocarbons of sulfur and nitrogen in the lower atmosphere and leads to the formation of secondary aerosols. While these aerosols cause health problems associated with a photochemical smog and low visibility for a certain period of time, they also have positive implications on climate change because of the formation of earth-cooling clouds. The new finding could open up new avenues for tackling global warming, especially at a time when present efforts are said to be insufficient for stopping the ever rising global temperature. More alarming is the fact that about 2/3rd of total rise of 0.8 degree Celsius in the last 100 years occurred during the preceding 30 years alone. However, it is still too early to expect much from the new discovery as scientists now face the most difficult task of finding artificial applications of Criegee against global warming. The research was conducted jointly by scientists from Sandia’s Combustion Research facility, University of Manchester and Bristol University. Efforts are still in progress for developing a more practical solution. Via: Smartplanet
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Scientists discover molecules to fight against global warming
Abdul Vahid V: Google and the Department of Energy (DOE) have funded a massive project to generate geothermal power from a dormant volcano in Central Oregon. AltaRock Energy of Seattle and Davenport Newberry Holding of Stamford Connecticut are overseeing the geothermal project for clean energy. Google and DOE have already invested $43 million in the volcano power project. Google invest in volcano power Engineers plan to pump 24 million gallons of water into the areas of the dormant volcano to produce energy in a novel way this summer. The geothermal technology is a new method to produce alternative energy. The pumped water comes back to the surface fast and hot, which could be harnessed to generate electricity cheaply. The process will not bear any negative impact on the in environment. It will indeed not shake the earth or rattle the nerves of the nearby inhabitants. The volcano power has been used in many parts of the country for sometime around. For several years now, geothermal power plants in Central America have been supplying clean power to communities in the area. Google has a clear interest in the clean energy project. The web service provider has to power up its datacenters and aspires to use a low cost variants like geothermal power for the same. Lack of power is the biggest roadblock, which companies like the Mountain View tech and other giants face today in rolling out new and advanced data centers. Google has so far invested around $1 billion in sustainable energy projects. Apart from Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft too are active players in other clean energy projects. All tech companies are upbeat about using clean energy sources to power up their businesses. Via: SmartPlanet
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Google and DOE finance a huge volcano power project in Oregon
Abdul Vahid V: Geothermal energy is gaining grip as a leading option for alternative power. Many more plants are coming up to produce power from the pressure and heat in volcano sites in many parts of the world. Geothermal energy developers are to pump millions of gallons of water to the sides of a volcano in Central Oregon this summer to produce large amount of power. It is yet another terrible idea to generate power without annoying the nature and people living around. Geothermal drilling rig Pumped water in the areas of an exploded volcano emerges out extremely faster and hotter. The heat and the pressure from its movement can be harnessed to produce power using high-tech geothermal plants. Seattle’s AltaRock Energy and Davenport Newberry Holding of Stamford Connecticut are overseeing the volcano power project in Central Oregon. Many tech companies and agencies have invested hugely in the volcano power project. Google and the U.S. Department of Energy have invested $43 million into the Oregon project. Google, the web search engine giant, is in look for more alternative energy to power up its growing datacenters in the U.S. Researchers reveal that the process of generating geothermal energy is highly cost effective. For power production, three things are necessary; a source of heat like a volcano, a source of water, which transfers heat to the surface to be turned to the electricity and lastly a method that will take the water down to the heat and bring it back. The combination of these three things will help humankind produce power from yet another natural source. It will cause no harmful impact on the earth or the creatures inhabiting the area of the geothermal power plant and volcano. Via: Dvice
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Pumping water into active volcanoes could generate ample geothermal energy
Ruchika Pahwa: As there is a constant need to take steps toward saving precious earthly resources and the natural surrounding, Architects Djuric Tardio also thought of contributing to save the earth by utilizing their sustainable architectural skills. This thought resulted in the creation of the Finnish Larch Home, which is a prefabricated eco friendly house. This beautiful home has several environmentally friendly features and has also been fully developed out of a green construction material, the Finnish larch. To build the house, architects have used a construction system that itself is sustainable. Finnish Larch Home Picture Gallery Finnish Larch Home Finnish Larch Home By Architects Djuric Tardio Will Save The Earth To reduce carbon footprint, the design materials are prefabricated. These pre-constructed units are required to be assembled at the main building site. Architects Djuric Tardio have the proficiency to complete this assembly task within just two weeks. Though the open roof of the house appears to be unfinished, it has been kept as a standard framework so it is harmless to the environment and saves space. There are inhabitants inserted into the roof that get nourished by the incoming sunlight and get transformed into a vegetable terrace. House occupants may choose their favorite climbing plants for this roof terrace and get to eat healthy. The roof is designed to be very much friendly to the environment. The Finnish Larch Home has a pedestal made of Finnish wood panels that are received from cooperatives of owners of a self-sustainable private forest. For non-treated siding and wood fiber insulation, these cooperatives supply pre-cut panels. These panels are almost finished before delivery and thus contribute to reducing pollution. The south facades and patios of the house allow ample sunlight during winters, while a canopy offers a cool shed during summers. There is provision of natural lighting through windows, as well as proper ventilation supported by shutter openings. Also, the collected rainwater feeds the garden and planters in the house. Thus, the Finnish Larch Home not only has an Eco-friendly architecture, but also runs on multiple green operations. Via: iGreenspot
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Finnish Larch Home: An eco friendly prefab dwelling
Sonia Renthlei: Solar power: Green but expensive Among all the renewable energy sources, the sun is the most abundant. It offers us an endless supply of power and is the perfect solution to the planet’s energy woes. It’s also non-polluting unlike conventional sources like coal and natural gas. However, despite all its virtues, harnessing solar energy doesn’t come cheap. This is one of the main reasons why many countries desist from investing in solar power. Solar energy generating systems are very expensive, each costing about $45,000 each. The output produced is also meager compared to the cost, with about $9,000 being spent for producing a single kilowatt of power. The cost issues impose practical hassles that make investment in such projects not viable as returns are negligible, to say the least. Solar power The need for affordable solar power At the current rate of global energy consumption, we’re likely to run out of conventional resources very soon. Since the population is continually expanding, there is a race to find a quick solution for the existing power problem. The cost of oil, coal and natural gas will increase due to depleting supply and growing energy demands. The sun, being ever abundant, provides us with the relevant source: the only problem is the cost of harnessing it. Since solar energy is free, there is an urgent need to work towards finding affordable solar power to fulfill the planet’s energy needs. Besides, solar energy is clean, which will help keep pollution levels at bay as well as increase quality of life. Concentrated solar thermal power a) Benefits Unlimited source of energy The sun still has a few billion years to live so we don’t need to worry about supply running out. More efficient than photovoltaic thermal energy Ordinarily, photovoltaic panels are used to trap heat from the sun, which is then converted into electricity. This electricity is then used to power devices like watches and streetlights. Concentrated solar thermal power systems, on the other hand, work on a much larger scale, trapping the sun’s heat and using it to heat fluids. The steam which is generated is then used to power generators to produce electricity. Environmentally friendly Solar thermal power plants are very eco-friendly as they don’t produce any emissions. They can also be built from recyclable materials, making them even more environment friendly. b) Trends 1. Commercial solar power plant at Andasol in Spain Commercial solar power plant at Andasol Andasol’s solar power plant is the largest such commercial plant in the world. It features three units, each capable of generating 50W of power. A collector tube containing molten salt harvests sunlight which is concentrated by parabolic reflectors, which is then heated and transferred into a heat exchanger, containing fresh water. The resulting steam is converted into power using a conventional steam turbine. The engineers of this Andalusian solar power plant have designed the parabolic reflectors in such a way that the molten salt is heated in excess quantities. The surplus salt is stored in insulated storage tanks and the steam produced is used to generate power during night time. 2. PS-10 Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy Plant in Spain PS-10 The PS-10 in Spain is Europe’s first commercial solar thermal plant. It is being used to produce electricity to power about 6,000 homes. The 11W thermal plant is also getting an additional 300 reflectors to increase output to a very substantial 300W by 2013. That would be enough to power around 180,000 homes. The location of the plant, which is near Seville, sees about 300 days of sunshine a year, making it economically viable owing to subsidies from the EU and Spanish government. 3. The Solar Brayton Cycle project in Australia The Solar Brayton Cycle project The Solar Brayton Cycle project is the brainchild of Australia’s CSIRO. When completed, the project will be the country’s largest solar thermal plant. At present, 450 heliostats are being installed to trap heat and generate steam which will be fed into a 200kW steam turbine. Incidentally, the lightweight-framed heliostats are designed in such a way to make it cost-effective and will be able to generate a maximum temperature of 1,000 degrees Centigrade which will ultimately power about 200 homes. While that may seem small compared to what other solar thermal plants can produce, the Solar Brayton Cycle project is only in pilot stage and CSIRO will no doubt install more heliostats in the future. c) The low downs While the benefits of solar thermal energy are many, the installation of such plants can be quite expensive, making it unsuitable for those regions that cannot afford to invest large sums of money. Moreover, these plants need consistent sunlight as their efficiency is reduced on cloudy days and bad weather. Solar thermal projects also need large tracts of land which can prove to be a problem in areas where land cannot afford to be allocated other than for housing and developmental projects. Concentrated photovoltaics a) Benefits Cheaper then concentrated solar thermal power Concentrated PVs are cheaper than solar thermal power projects costing just $3.80 per watt without any storage. Add another $0.50 per watt for battery storage and you spend only a little over four dollars. Per watt, a PV plant offering six hours storage costs just about $6.80. Compare that to solar thermal plants that cost $7.75 per watt for six hours of storage and you can see the difference especially when constructing them on a large scale. Less and dual use of land PVs don’t take up much land space as they’re mounted on tracking systems. It is also possible to grow crops under the panels so you can make use of the land for a dual purpose. Minimal water use While solar thermal plants require vast quantities of water, PV plants need just a small amount of this very limited natural resource. b) Trends 1. SolFocus in Spain SolFocus Supplier of concentrated PVs, SolFocus, has signed a deal to provide and install 10MW worth of PV panels in Spain which will provide clean power to about 40,000 homes. SolFocus has already made a name for itself in the PV segment by developing panels that use just 1/1000 of the necessary material needed to make concentrated photovoltaic panels. 2. Cool Earth Solar inflatable solar balloon in California Cool Earth Solar Cool Earth Solar, a California company, is working towards developing inflatable solar balloons which will reflect sunlight on solar cells. The balloons will be suspended on wire and metal structures and they will be made using relatively cheap materials to cut costs. Don’t correlate the cheap cost for shoddy balloons, they will be able to withstand wind speeds of around 100 miles per hour. 3. Fairman and Zenith Solar: Z20 technology in Israel Z20 technology Installed in areas of Israel, concentrated PV systems developed by David Fairman and his company, Zenith Solar, harvest more energy than other PV cells, with each being able to generate 2kW of power and 5kW of heat. Combined, they’re being used to feed Israel’s national power grid. Zenith Solar’s Z20 technology uses concentrated reflective mirrors crafted out of silicon that focuses sunlight on reflector dishes. The concentrated PV system, which heats up, needs to be cooled with water which is then transferred to a heat exchanger and utilized on site. This means that other than providing green electricity to residents, the system also produces hot water that feeds 220 people. c) The low downs Like concentrated solar thermal power, concentrated photovoltaics have a few drawbacks that need to be addressed if we plan to make use of it on a large scale. They’re more complicated to make as they use computer controls and tracking motors. It’s also not feasible to use them on rooftops so sufficient land is required. It is suggested that heat absorbed by the rear of these panels be used to operate a vapor absorption AC system or to pre-heat water which can then be used by consumers. The goal CSPs and CPVs offer us a clean alternative to conventional power and the goal now is to make them affordable enough so that they can be used to electrify millions of homes. However, the speedy progress in technology, particularly in the green energy sector, may soon see CSPs and CPVs substituting conventional fossil fuel-based power.
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Concentrated solar technology to help make solar power affordable
Rajeev Kumar: Children could be our best ambassadors in our fight against all global environment problems. The question is, how do we do this? Architects at the 2bw Studio have shown the way with a unique modular Bamboo School for Myanmarese refugees. The demountable model enures flexibility to relocate the school whenever necessary and the use of bamboo material ensures low cost, less technical dependence and environment friendliness. It sits lightly on the ground and can be easily moved from one place to another as required on a very short notice. The design also provides maximum visual security for children as entire school could be watched from most of the angles. Bamboo School for Burmese Refugees Picture Gallery Bamboo School for Burmese Refugees Bamboo School for Burmese Refugees in Thailand by 2bw Studio. The Bamboo School design was one of the winning entries in the recently held international design competition organized by the Building Trust International. The country is facing one of the worst refugee problem in the world under the military rule. Keeping this problem as the motivation, the organizers had called for a modular and demountable schools design for refugees. Based on the modular construction system, the Bamboo School building could be easily expanded according to the amount of available land and the number of students in future. The school features a central playing area while the rest of the blocks lie on a perimeter. The building blocks have been so arranged to provide maximum visible security. As such, it not only provides a protected space for the children, but can also be monitored from most of the angles. There is one entrance and all the visitors have to first pass through the admin block while entering the school. The major parts of the building like walls, floors and roof panels are made from standard 1220mm x 610mm plywood size. All of these panels are retrievable and reusable for multiple purposes. The color of the panels have been kept earthy and natural to reflect a connection with the surrounding. To ensure a visible link between the building materials, form and landscape, the designers have kept the vertical bamboo columns visible. Also, they believe that the entire building could be used for other communal activities as well. It would not require specially trained individuals for erecting or dismantling the building. Considering that refugees have to repeatedly relocate from one place to another, the Bamboo School has been so designed to allow easy dismantling. This reflects the do-it-yourself (DIY) nature of the Bamboo School. There are also provisions for rain water harvesting. For shading, projected bamboo roof separated from the classroom structure has been used. It reduces the unwanted heat gains and provides a sheltered terrace. Eco-conscious buildings are the need of the day all across the world. Also, millions of children who are deprived of education because of war, natural calamities and other problems need special attention as they could be tomorrow’s world leaders. The present Bamboo School model could be adopted for providing a teaching space to children in all parts of the world. Via: Aeccafe
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Bamboo School: DIY school building for refugees in Thailand