House Analysis
Eco Housing Analysis
Some selected Features I want to considerate to have greener House
- Thick curtains
- Carpets at the floor
- Natural and recycled building materials
- To minimise heat loss
- Thick curtains
- Carpets at the floor
- Water tank for rainwater collection
- Grey water recycling (collection and re-use)
- Photovoltaic solar panels for electricity generation
- Efficient wood-burner with water heating
My Ecohousing Mind map
Some eco-housing resources online
www.greenmoves.com/faqs.php
www.panacea-bocaf.org/ecohousing.htm
www.ecobob.co.nz/EcoArticle/1427/0/What-is-a-sustainable-house.aspx
www.panacea-bocaf.org/ecohousing.htm
www.ecobob.co.nz/EcoArticle/1427/0/What-is-a-sustainable-house.aspx
Sector Analysis
Because the house is already built I don't have to think about the location, orientation, or contour of the site, but I have to think about how and why it was built like this, and make the best performance of the qualities that it has or still remain.
When it was built over 100 years ago, the lifestyle and needs of its inhabitants were quite different from those that I find myself now, but to solve the challenges at that time the methods used were much closer to sustainability than those used in the nowadays conceptual lifestyle.
Here are some key points about how energy flows through the site. Thus I can analyze spots that are more appropriate for placement of elements, and the changes needed to improve the sustainability of the space.
When it was built over 100 years ago, the lifestyle and needs of its inhabitants were quite different from those that I find myself now, but to solve the challenges at that time the methods used were much closer to sustainability than those used in the nowadays conceptual lifestyle.
Here are some key points about how energy flows through the site. Thus I can analyze spots that are more appropriate for placement of elements, and the changes needed to improve the sustainability of the space.
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On the maps below we can see the outdoors around the house. This way we can have a better idea of the orientation, access, and the influences from the environment around. If you want to know more about the external influences of the land on which the house is located, you can take a look to the Features inside my project 8 Evaluation.
At the colored picture below the House is represented in red, and around it we can see green zones representing the areas with more shade which have formed a colder and more wet micro-climate, and the yellow areas are the sunny spots, the driest and with the highest temperatures.
The dark blue arrows indicate the direction of the strong cold winds from the north, and the light blue arrows the moderate and warm winds from the south.
We can see the orientation of the house at the top right circle which indicates the north, and I have put a sun to represent the direction of the light at the bottom right corner.
At the colored picture below the House is represented in red, and around it we can see green zones representing the areas with more shade which have formed a colder and more wet micro-climate, and the yellow areas are the sunny spots, the driest and with the highest temperatures.
The dark blue arrows indicate the direction of the strong cold winds from the north, and the light blue arrows the moderate and warm winds from the south.
We can see the orientation of the house at the top right circle which indicates the north, and I have put a sun to represent the direction of the light at the bottom right corner.
Shadow Mapping
In the right base map we can see the inside of the house where I have represented in yellow the light track coming into the house, seeing the darker tone as the summer season and the lighter tone as the winter.
The orange color represents the reflected indirect light coming from the outside. In blue we can see the House coolest spots where more moisture is retained, and create a colder microclimate perfect to preserve food. As seen in the picture the house is quite dark, the little direct light coming through the door is not enough to give a good lighting inside the house. |
The window was built too small to hinder the chance of getting robbed. This is on the north side which only gives us a bit of shimmer, which gives some light to the sink area.
Once the door shut (something common in winter) life at home is dark. That complicates early breakfasts which still we do not want to be at the cold outside. This makes us increase our desire to have the photovoltaic electrical system, and the possibility of opening another window to the outside.
Once the door shut (something common in winter) life at home is dark. That complicates early breakfasts which still we do not want to be at the cold outside. This makes us increase our desire to have the photovoltaic electrical system, and the possibility of opening another window to the outside.
PNI Assess
This project is not based on building a house from scratch, but to restore and convert it in the most sustainable way possible. Having some of the work done (by someone else) has its advantages and disadvantages, below I want to show a little about how this situation affects me.
Positive
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Negative
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Interesting
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Structures
Conditions & Restauration
What needs to be fix?
The main stone walls are fifty centimeters width, solid and in good conditions. They provide thermal mass for heat storage at winter, and fresh at summer. Because all the materials are natural the house walls can breath, to help to control the interior condensation.
Below I present the most serious problems affecting the structure, and the choices that I´m thinking to find the most appropriate solution.
The main stone walls are fifty centimeters width, solid and in good conditions. They provide thermal mass for heat storage at winter, and fresh at summer. Because all the materials are natural the house walls can breath, to help to control the interior condensation.
Below I present the most serious problems affecting the structure, and the choices that I´m thinking to find the most appropriate solution.
Beams
Beams is the only thing that I don't feel safe to change by myself, because I never have seen the process before I don't know until which point I´m crossing the line between safety or catastrophe.
I've done a lot of research online looking for websites where I could see the process, after several days, I have not found much information.
So the most likely option is hiring someone to change the first beam, and learn on how to do the next.
I've done a lot of research online looking for websites where I could see the process, after several days, I have not found much information.
So the most likely option is hiring someone to change the first beam, and learn on how to do the next.
LeaksThe local pub is the best place to find the contacts in a small village, they talk to us about an old houses experienced builder.
We contacted him and he has offered to come and left us a ladder to access to the roof where we could see the problem and the solution. He taught us how to level the sunken roof areas and how to clean the dirt on the tiles, he has told us that the biggest problem comes from the pine branches passing over the house which is dropping pine needles, branches and cones blocking the water flow and causing leaks inside. So cut these huge branches without damaging the roof structure will be a big job. |
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Because the annex rooms were intended for animals they didn't think much of the waterproof factor, the roof was built in a butterfly shape directing water to the central part of the house. So if we want to inhabit on them the roof will have to be changed entirely.
Out & In Home Analysis
Outputs
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Inputs
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Systems into Systems
SafetyThe prophecy announced by the villagers has happened and we had broken our home door twice in a few months, so we have in mind to make a proper door to make it very difficult to open.
This work gets out of hand and we will have to arrange a professional to do it, and currently we will have to wait because our lack of money to invest. For now we will reinforce the door by placing a metal plate, even if is not the best will improve the actual conditions. |
Electricity
Currently we are looking at different options to feed our home electricity, most probably is that we will put solar panels because the wind turbines are much more expensive, but as always for lack of money per now we can not afford that expense. In the early month we are using candles and a petrol generator to charge phones and computers.
Heat
We have been thinking for a wile which is the best heater system for our situation. We have the option to make a rocket-mass heater, but our hose is not very big and this system takes a lot of space, also requires a lot of effort breaking the wood in small peaces.
Other options are to build a Russian stove but it takes long time to start heating the space, or an iron stove that heats quickly but don´t retain the heat in it.
Other options are to build a Russian stove but it takes long time to start heating the space, or an iron stove that heats quickly but don´t retain the heat in it.
Water
By far the best option we have to catch rainwater to supply the needs of the house is to use the roof surface, I roughly calculated about how many liters a year we can collect only from this surface.
The annual precipitation is 528 L/m² and our house surface is 7,70m x 4,40m from the main room and 7,70m x 5,20m from the annexes rooms, so it's 33.88m² + 40,40m²= 74.28m² in total.
This m² we multiply by the rain water liters per year so we get about 74.28m² x 528L= 39219.84L per year.
This amount will be not all possible to catch because we can collect only water from the big rains, also the roof slope and the materials is made will have influence in the total catchment.
So far we focus in collect rain from the 33.88m² of the living side of the house until the annex roof is fixed, that's about 17888.64L approx per year that we will have to think in how to store.
Some options to store this source are ferro-cement tanks, Spanish argives or pools, and look for the ones that last for longer with low maintenance, and don't let the water evaporate.
The annual precipitation is 528 L/m² and our house surface is 7,70m x 4,40m from the main room and 7,70m x 5,20m from the annexes rooms, so it's 33.88m² + 40,40m²= 74.28m² in total.
This m² we multiply by the rain water liters per year so we get about 74.28m² x 528L= 39219.84L per year.
This amount will be not all possible to catch because we can collect only water from the big rains, also the roof slope and the materials is made will have influence in the total catchment.
So far we focus in collect rain from the 33.88m² of the living side of the house until the annex roof is fixed, that's about 17888.64L approx per year that we will have to think in how to store.
Some options to store this source are ferro-cement tanks, Spanish argives or pools, and look for the ones that last for longer with low maintenance, and don't let the water evaporate.
Electricity
At night we have used candles for a while until we discovered the Ikea solar lamps, not that I´m in favor of supporting Ikea, but these lamps are great and we have saved a lot on spending on candles.
One of the first things that we have bought on our arrival was a gasoline generator, with which we loaded computer batteries, used power tools and light while it was running. But it didn't take long to break down due to its poor quality (made in china), so soon we were again in darkness.
One of the first things that we have bought on our arrival was a gasoline generator, with which we loaded computer batteries, used power tools and light while it was running. But it didn't take long to break down due to its poor quality (made in china), so soon we were again in darkness.
I will not go much into detail on the variety of systems that generate renewable energy, I just want to highlight the three options we have considered.
Little petrol generator to charge computers and have light occasionally.
It's not a sustainable system but can work in times of transition until we can afford a better solution, the big cons are the money cost, pollution, oil global problems.
Solar PV system and wind turbine system
One of this we think is the most appropriate for a long term solution, just need at the beginning some economic investment and after little maintenance.
If you want to know in detail the analysis our home electric system, check out the muddyfingers project nine by clicking (here).
Little petrol generator to charge computers and have light occasionally.
It's not a sustainable system but can work in times of transition until we can afford a better solution, the big cons are the money cost, pollution, oil global problems.
Solar PV system and wind turbine system
One of this we think is the most appropriate for a long term solution, just need at the beginning some economic investment and after little maintenance.
If you want to know in detail the analysis our home electric system, check out the muddyfingers project nine by clicking (here).
Waste Mgmt
Toilet
We are thinking that the best option in our situation is the bucket toilet, because we are only three people and it is easy to manipulate.
Below are two videos that I found interesting about bucket toilet system. My partner Nim has dedicated one of his diploma project to our toilet, click (here) and read her detailed analysis. |
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