Main principle addressed: Radically lower the cost of the entire housing delivery process
5) Description of housing product/service offering: Life Synthesis LLP will act as provider and consultant of SolaRoof Technology projects.
SolaRoof is an Open Source low-cost method for "do it yourself" (DIY) construction of effective climate controlled lightweight structures that provides renewable and sustainable supplies of essential resources such as water, food and energy generated within the building systems. Going beyond basic shelters, SolaRoof designed built environments deliver comfortable as well as productive environments for plants, livestock and people.
Life Synthesis LLP aims to shelter residential communities within SolaRoof systems. This includes replacing conventional resource and energy intensive climate control systems with new and dynamic structures that capture and use solar energy by bringing daylight and plants into buildings. These ecologically designed, low cost SolaRoof structures use energy capture, storage, and cooling methods to incorporate plants, water and water based liquids, creating an integrated ecosystem within the building itself.
SolaRoof is both accessible and affordable to those living in poverty, but at the same time desirable to the affluent.
Due to traditions and the scale of the challenge, self-built homes need to be the main focus of new patterns of sustainable construction methods. Therefore training will include replicable training efforts that will be given to qualified applicants within targeted communities. These trainees will be supported by a global online community, and our social enterprise framework.
Our Open Source approach gives end-users maximum benefit and control, while allowing suppliers to compete to offer the components and materials at the lowest possible cost.
Aid dependency is addressed by using SolaRoof Technology as a way forward to new patterns of self-reliant, ecological and sustainable living that can create life with dignity, and prosperity for all.
6) Description of innovation: SolaRoof methods facilitate an integrated approach to development and design based on principles of biomimicry. Our approach is truly ecological, and we believe SolaRoof is a necessary, proactive and novel approach to climate change. The versatility, adaptability and holistic approach to the issues involved is innovative in it's own right.
SolaRoof as a unique method of utilisation and interaction of solar energy, water workings and plant processes, depends on transparent roofs/building envelopes to enable two key processes; Liquid Cooling and Liquid Bubble Insulation/Shading.
SolaRoof is suitable for most types and uses of structures and can: Stand independently from an existing building to form an additional roof/superstructure; be added to the exterior of a roof or a wall; be part of or fully form roof or wall/s of new buildings; or replace existing features.
Various designs are possible combining SolaRoof with other technologies. Our team has in-depth experience with low cost DIY construction methods using rammed earth block and lightweight concrete components. Where other building methods use on-site aggregates, production and construction can take place below a SolaRoof cover to be protected from the wind, sun and rain.
Key SolaRoof benefits include:
- Versatility and cost of materials and uses;
- Elimination of hot roof disadvantages;
- Dramatic reduction of heat loss (R value of <30-40);
- Water recirculation, purification and desalination;
- Efficient food production;
- Maximum use of natural light;
- Dynamic and space effective energy production;
- Effective temperature and humidity control;
- Symbiotic relationship to nature that’s mutually beneficial;
- Realistic potential for self-sufficiency within a small area.
The above attributes of SolaRoof enable the transition into living with full ecological life support gradual and stress free; without unnecessary need for uprooting supportive social communities.
Bubbles in south side for shading: look carefully at the left side to see bubbles while the right side of the greenhouse tunnel is empty
7) Benefits to clients: We encourage sharing of these best practices at our interactive development site http://www.solaroof.org and our discussion forum at the Yahoo Groups site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solaroof/. These sites are linked with many other sustainable development groups and initiatives. A online social enterprise and e-learning framework, will expand the existing SolaRoof internet community, providing support to start up, develop and promote projects.
Several collaborators are focused on establishing networks of educational community centres for sustainable development, both in the developed and the developing world.
Dream Farm developed by the Institute of Science in Society is based on Professor George Chan’s Integrated Farming & Waste Management System. Prof. Chan is linked with ZERI (Zero Emission Research Initiatives) and has over 40 years experience developing it in over 70 countries.
Another example is the One Village Foundation - a US based NGO - now seeking to establish several Multi-purpose Community & Unity Centres Africa. This is part of a larger effort to work with the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) to further develop the existing GEN Africa chapter.
Other linked networks with particular focus on the Open Source methodology are Global Villages, Open Leader, Open Co-op, Open Source Ecology and Demo Tech to list a few.
The above together with many aligned businesses - of which Nottingham University, Max Fordham, Alcoa and The Alom Group are key - will raise awareness and credibility.
Commercial projects will contribute to the cost of implementation and production within poor communities though an Honour Payment system. This open source approach is designed for DIY and grassroots production and ideal for small enterprise development. Another key advantage to the SolaRoof system is that parts can be manufactured with minimum industrial infrastructure, resulting in value added local production and significant job creation.
8) Key operational partnerships: Key commercial partners:
- Nottingham University School of Built Environment, UK - Head of School Prof. Riffat;
- Max Fordham, Engineers, UK – Senior Director Mr. Watts;
- The Alom Group, Malaysia - Director Mr. Yiin.
Life Synthesis with the above partners form a global consultancy committed to R&D, design, manufacturing, delivery, sales and marketing. These partners are central to our expansion and credibility within the industry, government and funding bodies.
Partners planning to co-launch SolaRoof pilot projects:
- One Village Foundation, US – refining and developing best practices for emerging markets and adopting Solaroof into Unity Centre scheme that includes training, health care, ICT, business incubation, etc;
- Khutso Foundation, South Africa - set in the Waterberg Biosphere, is dedicated to showcasing - through environmental solutions - the empowerment of impoverished African communities in transforming the poorest of the poor;
- Gamspirit, The Gambia – exploring best practices for ecotourism with minimum footprint and maximum local involvement such as with SolaRoof designs that are included in ecovillage, spa and farming aspects of the project;
- Institute of Science in Society, UK – dedicated to the promotion of sustainable & integrated farming practices in the UK and other parts of the world.
South Korean SolaRoof Tunnel
9) Financial model: Mechanisms for ensuring affordability of SolaRoof technologies will depend on each particular project. However in our projects, we are planning Community centres as a central point for organizing commmunity based social enterprises. These enterprises promoting local economic development taking direct or indirect advantage of SolaRoof technologies will lead to income growth that will make these housing developments more affordable.
This scheme of dramatically increasing agricultural and infrastructure productivity and efficiency will ensure the affordability of our products to low income marginalized populations in the target regions.
SolaRoof low cost housing because it is closely linked with income generation, will be used to fund and/or subsidize housing for workers.
• Costs as percentage of income: 200
• Financing: Initially, we rely on finance from private sources, though our own commercial activity and funding bodies. As our technology enables productivity, it is geared towards profitability, and consequently self-sustaining. The expenses of set-up can in most cases comfortably be paid back within 1-2 years, and thus make finance available to new users. As our structures are protective against climate change, pests, drought, floods etc, the potential for secure livelihoods are far greater than with traditional farming methods, and up to 10 times more productive than field production.
As a social enterprise with a unique and innovative approach to poverty alleviation, we will also approach all significant NGOs and individuals, media, internet as well as use carbon credit schemes to boost funding.
10) Effectiveness
• Project outcomes: SolaRoof concept has been validated by several proof of
concept greenhouses.
There are 500+ members of the global community and many of
these are considering and planning to build SolaRoof
structures. Many more would like to get involved in other
ways. The SolaRoof Community is not a business, but
encourages leadership by individual and group initiatives.
The method of collaborative and grassroots activity has
often been effective where governments and universities have
lacked in action.
The next step is therefore to complete pilot projects for
hands-on experience and training, and finalise initial
supply chain management systems. Life Synthesis will
encourage, enable and promote the Community so it can keep
growing in parallel to our other activities.
• Number of clients in past year: We estimate that hundreds have benefited from our online
activity at our public forum, and several functional
projects have been built,for example:
www.solarbubblebuild.com. We also worked with www.ecoshelter.org
• Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: 50
• Potential demand: The potential and realistic demand for SolaRoof structures is enormous, and too vast to quantify in currency or number of clients!
Our market is truly global as SolaRoof is adaptable to all climates and all cultures, and can be applied in rural as well as urban settings.
With the effects of global warming and climate change are becoming increasingly noticeable and to many life-threatening, we aim to be prepared to tackle demands for energy efficient buildings as well as house displaced environmental refugees (expected to be 50 million within the next couple of decades).
Additionally, we aim to improve any house that is not currently providing adequate protection against the elements, for humans, animals and plants!
Overall market is therefore potentially much greater than 5 million people/several billion dollar industry.
The tomato crop
11) Scaling up strategy
• Stage of the initiative: Start Up stage.
• Expansion plan: Rapid and effective diffusion include:
- Complete and promote several notable SolaRoof greenhouses.
- Undertake large-scale projects for desalination and energy production in Malaysia and Spain including components complimentary to low cost housing projects.
- Guide housing projects in planning through to completion, and establish on-site training.
- Design 20-30 houses for government of Oslo, Norway;
- Assist with set-up of Dream Farms;
- Assist with set-up of Unity Centre with One Village Foundation;
- Continue work to alleviate poverty and design mobile transitional shelters also suitable for environmental refugees (The Rotary is on standby to fund such shelters);
- Fundraise and promote technology.
Rapid expansion of DIY implementation is anticipated once the initial proof of concept stage is completed within the next three years.
12) Origin of the initiative: SolaRoof is based on the work and inventions of Richard
Nelson and a background and list of IP is available at
http://www.solaroof.org/wiki/SolaRoofGuy.
The technology has been research extensively for greenhouse
applications the last two decades, but previously with a
proprietary approach.
Since 2000, an Open Source approach was adopted, and work
initiated to supply know-how for independent exploitation,
with intent to refine an Honour Payment structure through
Creative Commons Public License to provide support to
developing countries.
The project escalated in response to the tsunami of December
2004, and the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005.
Tropical SolaRoof Garden provides shelter and shade from living leaf canopy of plants, which can cool and provide food
Contact Information:
Richard Nelson
Director, Inventor, Entrepreneur
Life Synthesis LLP
(Social Ethical Enterprise, Network Coordinator and Holding Company)
140 Hayling Road
United Kingdom
Tel: 44 (0)7985 193731
Email: solaroof@yahoo.com
Untitled
View All Comments: Post a new comment
Untitled
Great people think alike
Posted August 12 '06, 2:01:28
I think this is a great idea. It will most certainly complement innovative ideas like, RE: www.nkozihomes.co.za & www.kitchengarden.co.za - Something Africa needs.
- PropertyGuru
lowest cost versus lowest sustainability cost
Posted August 15 '06, 0:48:36
(Reply to: "Great people think alike")
Has anyone got a checklist? When www.habitatjam.com held a 3-day session last December on testimonies from over 50 countries among those who worked to try and end slums in cities, it became clear that much traditional development funds has either recreated more slums or made the bottom of the pyramid's life even less viable.
In parallel, this Charlie Rose interview with Indian filmstar Shabana Azmi http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4022937036079961965&q=type% 3Asv_charlierose you need to move the video on to minute 35.25 since her interview is the last 20 minutes of a 2-part segment : "I grew up in a family that believed that art should be used for social change...." is particularly stunning.
If you are short of time and need to get to the slum segment it starts around minute 40.15 seconds (but I do recommend the whole segment as it explains how in playing unusual film roles she has become the heroine of the poor and of Muslim inclusion)
She criticises the "affordable but unsustainable" policy of relocating slumdwellers outside cities, as these peoples still have to be in the city to have any chance of getting work. I understood she is making this debate a lifetime cause concern. I rather wish she could have been involved in changemakers judging somehow; and I would also like to know whether any other famous people are lending their name to dramtaising the advocacy of sustainable building
She has become in her own words a bridge between the grassroots activist and people in government who have asked for her testimonies. The end of her interview turns to India's world leading solutions for Muslim inclusion (her faith too) -most inspiring! Perhaps one day a subsection of Skoll's and Ashoka's Global Academy http://www.dvd.ashoka.org could include interviews that have already been made where famous people are up for bringing changemaker themes to broadcast and query whether top-down government is missing a really simple clue of deep public service .
In case you are wondering, this does also come back to architecture's power to inflence minds with design that is unforgetable when you say how it works in situ and makes a living differnce to pattern rules. Because in a world where broadcasters know how to capture bad news visually, they seem so often to have lost the imagination to capture good news visually. Buildings are an antidote (with exciting narrators guiding you round them) because they can be very visual - particularly if a filmstar with Azmi's passion would agree to be the guide.
- chris macrae valuetrue.com
Educational connections between sustainability solutions to poverty and climate
Posted August 12 '06, 7:21:11
Extreme climate and lack of water seem to be a primary correlator of systemic poverty traps around the world. If teachers and school-children were to debate whether there are any open worldwide (social entrepreneur) networking solutions to this challenge, what if anything would SolaRoof architects ask teachers to introduce into such a debate.
- chris macrae
A NEW WORLD ORDER!!!
Posted August 13 '06, 3:26:13
Wow! Wow! Wow! I am honored to make your acquaintance and learn about your projects. I love it! I love it, I love it. I still need to thoughly go through and study all your material in depth and am very keen to confer and explore the synergies as we share the same visions and missions. Your new fan in South Africa Joseph Feigelson
- Joseph Feigelson
Thinking and living out of the box!
Posted August 23 '06, 7:45:41
This is revolutionary and what we need to stay optimistic in a world in chaos!!! Solaroof Technology is a solution for affordable housing that not only also is comfortable in extreme climates, but at the same time offers ways to become self-sufficient in food, water and potentially fuel as well - on very little land and even in the desert! How can we better embrace the future than to bring nature (and natural light) into our living space to help us protect it gracefully, rather than separate us from it and destroy to survive. Nature is the best teacher, but some times we need geniuses like Richard Nelson to point out the lessons for us! I am convinced Solaroof is the future - and can save us from many wars due to scarcity!
- Anne Wirstad
Reply to Anne: Affordable AND DIY!
Posted August 25 '06, 10:06:40
(Reply to: "Thinking and living out of the box!")
Hi Anne – thanks for your comment and I appreciate that you would like to increase awareness of how revolutionary SolaRoof is – so, I would like to build on your comment by suggesting a few ways in which our design delivers extraordinary benefits that may not be very obvious to most people because of they have not seen or experienced living in such an environment.
I suggest that in general people like and prefer four square walls and a roof, which is generally flat. The flat roof makes it easy to construct multi level living space and land everywhere is in short supply and therefore living space becomes more affordable by exploiting vertical space in urban situations. SolaRoof is compatible with all these visible trends and can enhance the quality of urban, higher density human habitat.
What is interesting, but still not revolutionary is to have low cost methods that use local materials and resources (including labor) to build multi floor structures because this gives the home owner more available living space at zero land cost. For example a traditional raised floor in Sarawak ( East Malaysia ) is a grid of bamboo poles and slats that is raised to give access to the ground level beneath the living space. This interface with the earth is obtained at low cost but more important than the low cost is the improved use of the available land resource. It allows income to be produced by enabling a sheltered workshop or a space for livestock, which can make an ongoing contribution towards sustainability within available limited resources and means.
What is revolutionary about SolaRoof is a similar value found in how we work with the interface of the roof a building with the sky! Conventional roofs cost a good deal and only provide shelter from weather. The cost of such a roof seems unavoidable and we do not think about it. All over the world you see the conventional urban “roofscape” that has replaced the landscape. About this roofscape I have written (see http://www.solaroof.org/wiki/SolaRoof/HotClimates):
“Conventional buildings have a greater energy demand and environmental impact than the transportation sector but there is little effort to advance the technology of building design. They are our largest possessions and investments yet they produce no yield, return or benefit other than shelter (and sometimes – comfort – depending on our level of spending). The solar energy that is received by the roof areas of buildings on the average exceeds by about 8 times the energy consumed for a building’s heating cooling and lighting. But buildings are not adapted to harvest this energy. The roof construction is generally opaque although artificial lighting is exclusively dependent on electricity – our most costly form of energy. Water is precious, yet rarely is there any urban or building design priority given to the efficient collection of rainfall. Food in cities is in great demand but the urban landscape is bare roofs, concrete and asphalt – a desert that overheats in the sun. The urban rooftop space is a resource that is unused, close at hand and of great value.”
Furthermore our urban roofs and paved surfaces generate the “heat island effect” of cities and this problem will become more and more extreme as Global Warming accelerates. Cities will become so hot as to endanger people’s lives, especially poor people who cannot afford air conditioning. Dubai or Phoenix are livable because of wealth that is expended on mechanical air conditioning consuming non-renewable energy resources and when exhausted this livability will be at and end. Can our society afford these types of habitat? Should our criteria be what is affordable to certain populations or would it be wiser to assess what is affordable to the planet?
The combination of Climate Change and resource depletion (“Peak Oil”) should give rise to a new vision of what is “affordable” and this new definition must connect with sustainable living solutions. What is revolutionary about SolaRoof is that it is providing a practical and positive way forward into this “unknown territory”. SolaRoof is teaching and pioneering new methods, working with water and living plants (the BlueGreen solution) at the roof level of buildings that will enhance your quality of life – that is a revolution if it is affordable to all!
I apologize that it is difficult to take this all in and really comprehend the significance of the SolaRoof method because our approach is very innovative and uses technology that most people have never seen. However, our method is sufficiently low in cost and DIY in approach as to appeal to more and more “pioneers”, who are building projects that prove the new patterns – these are our changemakers.
- Richard Nelson
Transparency
Posted September 8 '06, 6:39:05
(Reply to: "Reply to Anne: Affordable AND DIY!")
For transparency, it needs to be disclosed that Anne Wirstad, Chris McRae Phillip Lee and others work for or with Richard Nelson, SolaRoof and Life Synthesis.
- TransparencyGuy
Transparency
Posted September 10 '06, 8:58:05
(Reply to: "Transparency")
To correct the post of the Transparency Guy, Life Synthesis has no employees and nobody is working for me but they are collaborating with me, each for their own conviction about SolaRoof. Chris for example is very networked around the globe and in living in DC, USA, from where he has be acting as an "ambassador" for the solaroof community. Anne has a large network and extensive independent activity and I have supported supported her work financially but I think that it is not appropriate to say more than that. I have disclosed that we have done work for Ecoshelter, which is a project of Tsunami Relief, a register charity.
I am inviting a very wide network of the SolaRoof friends and supporters to visit and comment and I am proud to have worked with and have had many wonderful associations. I am certain that those people who in fact have some first hand knowledge of our technology are especially the ones who are partnering with me and LifeSynthesis (remember we are in a start up phase and have no "true customers" but rather collaborative investment/development opportunities) are most able to comment to clarify or raise points of interest not really covered within the text of the entry.
This is a very innovative style of openness in a competition - that allows comments on all entries. Usually the number and details of a competition are not publicly available and not available to the other authors. Plus allowing the authors to revise the entries upto a given date and benefit from all the interaction of all the other participants. I think this is very elightened and and example of "working openly". This becomes therefore a process that is very transparent.
- Richard Nelson, Founder, SolaRoof & Director, LifeSynthesis LLP, London
transparency from chris macrae
Posted September 10 '06, 18:53:36
(Reply to: "Transparency")
If working on world change means that I have studied and reported it for over 22 years then yes mea culpa . If however the poster who introduced the transparency thread is claiming that I am paid to support any project in this competition, then he is utterly mistaken and might feel it suitable to apologise.
You can see that I "work on" ranking 30000 social change projects http://project30000.blogspot.com - of which I do find a handful from solaroof very inspiring of their kind
if you go back to the book I co-authored in 1984 http://normanmacrae.com/netfuture.html , on challenges to the world's sustainability that the first networked generation will need to reconcile, you will see that regarding clean energy - it was our science editor's advice then and now that photosynthesis-type methods need the utmost priority. The fact that we are now over 10 years behind where we could be on this due to the extremely non-transparent behaviours of the global petrochemical sector is an inconvenient truth of extraordinarily dangerous compound proportions https://www.theclimateproject.org/Grassroots_Training_Program.html
Do please tell me of networks which are emulating solaroof with respect to practitioners (be they architects or any kind) embracing photosynthesis, and I will be overjoyed by the news, and cheer it everywhere I converse. If the only innovation on clean nature we can offer the world depends on scarcity/reduction, the prospects for my 9 year old daughter's generation are very bleak and non-transparently political indeed. If we can get round to photosynthesis energy which cleans as it is used, we innovate a higher order of transparency and sustainability in which we can all be as productive as we wish. Transparency, photosynthesis and open learning are the 3 deepest value multipliers of all our futures within my compass of knowledge. I meet hundreds of changemakers in tehse 3 areas per month because mathematically our models since 1984 show that we are not yet improving the chnaces that yere will be a 22nd century for anyone.
Perhaps the person who started the transparency thread would like to name themselves, chris.macrae@yahoo.co.uk . It would be really interesting to understand what chnagemaking view of the world they spend their time on
- valuetrue.com transparency mapmakers
Truely awesome!!! A real changemaker in the making!
Posted August 25 '06, 10:16:08
Whaw!! This is mindblowing!!! I have studied many forms of ecologial and affordable building techniques, but this beats them all! I want a Solaroof house, and I want the people of places I have visited all over the world; that suffer from cold nights and hot days, lack of drinking water and ability to produce their own food - also to be able to build one! I read your 'Community Vision' statement on the Solaroof site, and will pray for a Solaroof movement to happen NOW. I will try to make my own in the desert of Spain! Good luck!!!
- Kirk Olson
Thanks for your Support of this Effort!
Posted September 6 '06, 13:32:37
It has been great working with the LifeSynthesis team to put this together. Thanks especially to Rick and Anne for their hard work in getting this process to where it is today. The effort that was made in putting this together and meeting the deadline is very much appreciated. I look forward to further developing this concept into reality as a partner of LifeSynthesis and representative of oneVillage Foundation.
With that in mind I think we should continue to seek out funding for our work to move the process forward in a rapid and momentous way - for the reasons mentioned below.
75% of the world has little or no access to water/food, so it is very important to go beyond simply providing affordable housing. The key problems in developing countries are the lack of drinking water, improper sanitation, properly designed low cost shelters, renewable energy sources, healthy food supplies and effective information systems to diseminate best practices to address these serious challenges. By offering an integrated solution, SolaRoof building systems not only provides low cost housing for the poorest of the poor but also can - if applied in the most effective and innovative way - can address the issues above as part of a comprehensive development approach.
I am excited by the possibilities that SolaRoof offers to the world and honored to be a part of the process of making it a reality in our lives and the lives hopefully of many others around the world.
Jeff Buderer oneVillage Foundation www.onevillagefoundation.org jeff@onevillagefoundation.org
- Jeff Buderer
building for all seasons
Posted September 7 '06, 0:01:07
Could you give us an example summary of what the same solaroof tunnel can do in opposite extreme seasons? Also can I confirm that tunnels are just one of the building shapes solaroof architectures are designed round - though evidently one which could be a natural community centre if an estate of tens or hundreds of solaroof buildings were integrated into a redevelopment plan, particularly one relevant at times of restoration after a natural disaster?. (Please re-edit that if I am misconstruing! the exciting pictures you have exhibited here and some alternative styles I have seen elsewhere)
- chris macrae
All season comfort - is it affordable?
Posted September 7 '06, 6:00:48
(Reply to: "building for all seasons")
Chris, as your comment suggested, the form (structural shape) is not critical to the SolaRoof design and many different structures can be addapted to our methods for Liquid Bubble Insulation & Shading. Most advanced structure design will use a form of geodesic structure that can be a tunnel or dome shape. I refer you to this example: http://bfi.org/node/474 - where we see a tunnel style.
These structures will typically have only one covering skin. The SolaRoof method requires two layers of cover with a cavity space between. However, the covering material for these tent like structures is very low cost and therefore, providing two skins is not expensive. Then using the Liquid Bubbles between the covering layers is enabled.
For hot climates (Katrina victims) and cold (the Pakistan Quake victims) it is impossible to be comfortable and stress free within the typical single skin structures that are supplied in emergencies. We need to transition to more "liveable" shelter systems. That is where, for a low added cost, the SolaRoof Technology come into play. We have several tunnel greenhouses that have used SolaRoof Technology in very cold and severe winters - and so it is reasonable to conclude that this low energy method would bring good results to human habitat needs.
Most people have probably experienced how a tent can be frigid at night and intolerably hot during a summer day. For refugees that often have no option but to live in such primitive conditions (giving rise to health problems and hopelessness) we propose that SolaRoof would provide a transition to a much better quality of life. Also, as others have pointed out, our structure enables food production by also growing (and sprouting) of plants within our controlled environments.
- Richard Nelson, SolaRoof, Founder
can anyone be a "two-skin" solaroof connector?
Posted September 7 '06, 12:10:07
Love the 2-skin metaphor. This may sound like a silly question but what per centage of building projects (or indeed architectural constructions in this competition) could adopt 2-skin on future buildings without destroying their own architectural integrity in other ways
I guess I a missing something but since I assume this competition is talking about fairly simple structures not the world's biggest buildings- is it easier or harder to integrate a solaroof into designs and constructions already on the drawing boards (as one hears for the first time about solaroof's 2 skins)??
- chris macrae
Excellent Initiative
Posted September 19 '06, 22:36:49
This Solaroof idea is an excellent idea. The possibilities to grow food cheapy and efficiently is something all of us most look at and pay attention. If we can do away with expensive chemical fertilizers and grow food natrually in this bubble type greenhouse, the capabilities to save money and invest & develop organic growing technologies is what could help thousands if not millions. Well done Ric keep up the good work
- Chris J
Return to Home Page