Friday, February 4, 2011

Waste water systems.

I am a little bit behind this month with my blog. A lot of interesting stuff happening at the moment that has taken my attention away from it.

I am putting together some keynote presentations to try and hopefully get a really good Finnish foundation WOIMA-Säätiö - http://www.woimasaatio.fi (Use google translate to get the English version), interested in helping us put together a seminar in natural gray and black water management systems here in Finland. Its been really interesting and I have spoken with people in about 5 different countries. I have gone through willow plantations to concrete walls with drawers that hold plantlife in them, to brilliant wetpark systems to regular sand filtration systems. I have also been looking at so many different toilet systems and compost systems,(more of that in my other blog post). I didn't know that there were so many different companies creating these. Its been a really interesting few weeks of research, and every system was well thought out and well planned. It makes me think that the world is changing for the better. It is becoming easier to search and find the natural things you need for your home.
I remember 6 years ago when we built our home here in Finland, searching the internet with my wife Charlotta and trying to get hold of natural paints and pigments, or ecological wools, water systems and it was difficult. Hence the reason I began the Natural Building Company with my friends. We thought we have to make it easier for others to get good products and advice and services. The journey so far has been amazing.

Below are some fantastic links to different sites on water treatments. I especially like the ones using willow plantations by Peder Gregersen in Denmark and Folke Günthers ideas from Sweden. Please take a closer look and if you have any more systems that you know of please let me know. There are many more but I especially liked these two.

http://www.pilerensning.dk
www.holon.se

Compost and seperating toilets

During my research on waste water treatment in the last few weeks, I of course came across different toilets also and I just wanted to share them with you. I think that tthe type of toilet and system is very important to get right in your home. Afterall if you are going to build a beautiful natural home wouldn't it only be right to complete it with a long lasting natural waste water system. These systems then must start with the type of toilet you use.

Here are some examples and some links to different manufacturers and their ideas.

The Naturum http://www.biolan.fi
Naturum







Biolan dry separating toilet
Biolan Separating Dry Toilet also at http://www.biolan.fi


Separting toilets
There are many variations.
They can be found from a number of different companies.
They could easily replace the normal flush toilets used today and therefore  save millions of liters of water everyday.

WC-DUBBLETTEN wet sperating toilet




This example can be found at http://www.dinvvsbutik.se/dubblettenseparerandewc-p-78256.html





There are so many more out there with different shapes and sizes, from vacuum toilets that suck all the waste to a composting box (as seen below right), or with a container in the cellar directly below the separating toilet using compost worms in it to speed up composting process(below left).

You just have to decide which one is best for you..

Worm composting


envirolet vacuum compost toilet
















I am now able to offer you Biolan products. So if you would like to know more about Biolans products and you do not have a Biolan dealer in your country please contact me for more information and prices, including shipping.

Thank you

Have you got something you would like to share and talk about??

If you have something you would like to talk about related to Natural Building why not send it here to me and I can post it up for you..

There  is a big movement at the moment and a lot of energy in the Natural Building world and these are very exciting times. Let me know about your project.

Here is the link to a blog from Steve Page in Australia who contacted us recently about his project there.

http://www.ourstrawbalehouse.blogspot.com/

Like everyone who is building their own Straw Bale home he is very excited about his project. Well done to Steve.
Nice blog too.

European Straw Bale Gathering 2011 Czech Republic. More information.

Here is the invitation and information from the ESBG11 team.

Dear  European ‘Straw Baler’,


Whether you are involved in straw bale building as a builder, architect, engineer, researcher, educator or apprentice, the ESBG is the central event for sharing latest developments, while also meeting and networking with your peers.

We’re delighted to host this year’s bi-annual gathering at the PermaLot Centre of Natural Building in the Czech Republic. You’ll be in the midst of our certified organic land trust, and we aim to continue the initial tradition of making ESBG one of the most environmental and socially sustainable international trade gatherings in existence.

                                     Please find more information here
                         http://permalot.org/files/u2/files/straw_invitation.pdf

The price is kept low, which means it does not include sufficient overhead for discounts or scholarships. We encourage those of you in a good financial situation to consider to support those not able to afford the ESBG; Please write your offer and need to us, and we'll try to match up the rich with the poor...This has to happen before 15/03 2011.

For more information please contact the ESBG11 team,  esbgteam@gmail.com



Hope to see many of you here!...

The ESBG Team

Call for volunteers in Holland

Call for volunteers in Holland
on SUSTAINABLE, EXPERIMENTAL, building-project.

IN SPRING THE SECOND PART OF A CHALLENGING BUILDING EVENT IS TAKING PLACE IN HOLLAND.

Please share within your network...... THANK YOU!

Ecodorp Brabant (www.ecodorpbrabant.nl) is building an experimental passive house with volunteers on the premises of

“De Kleine Aarde” in Boxtel near the town of Den Bosch.

For details of the project click the buttons: “bouwen” and “voortgang” of the website, www.ecodorpbrabant.nl
There is text in English, click the flag of Brittain.
We all speak Englisch, and other languages, so you will feel at home.

You can find picture of the building on this website, http://picasaweb.google.com/advlems

The aim of the project is:
To show that sustainable building is possible;
To demonstrate sustainable building methods, materials and technology that work.
To demonstrate that sustainable building is possible at a fair price;
To prove ourselves that we are capable of managing such a project and to experience it.
It was only in january 2010 that the plan to build was born, and this was followed by a large
gathering where we made together an overall design of the project.
This was done with the use of Dragon Dreaming, a project-facilitation method where success is guaranteed from the start.
An architect was fascinated by our ideas and joined us, by creating a beautiful plan that
was embraced by all.

#Subsidy was applied for, and granted in July 2010.
#Many enterprises and organisation in Holland promised and gave their support.
#We applied for a building licence which was granted in no time.

So we started in July with the foundations and by the end of October we finished the wooden skeleton of the building and part of the roof. We are continuing building again on the 19th of March 2011.
We invite volunteers (international) who would like to come and participate in this rather
unique but professional building experience.
Preparing food, caring for children, building and entaining is mutually prepared every day
by all participants. You can choose what you like!

We have a camping site (free) and great vegetarian food (free).
Possibly there is a chance that you can rent a room/bed for a low price, but this is still to be arranged.

Please mail to: bouwen@ecodorpbrabant.nl
and let us know if and when you to would like to come and join the party, or if you have any questions.
Love to meet you soon!

Rolf Grooten
Facilitator Ecodorp Brabant.
Tel. 00 31 (0)6 107 59 765