“It’s not reinventing the wheel; it’s open-sourcing the wheel.”
Julia Valentine, farmer, in The Atlantic
Using wikis and digital fabrication tools, Marcin Jakubowski is open-sourcing the blueprints for 50 farm machines, allowing anyone to build their own tractor or harvester from scratch. And that’s only the first step in a project to write an instruction set for an entire self-sustaining village (starting cost: $10,000).
Declaring that, “We can lead self-sustaining lives without sacrificing our standard of living,” Marcin Jakubowski believes that only by opening the means of production can we achieve abundance for all. Though he has a Ph.D. in fusion physics, he became dissatisfied with its remoteness, and turned back to the earth as a farmer and social innovator.
He is the founder of Open Source Ecology, which is creating the Global Village Construction Set — the blueprints for simple fabrication of everything needed to start a self-sustaining village.
Open Source Ecology is a network of farmers, engineers, and supporters that for the last two years has been creating the Global Village Construction Set, an open source, low-cost, high performance technological platform that allows for the easy, DIY fabrication of the 50 different Industrial Machines that it takes to build a sustainable civilisation with modern comforts. The GVCS lowers the barriers to entry into farming, building, and manufacturing and can be seen as a life-size lego-like set of modular tools that can create entire economies, whether in rural Missouri, where the project was founded, in urban redevelopment, or in the developing world.
This year marked the eve in which our planet reached the seven billionth population milestone. To mark this milestone, a new world map based on a report published by UK think tank Maplecroft maps ‘The Climate Change Vulnerability Index.’ The map shows the fastest growing populations most at risk from environmental impacts. According to the report, some of the world’s fastest growing population centers in Asia and Africa are at greatest risk from the impact of climate change and some of the “big economies of the future” (Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Vietnam and Pakistan) are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Climate Change Map
The Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI), published by UK consultancy, risk analysis and mapping company Maplecroft, examined the climate risks and adaptive capacity of 193 nations factoring in population concentration, development, natural resources, agricultural dependency and conflict.
A total of 30 countries were classified as being at “extreme risk” with Haiti, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and Madagascar making up the top five most in peril, while Vietnam, Indonesia and India all ranked inside the top 30. The report warns that Bangladesh’s climate risks could hit foreign investment into the country, undermining the driving force behind economic growth of 88 per cent between 2000 and 2008.
Similarly, the report warned that India’s massive population and increasing demand for scarce resources made it particularly sensitive to climate change.
Other Asian countries attracting high levels of foreign investment such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Pakistan were also classified as facing ‘extreme risk’ from climate change, while industrial giants China, Brazil and Japan are listed as ‘high risk’.
The analysis, which forms part of Maplecroft’s fourth annual Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas, also assesses climate impacts on towns and cities. Six out of the 20 fastest growing cities worldwide, including Calcutta, India, Manila in the Philippines, Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, were also classified as at “extreme risk” by the CCVI.
Urban population
The United Nations estimates that around half the world population now live in, or close to cities with that figure expected to rise to two-thirds by 2045.
Almost all future population growth over the next 40 years will be absorbed by cities of the developing world which are unprepared for such rapid expansion, according to the U.N.
To see more interesting maps and reports visit Maplecroft.
There is no doubt that we are living through a transition towards a green era of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Increasing energy prices, concern about climate change and occupant health-consciousness are influencing people around the globe to take decisive action to make buildings and societies greener and more sustainable. Architects, Engineers and Designers worldwide are increasingly concerned about the current state of energy consumption and carbon emissions and are looking more and more into sustainable design to keep up with increasing demands by governments, building standards and users who are screaming for a stark redirection of current design and construction approaches.
In the UK the focus of legislation and the construction industry seems to be about developing zero carbon homes.
Why?
Because, Some 26% of UK’s carbon emissions come from homes, making it a significant area for reducing emissions overall according to UK Green Building Council and WWF.
This target is without doubt amongst the most challenging in the world.
According to the UK’s Zero Carbon Hub an average home built in 2006 emits 3.2 tons of carbon a year and a typical 100-year-old home emits about six tons. By 2016, it is expected that all new homes will have zero carbon emissions over a year. This will be a minimum requirement for homes to even gain planning permission, which in the UK is the permit necessary to build anything. This is a very challenging target which according to many experts will be unattainable. To top it all off, the focus of these targets does not include existing homes, which will also need to be made more energy efficient. This represents an even more challenging target to achieve given that the vast majority of the housing stock required in 2020 is already built and the techniques for improving homes is also falling behind those of new build projects.
Today, despite economic meltdown worldwide, The UK government is still setting strict and very demanding targets in an effort to tackle this problem. In five years time, all new homes built in the UK will be required to be zero carbon.
What exactly does zero carbon mean?
Zero carbon homes means that the building when occupied will have zero net carbon emissions over the course of a year. Energy use will be minimised by use of thermally efficient building materials and insulation. All the energy used to heat and light the home and run its appliances will need to be off-set using zero carbon technology such as wind turbines, solar panels and ground source heat pumps. The problem is that when the target was originally set in 2006, it was envisaged that all this renewable energy would be generated on-site which would get the homes to be self sufficient and sustainable.
However, in 2008 it was decided that to be realistic, the definition needed to be relaxed to allow contributions to off-site renewable energy schemes. This would allow house-builders to make payments into new community energy schemes to off-set the carbon emissions of their homes. Today, the shift is moving back to micro-renewables and on-site energy generation as the government subsidy programme or feed-in tariffs, became the catalyst for the majority of installations of solar panels in the UK since its inception in 2009.
How is Carbon Measured in Homes?
The UK has a Code for Sustainable Homes (CFSH), where the highest level 6 is zero carbon. Regulations will require homes to move gradually up the scale before 2016. The Code for Sustainable Homes is now the new mandatory scheme for all new residences in England, and is divided into 6 different levels. Whereas a house trying to meet Level 1 requirements would need to have a 10% improvement over current regulations, a Level 6 residence has to meet a zero-carbon emission rating. Level 6 is expected to be mandatory by 2016. Again, the gap to fill is still on the existing homes as there are two things that CFSH does not address, which is refurbishment and post occupancy evaluation which in the UK currently there aren’t any formal assessments that specifically address these stages of a buildings life. There is a possibility however to certify existing homes with Passivhaus standard improvements, but again this is far from being mainstream and most experts believe building regulations in the UK are heading toward Passivhaus standards even if the government doesn’t admit it.
How does the UK’s target compare with others worldwide?’
Many believe that while countries such as Germany, Sweden and China have already produced more zero carbon homes than the UK, nowhere else can rival its ambitious target for 2016. It is also worth mentioning that most countries in Europe measure the environmental impact of homes using energy efficiency and not carbon emissions. Germany and Scandinavia have historically had better building standards and some countries have decided to tackle the commercial building stock first. Either way, the goal remains the same.
How many zero carbon homes have been built so far?
Very few. In 2010 the UK government announced tax relief on zero carbon homes and so far only about 25 homes have qualified, according to the UK Green Building Council.
However, this tax relief was based on the definition that all off-set energy had to be produced on site, a definition which has since been considered unrealistic. The challenge remains as most developers still remain unconvinced that spending on average 5-10% more in construction costs towards zero carbon improvements could end up saving them triple that amount in energy savings throughout the building’s entire life.
So are Zero Carbon Homes the solution?
When speaking about A solution to all the housing needs, there are many variables which need to be taken into account beyond the new build’s ecological footprint and energy efficiency. If not planned correctly or in the right context, zero carbon homes will become nothing more that feeders to an already disconnected suburban society and if not connected to a sustainable urban community network they could become part of the problem and not the solution. Sustainable cities and neighbourhoods are the key to making zero carbon homes a successful experiment.
Of course, reducing energy usage and looking at carbon reduction in homes is a great way forward, but again, millions of homes worldwide need a comprehensive and coordinated approach to tackling the problem. Currently, different countries have different approaches to defining low and zero carbon buildings. This has led to a variety of terms to describe such buildings, including low energy, low-carbon, zero carbon, Passivhaus, high-performance, energy positive, eco-homes, sustainable homes and green homes.
This diversity of terminology and definition is not surprising, given the range of climatic and regulatory conditions across countries, as well as differences in housing stock, energy sources and cultural influences. One of the main factors influencing carbon emissions is the carbon intensity of the grid, which is dependent on the mix of fuels each country uses to generate energy.
The recommended standards, as well as the way they are expressed and measured, are different from country to country and the pace in which the global response is evolving does not leave much room for coordination worldwide. The truth is that no matter how many energy-efficient homes are built today, construction supply chains and methods remain the same, manufacturing processes are getting more efficient but still rely of fossil fuel for transport and implementation. All of these factors need to be addressed if a global coördinated response were to be implemented.
All of this construction issues also pale in comparison with problems of over consumption, water shortage, contamination, and over reliance on fossil fuels. Reducing carbon emissions in construction and usage in buildings is an important piece of the puzzle in this complicated game of global sustainability, but if a change in attitude and culture through a global coördinated approach to sustainability is not adopted, zero carbon homes run the risk of being left standing in the near future as really efficient suburban reflections of a culture obsessed with high tech and consumerism.
Climate change is happening, can we now finally stop talking about it and start doing something about it?
“I found out about climate change and said, ‘if this is a problem, what are the solutions?’…So I found out the solutions. The great thing, is you don’t have to even believe in climate change for this movie to work for you.”
- Peter Byck / Director
Carbon Nation is a feature length documentary about climate change SOLUTIONS. Even if you doubt the severity of the impact of climate change or just don’t buy it at all, this is a compelling and relevant filmthat illustrates how SOLUTIONS to climate change also address other social, economic and security issues.
‘Carbon Nation’ is an optimistic discovery of what people are already doing, and look at what the United States could be doing as a nation and what the world needs to do to prevent (or slow down) the impending climate crisis. We already have the technology to combat most of the worst-case scenarios of climate change, and it is very good business as well.
The Film is full of facts and interesting “non-bussiness as usual” solutions for this generation. It also showcases some real-world examples of the solutions working in practice. In one chapter he focuses on fuel consumption by the US army. Their consumption far surpasses any other sector. BY going green the military can shift a pattern of fuel consumption almost overnight, however the astronomical cost of getting fuel to the troops spread around the world would be nothing in comparison to the cost of retrofitting all those troops to run on clean energy. It almost makes pray for peak oil to come as soon as possible if only for the very reason of disabling all the world’s military power.
This kind of off-track optimism is at the core of this film. Entrepreneurial ideas to tackle global warming and impending food and energy shortages through simple creative green solutions that work economically and socially.
Director Peter Byck says: “In 15 months of presenting the film to very diverse audiences, we have come to the realization that we are not a polarized country, as many on TV will tell us, and many in Washington play out. Rather, there is great consensus among a large and varied group of Americans: renewable energy sources and using less energy are great ideas – whether to boost the economy, increase national and energy security and promote health and a clean environment. As it stands now, good Americans are being lied to, told that we are polarized, and then many act out as if this were true, creating a self-fulfilling crash. It’s a storytelling problem.
carbon nation team top tips for reducing your co2 footprint
Energy Efficiency
Weatherize your house – if there’s a draft, there’s a leak.
When your roof needs repairs, paint it white at the same time.
Unplug DVD players, coffee makers, phone chargers – anything not in use.
5-minute showers are much better than baths.
Raise your kid’s allowance if they help reduce utility bills.
Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical and industrial know-how to solve the carbon and climate problems for the next half-century - Stephen Pacala & Robert Socolow
Can we bring upon a future of free and renewable energy?
This brief presentation makes us think that not only it is possible, but the change is already happening.
Tzeporah Berman, co-head of the climate and energy campaign at Greenpeace International, gives a TEDx talk about the solution to our current and future energy needs.
The Energy [R]evolution
The Energy [R]evolution is the practical solution to our energy needs. It offers a sustainable path to quit dirty, dangerous fuels by transitioning to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Cradle to Cradle Design (sometimes abbreviated to C2C, or Cradle 2 Cradle) is a biomimetic approach to the design of systems. It models human industry on nature’s processes in which materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms. It suggests that industry must protect and enrich ecosystems and nature’s biological metabolism while also maintaining safe, productive technical metabolism for the high-quality use and circulation of organic and synthetic[clarification needed] materials. Put simply, it is a holistic economic, industrial and social framework that seeks to create systems that are not just efficient but essentially waste free.[Wikipedia] The model in its broadest sense is not limited to industrial design and manufacturing; it can be applied to many different aspects of human civilization such as urban environments, buildings, economics and social systems.
In this brilliant episode of TED:Talks; William McDonough talks about the concept of “Cradle to Cradle” Design. He believes that green design can prevent environmental disaster — while also driving economic growth. The Green-minded architect and designer asks what our buildings and products would look like if designers took into account “all children, all species, for all time.”
“If we are to move forward… towards mainstreaming ecological design as an integral part of building for the 21st century, then it is crucial that it is accessible, economic, genuinely environmentally sound, gimmic-free and not stigmatised as a style” - Howard Liddell from ‘Eco-minimalism – the antidote to eco-bling’ RIBA Publications 2008
We are living through a very strange age of quasi-environmental desperation. We are all aware that we must now ignore our pre-conceived notions of “tree hugging” and “hippie lifestyles” and embrace a lifestyle of balance with our planet or we face certain extinction (bear with me, I’m just being as sensationalist as the media here for shock value…). Can Minimalist Green Architecture be the antidote?
From governments and politicians down to tradesmen and factory workers we are all made aware of the impending dangers of global warming, climate change and the crazy amounts of other human related ‘side-effects’ imposed on our planet through our modern-day lifestyles. The problem is that with reasonable panic, comes unreasonable thinking. In the construction industry, eco-bling is preached ‘as a means to an end.’ Again a quasi-solution based on reactionary thought and very little practice. Today, sustainability has become yet another one of those dreaded buzz words and as it gains momentum, most people perceive it as a new “trend” and not a way of living. Concepts of green architecture today are peppered with greenwashing and failed attempts at providing quality in sustainability. People are rushing to the recycling bins and fixing their outdated buildings, with green technology badges such as solar panels and micro wind turbines, but fail to understand sustainability in the broader context and often fail to implement a green design approach that works. The same high-end green technology solutions being sold to us as antidotes to climate change might not be as green as they first appear.
Recently, I came upon Howard Lidell’s – brilliantly named- ‘Eco-minimalism – the antidote to eco-bling’ (2008). After reading this, you realise that there is a more realistic and cost-effective approach to going ‘green’ which simply follows basic concepts of ’eco-minimalism’ – a good design approach that is tied to ecological building design through careful selection of materials, building orientation, environmental design and specification. Eco-minimalism is about making a building react to its environment in ‘passive’ ways rather than ‘active’ solutions. Far from reaching the almost high tech levels of ‘PassivHaus’ design, Eco-minimalism aims to dissect these principles even further. For example, slapping a bunch of solar-thermal panels in the roof of a 1950’s bungalow is an ‘active’ way of addressing water and space heating, but it ignores the need for increasing its out-dated insulation or reducing hot water usage in the first place. Both of which can be achieved with low-cost methods of construction (cavity wall insulation & simple water saving measures) . Careful planning and implementation at design stage can almost negate the use of any ‘green-technology’ at all. Basically, any building or design can increase their ‘ eco-credentials’ by concentrating on less obvious strategies such as insulation, draught-proofing and the use of healthy local materials and not ‘Greenwashing’ a design by picking ‘off-the-shelf’ green solutions that may actually cause more harm to the environment than good.
Greenwashing is a term by New York environmentalist Jay Westervelt in a 1986 essay regarding the hotel industry’s practice of placing placards in each room promoting reuse of towels ostensibly to “save the environment”. Westerveld noted that, in most cases, little or no effort toward reducing energy waste was being made by these institutions. The term is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being green (that is, operating with consideration for the environment), rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices (Source: Wikipedia)
As Architects, builders, planners and designers, we must strive to find the simplest and most cost effective solutions in support of truly ecological, affordable sustainable architecture for everyone.
When it comes to getting clean water at home, most of us turn on the tap and don’t give it a second thought. But for nearly one billion people, finding clean water is a daily struggle. Lack of access in their homes or their community can cause a multitude of health, economic, and quality of life problems. For those of us fortunate enough to have clean water access, it’s more important than ever to help conserve this important resource.
It’s estimated that a family of four can survive on 3 gallons of water a day but in America, a household of four uses up to 400 gallons of water a day. Check out this infographic to learn about the top culprits for water waste and how fixes both small and large can significantly shrink your water footprint at home.
This interesting infographic is brought to us by GOOD Magazine in conjunction with Levi’s®
If you are searching for ways to save the environment, a great place to begin is your regular trip to the grocery store. Here are simple ways to turn your regular shopping routine into a green grocery shopping routine.
Start by planning ahead for the week. A meal plan can ensure that you use your food wisely, which will reduce waste and save money. First, take an inventory of your refrigerator, freezer and pantry. Then, make a menu for all the breakfasts, packed lunches, and dinners your family will need this week. Then write out the grocery list of the items you need. Reducing the number of drives to the store is another way to save the environment through meal planning.
Once you arrive at the store, one of the best going green ideas is to plot your course strategically to avoid the foods that are over-processed and filled with chemicals and additives. The whole and natural foods are always found around the perimeter of the store. If you start at one side and work your way around the edges of the store, you will find all the produce, dairy, and meat products. One of the ways to save the environment is to purchase these whole foods that have not had additional natural resources spent on their processing.
While shopping for these whole foods, you want to choose organic as often as possible to avoid consuming toxic pesticides and hormones. If you’re looking for going green ideas that won’t dramatically increase your grocery bill, you can start by prioritizing organic purchases for the foods that are most likely to be filled with pesticides and hormones. With fruits and vegetables, this means buying organic for the foods where you eat the skin. For example, berries, celery, and grapes would all be good candidates for organic purchases. For dairy, you want to avoid added hormones like rGBH and rbST. Meat doesn’t run the same risk for pesticides as dairy and produce, but hormones are a big concern which is an important reason to consider organic meats.
Next, stop at the bulk food aisle for more ways to save the environment. You may be surprised to know that everything from rice and pasta to snacks and cereals can be purchased from the bulk bins. These foods are typically less processed than their alternatives, and have very little packaging which is a good way to reduce unnecessary waste.
If you do venture into the center of the store for processed foods, read the labels on the products that you choose. Going green ideas here include aiming for five or less ingredients per product and avoiding products with ingredients you can’t even pronounce.
Shopping at the grocery store is something we all do and making proper choices there can be one of the best ways to save the environment.
When it comes to green architecture, achieving the lowest environmental impact sometimes means reducing your footprint as much as possible. This is remarkable project shows just how small you can really go when designing a home.
‘The Cube Project’ is an initiative of Dr Mike Page at the University of Hertfordshire who set out to build a compact eco house, no bigger than 3x3x3 metres on the inside, in which one person could live a comfortable, modern existence with a minimum impact on the environment.
Constructed from a variety of sustainable materials, the Cube provides everything that a single person might need. Within its whopping 27 cubic metres it includes a lounge, with a table and two custom-made chairs, a small double bed (120cm wide), a full-size shower, a kitchen (with energy-efficient fridge, induction hob, re-circulating cooker hood, sink/drainer, combination microwave oven and storage cupboards), a washing machine, and a composting toilet. Lighting is achieved by ultra-efficient LED lights, and the Cube is heated using an Ecodan air-source heat pump, with heat being recovered from extracted air. It has cork flooring and there is two-metre head height throughout.
The project is still at prototype stage, so don’t rush out to try to buy one, but if this can work commercially, it could certainly mark a turning point in affordable sustainable housing worldwide. Conceived, designed and managed by Dr Mike Page, engineer and Reader in Cognitive Psychology at the University’s School of Psychology, the first prototype, QB1, was unveiled on April 9th, 2011 in St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh, as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival. The first Cube took two carpenters five working weeks to build, taken from the day of delivery of materials to the site, to the time it was transported to site. He also had two electricians for three days, and two heating engineers for three and a half days and claims that everything was cut by hand. Imagine the possibilities if this were to make it to a pre-fabrication assembly line, you could be popping out homes like hot bread.
“In future, we would like to have all materials pre-cut by computer and are actively working to achieve this aim. We hope to get the total build time for a fully-fitted Cube to 30 person-days or fewer, not including electrics and heating, that can proceed in parallel.”-Dr Mike Page
It seems that ‘The Cube’ still has a long way to go before it is commercially available, but millions of people could benefit from such an innovative and low impact house, and the project certainly demonstrates how simple ideas can help us visualize that modern zero-impact, affordable and eco friendly housing is possible.
A fantastic sustainable housing lecture by Steve Glenn, CEO & founder of LivingHomes a premier developer of modern, prefabricated homes that combine world-class architecture with an unparalleled commitment to healthy and sustainable construction. The first LivingHome, designed by Ray Kappe, FAIA, was installed in eight hours. It became the first home ever to receive a LEED for Home Platinum rating. The second LivingHome was named Green Home of the Year by Green
Home Builder Magazine. Glenn was a founding partner of idealab, a business incubation firm that founded a number of successful companies including GoTo. He was named Environmental Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 by LA City Council/Faith2Green.
Insightful talk about sustainable housing at various scales and the ‘art’ of pre-fabrication. He talks about the interesting relationships between market & profits with architecture and a social structure that can be sustainable through collaboration and strong environmental ethos in business.
Very cool stuff with pre-fabrication and smart home technology which speaks sustainability like no other modern construction.
To solve a problem one must first understand it. The e-waste problem that has been on an exponential increase in recent years is only going to get worse.
If we don’t know how big the problem is or how quickly it is increasing we won’t grasp how severe it really is. It is difficult sometimes to visualize and fully grasp the magnitude of our impact on this planet. Infographics fortunately have come a long way since the times of the tricolor pie-charts and column graphs and are now very common around the web. This interesting infographic brought to us in collaboration between GOOD Magazine and Column Five Media, clearly depicts a complex and huge issue. The ever increasing e-waste problem.
As technology advances and we build more and more devices, the number of obsolete electronics in need of disposal is growing as well. The issue of global e-waste is a mounting concern. And as the e-waste problem piles up, many countries are finding it easiest to just ship theirs overseas.
Is anyone else thinking about getting into the e-waste recycling business?!
You may know a lot about the simple things you can do every day to protect the environment. But do your kids? Here are links to some fun, instructional videos & sites that will help you show your kids how to be green
1. The Greens http://www.meetthegreens.org
Click on Episodes to see cartoons. The site also has lots of great activities and information.
2. RecycleGuys.org
http://www.recycleguys.org
Click on the Music & Videos link to watch short cartoons. Below is an example
3. The Animals Save the Planet videos
Nick Park styled animated shorts which air in Animal Plantet is a very fun and informative way to show your little ones aboout the basic principles of ‘going green’. There quite a few, below are just a small selection. see all of the them at Animalplanet TV Channel
4. KidsbeGreen.org http://www.kidsbegreen.org/
A fun and simple website for kids! Be sure to check out the 3R’s most extreme challenge game!
5. “Neglected Sky”
Award-winning animation about Global Warming.
6-20.
Here are even more links with recycling, environmental themes and fun for kids.
Recycle Zone
Activities and information on this site from Wastewatch. Also includes resources for teachers, and fun quizzes, songs and games.
KidsRGreen
Quizzes and puzzles on nature and the environment.
We have recently posted trailers for two (1& 2) very good documentaries which focus on promoting alternative green thinking and eco-creativity through the power of film. This year, all the conversation amongst green circles seems to be focusing not only on policy and energy consumption but on recent man-made and natural disasters as well. The list below reflects these current concerns in a creative way through the medium we know best, TV & Film.
“Without the entertaining and/or compelling view points of artists, entertainers and filmmakers, many important messages of advocacy would never be heard,”-Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network.
If you have the pleasure and wit to get a hold of these wonderful films and series, we hope they at least inspire discussions at the dinner table, in the classrooms and in forums and prove to be catalysts for both thought and action.
This year there seems to be a very deliberate focus on making cutting edge green related documentaries. Here is another great one which was released this year. It focuses on the history of fuel consumption, our present predicament and presents a solution to our dependence on foreign oil.
FUEL is an amazing, in-depth, personal journey of oil use and abuse as it examines wide-ranging energy solutions other than oil, the faltering US auto and petroleum industries, and the latest stirrings of the American mindset toward alternative energy.
Josh Tickell’s stirring, radical and multi-award winning FUEL may be known by some as the “little energy documentary,” but in truth, it’s a powerful portrait of America’s overwhelming addiction to, and reliance on, oil. Having been born and raised in one of the USA’s most oil producing regions, he saw first hand how the industry controls, deceives and damages the country, its people and the environment, and after one too many people he knew became sick, Tickell knew he just couldn’t idly stand by any longer. He decided to make a film, focusing both on the knowledge and insight he discovered, but also giving hope that solutions are at reach. A ‘regular guy’ who felt he could make a difference, he spent 11 years making his movie, showing himself – and others – that an individual can indeed make a difference.
As first time director and narrator of the film, Tickell offers a virtual tour guide through the drama of fuel, the history, the politics, the mess that the world is in and the fascinating alternatives for a way out. In the movie, he interviews politicians, historians, professors and a sprinkling of activist celebrities, all of whom have their own take on one of the most important and pressing concerns of the modern era. Interviews with a wide range of environmentalists, policy makers and educators, along with such “green” celebrities as Woody Harrelson, Sheryl Crow and Larry Hagman offer serious fuel for thought.
FUEL encourages the discussion about the consequences of abusing our oil resources. Especially now, during this moment of “Change” going on in our country, it is extremely important to examine all the factors that have contributed to not only the economic meltdown, but also the environmental crisis and this country’s position in the world. And now as Americans look for answers and seek accountability, FUEL can help break the discussion wide open as it exposes the
shocking connections between the auto industry, the oil industry and government, while exploring alternative energies such as solar wind, electricity and non-food based biofuels.
FUEL is an example of the social movement that is going on in the country. As our government seeks to bail out the auto industry and our new President speaks of investing in alternative energies as the way of our future and creating green industries, FUEL challenges the audience to make a change and seek accountability, reinforcing the idea that the power of every individual can and will make a difference.
“Fuel is a vital, superbly assembled documentary…doesn’t dwell on muckraking, however; it’s more focused on broadly inspiring viewers than preaching to the converted….Smartly animated interstitials, memorable archival material and a lively soundtrack round out the fast-paced proceedings.” -LOS ANGELES TIMES
One could argue that Architecture is the most harmful profession for the planet. Its deep association with construction puts the profession in the front seat of environmental evils. In a world of mass development and over-population, construction is more like an unstoppable destructive cement truck which is constantly plowing through our planet destroying natural habitats than the sustainable and creative profession it should be; Architects it seems are riding shotgun.
Considering that even the most harmful of oil refineries has had the involvement of an Architect at some point during its construction and considering that we spend at least 80% of our lives in buildings (also designed by Architects) the numbers quickly start to stack up against the profession. It is no secret that Architecture has a huge impact on our environment and it is our duty as designers to do something about it. Now, isn’t time we do so?
Building techniques have for the most part remained un-changed for centuries, that is until the arrival of the industrial revolution. Technology changed everything. Technology in modern building techniques mutated those centuries old methods of construction and transformed them into to the wasteful consumer and money driven methods of today. Architects had little to do with this, but did nothing to prevent construction evolving through the need to meet the demands of rapid growth in urban conglomerates and the increasing availability of super fast technological advances. This left designers with little time to think beyond their next ‘commission’ (architects need to make a living like everybody else) and made any sustainable thinking and urban planning an irrelevant and expensive nuisance. In the Architecture profession it is almost impossible to keep up with the speed of mass development and the economic needs of a construction industry which thrives on competition and economic stability. Again this leaves little room to spend any time or money on perceived ‘extras’ which do not benefit the individual project but rather a whole planet.
There is hope. One good thing that can be rescued from this global economic downturn is that construction has in fact slowed down and with the ever more evident threats of global warming and food scarcity, architects, engineers builders, scientists and designers have a chance to finally ‘catch up’ with progress and begin to propose new ways of construction that will help us achieve modern sustainable lives. If we collectively stop and think for a minute we could potentially develop a workable sustainability that can be applied at a mass urban scale.
We need to begin to propose sustainable developments which can provide an integration as a whole of all the mega-cities and resources globally. We need to start locally, but think globally and implement simple design moves toevery new project and aim to enhance the sustainability of a community as a whole. Otherwise no matter how many solar panels and wind turbines we slap onto the side of buildings we wont make a difference. Careful consideration has to be given to the building’s life long cycle, its materials and its role in the community as a whole.
Buildings should be like trees, whether you are designing a small house extension or a multi-million pound stadium, buildings should become true habitats for people that provide not only shelter, but also food, water and energy.
So by creating neighborhoods in this way we would really be creating forests and habitats in an urban context. To achieve this, the following principles should always be a prime consideration for any development before any designer puts pen to paper (or finger on mouse might be more appropriate these days),
[Energy] minimize energy use and help mitigate against climate change
[Ecology and biodiversity] provide new wildlife habitats, mitigate for habitat lost through development, and
provide green links or stepping stones for species movement through urban areas
[Health]Greener buildings provide psychological benefits and potentially provide more contact with nature, this in tandem will bring more
physiological benefits through wider air quality improvements
[Social Integration] The development should provide a sustainable link that benefits its immediate community and its surroundings
[Economic] consider the impact in the local economy (global economies depend on localized economic growth)
To provide a workable urban sustainability plan we must also consider the life or all the elements of construction.We must strongly consider the fact that buildings are long-lived and cities are even longer-lived, stretching far into the future realm, a future of unknown resources, pollution, and climate change. To give you an idea of how long into the future we need to look to consider the sustainability of any design, below are common life expectancy figures for different types of construction:
Building Services » 20 years
Buildings » 50 Years
Infrastructure (Roads, railways, etc..) » 100+ Years
Cities » 500+ Years
And finally to think about the figures will help us understand the impact that buildings can have on future sustainability. Buildings are huge hogs of raw material and we must look for ways to unlock the huge environmental capital which is trapped in common construction. Consider all the resources needed globally for construction:
Materials » 50% of all resources globally go into construction
Energy » 45% of energy generated is used to heat, light and ventilate buildings and 5% to construct them
Water» 40% of water used globally for sanitation and other uses in buildings
Land » 60% of prime agricultural land lost to farming is used for building purposes
Timber » 70% of global timber products end up in building construction
Isn’t time we use our great advances in technology to devise a way to reduce raw materials needed to build and to find ways to create sustainable urban environments? Until we consider all the points above before we even start to think about the specifics of a design, we will never achieve any level of sustainability in Architecture even if you slap a solar panel or two to a building.
Filmed over nearly three years, WASTE LAND follows Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores” — self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz’s initial objective was to “paint” the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives. Director Lucy Walker (DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, BLINDSIGHT, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO) has great access to the entire process and, in the end, offers stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit.
“The moment when one thing turns into another is the most beautiful moment. A combination of
sounds turns into music. And that applies to everything.”
–Vik Muniz, WASTE LAND
THE END OF POVERTY? is a daring, thought-provoking and very timely documentary by award-winning filmmaker, Philippe Diaz, revealing that poverty is not an accident. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land and other natural resources as well as in forced labor. Today, global poverty has reached new levels because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies – in other words, wealthy countries exploiting the weaknesses of poor, developing countries. THE END OF POVERTY? asks why today 20% of the planet’s population uses 80% of its resources and consumes 30% more than the planet can regenerate? Can we really end poverty under our current economic system? Think again
This past Earth Day Saw the organizers call for ‘A Billion Acts of Green’
In an effort dubbed “A Billion Acts of Green,” organizers encouraged people to observe Earth Day 2011 by pledging online athttp://act.earthday.org/ to do something small but sustainable in their own lives to improve the planet’s health — from switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs to reducing the use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
“Millions of people doing small, individual acts can add up to real change,”
- said Chad Chitwood, a spokesman for the umbrella group coordinating efforts.
There was hundreds of rallies, workshops and other events around the United States, where Earth Day was born, and hundreds more overseas, where it was celebrated in 192 countries.
In the United States the activities ranged from the premiere of the new film from the director of “Who Killed the Electric Car?” (it’s called “Revenge of the Electric Car”) at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York to a discussion about creating a green economy in 12 cities along the Gulf Coast, where this time last year residents were reeling from the effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
After another successful year for Earth day organizers, 41st Earth Day Exceeded 100 Million Green Acts! http://t.co/rulpZYv
In the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, mountains of trash are piling up along the dusty streets and footpaths of Africa’s largest slum.With local authorities not providing garbage collection in the area, tons of plastic bags, bottles and food waste form a distressing and harmful backdrop for the health of the thousands of people living in Kibera. But in the middle of it all, in the community of Laina Saba, a low-cost project, dubbed the Community Cooker, is helping to clean up the streets.
The Community Cooker is a device that uses trash as a resource to produce heat for a large stove-top that local residents use for cooking and heating water. The idea began eight years ago, when Nairobi Architect, Jim Archer was wondering how to get rid of the rubbish in Kibera, the huge slum that houses 60% of all the residents living in Nairobi’s informal settlements. In Kibera, there is no garbage collection and many inhabitants struggle to afford kerosene for their stoves. Archer began to think about converting garbage into something useful like heat for communal cooking and hot water for bathing, that would motivate people to pick up the waste that litters the area and endangers health and the ecosystem.
“The community has to be given more information on the dangers and the consequences of unnecessary dumping of wastes everywhere.”
-Bernard Asanya, Community Cooker project manager
Fermín Beltrán has worked in Architecture for many years gaining a wide range of real-world design and construction experience. He is fascinated by finding alternatives methods of creating modern architecture in ways that are sustainable, elegant, comfortable and functional.
He has vast experience designing and constructing a wide array of buildings ranging from state-of-the-art music halls to social housing and even small holdings in South America. He is currently completing a Masters in Advanced Sustainability at the University of Dundee in Scotland
Change to fluorescent bulbs If every house in the United States changed all of the light bulbs in their house, that would be equivalent to taking one million cars off the streets.
![Energy [R]evolution – A Future Without Fossil Fuel Is Possible](http://www.sutmundo.com/wp-content/themes/gazette/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2011/10/solar-panel-field.jpg&w=100&h=57&zc=1&q=90)
