#12013 DEC

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Contributors:

ewa | greentoolbox.orgHenrique GonçalvesJen Muir | platypusradio.wordpress.comJessica Massucco | tygerbeat.wordpress.comMorgan Henley

our words have lost their weightand we became lighter

and so it´s easier for us to cycle

by ewaillustrated by Vika M.

The Earthships

Earthship Brighton, England

In a period where the society is clearly dominated by technology and

concepts as automation, intelligent materials and smart devices are creating

paths for what could be the architecture of the future. At the same time,

doubts about the real efficiency, the true impact in the nature and

affordability of this type of constructions are being raised. In parallel there is

a cheaper, eco-friendly and low-tech approach, a new paradigm standing not

only for construction but also a philosophy of living, in harmony with nature.

Earthship is a type of house that combines natural and recycled materials,

created to function in the most independent way, applying the principles of

living off-the-grid. The energy comes mainly from natural resources,

minimizing the use of fossil fuels. The concept has been developed since the

1970s by the architect Michael Reynolds in the desert of New Mexico. And

the popularity of this type of building has increased in the past years,

propelled by economic crisis combined with the environmental awareness that

is emerging in our society.

The Earthship has some trademark features and a peculiar appearance

resulting from the use of recycling and natural materials. In our countries,

millions of tires, plastic bottles and cans are dumped every year. Besides

establishing as a good alternative to building houses, these materials also

provide stability and good insulation properties, plus the benefits of using

elements that already available, it makes a very smart, cheap and sustainable

option. Another asset is the low level of expertise necessary to build an

Earthship. It doesn’t require so much technical knowledge and a small group

of people can build one in few months. In terms of energy and insulation the

building is mainly powered by the sun and wind; the thick walls of tires filled

with dirt combined insulation panels provide and maintain a good room

temperature through the principles of “thermal mass” – it keeps the house

warm inside when it’s cold outside, and vice-versa. There is also an

innovative system to collect rainwater, with plants to filter and clean the

water that will be used in the bathrooms and toilets. This concept also

provides growing the own food, through techniques such as permaculture and

hydroponics, which allied to self-sufficiency of the building makes the

Earthship a very attractive building, giving plenty of freedom to the

occupants since generating income it’s not essential anymore.

Self-sufficiency system of the Earthship

Despite its low-tech features and primitive look, it is absolutely possible to

offer all the comfort of a modern house. In general Earthships are very

affordable compared to conventional houses; the average costs vary from

5.000 euro for the small ones to 50.000 euro for more fashionable models.

Nowadays Earthships are being built all over the world and Czech Republic is

no exception. After an experimental attempt in the region of Sázava, south

of Prague, a group of individuals decided to apply the same principles in the

center of the city of Prague. Starting in June of 2013, with help of several

volunteers and enthusiasts, the works are still ongoing.

Earthship in Prague, how it should look after its conclusion in 2014

The Earthship seems to be a good alternative to the conventional housing,

establishing as one of the most sustainable and accessible options that we

have, but its implementation success depends on many factors. First, some

technical aspects need to be improved, and second, the acceptance by

economical agents, corporations, and public opinion is fundamental - in the

documentary “Garbage Warrior” we see Michael Reynolds struggling with the

law and facing disproof by construction firms, architects and other influential

people.

Nevertheless, Earthship is undoubtedly a revolutionary concept and its

implementation in large scale would make radical changes in our society and

economy. Benefiting not only the nature, but also the human being would be

more free and master of his own space and environment.

Is EU Emissions Trading Just a Bad Carbon Hangover Cure?’- by Morgan Henley

Morgan Henley explains EU Emissions Trading Scheme and why it might not be the best way to address the carbon emissions problem.

Soj’we’all’know’that’the’world’is’emitting’way’more’CO2’than’the’we’can’handle’if’we’want’to’avoid’global’warming.’This’is’a’problem.’A’pretty’big’one’at’that.’One’way’to’look’at’itj’is’like’if’the’developed’world’had’basically’been’at’a’nonstop’party’for’the’past’two’centuriesj’using’whatever’dirty’en ergy’it’could’get’it’s’hands’on’and’not’looking’back.’They’again’and’again’continued’to’indulge’in’temptation’and’became’careless’about’emission’reductions.’This’was’a’self-destructive’pathj’and’they’knew’they’could’eventually’be’doing’serious’harmj’not’only’to’themselves’but’also’to’those’around’them.’

It’got’to’point’where’the’world’decided’they’had’a’problem.’Enter’the’Kyoto’Protocol’and’the’beginning’of’UN’Climate’Negotiations’in’1997.’So’all’of’the’countries’gathered’together’and’despite’a’giant’CO2’hangoverj’agreed’they’needed’to’create’some’rules’about’how’and’when’they’could’continue’to’emit’CO2.’One’of’the’old’party’animals’that’was’the’most’unhappy’with’their’current’behaviorj’was’the’EU.’They’were’supposed’to’be’the’world’s’role’modelj’the’big’brother’that’led’other’countries’down’the’right’path.’Maybe’it’was’just’the’ pangs’of’regret’that’usually’follow’a’big’partyj’but’the’

they’wanted’to’get’their’life’back’together’and’begin’a’a’cleanerj’greener’future.’To’get’back’into’shapej’they

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But)remember)how)we)got)into)t his)problem)in)the)first)place?)The)companies)in)the)EU)were)already)drinking)too)much)-emitting)too)much)CO2Y)and)now)we)invite)them)to)a)dinner)party)and)serve)them)wine.)Does)that)make)any)sense?)Alsoj)it’s)important)to)note)that)this)wine)is)free)to)be gin)with.)As)inj)in)the)beginning)of)the)EU)ETSj)the)EU)issued)out)these)permits)for)free.)And)lots)of)them.)So)manyj)that)today)they)are)nearly)worthless)and)companies)have)little)incentive)to)reduce)their)emissions)because)the)price)for)the)credits)is)so ) low.)Companies)aren’t)so)keen)on)reducing)their)carbon)emissions)if)they)can’t)make)any)money)off)it-)who)would’ve)thought?))

You)would)think)the)EU)would)be)a)better)hostj)but)they)are)so)distracted)trying)to)figure)out)who)drank)what)and)who)didn’tj)that)they)are)forgetting)the)most)important)aspect)of)this -)trying)to)encourage)companies)to)invest)in)cleanerj)renewable)energy.)Alsoj)by)the)end)of)the)nightj)when)everyone’s)had)a)few)glassesj)it)get’s)really)unclear)what)exactly)should)be)counted.)With)opt ions)like)offsettingj)companies)can)invest)in)developing)clean)energy)in)the)developing)worldj)and)that)should)make)up)for)the)pollution)that)they)are)doing)back)at)home.)Yet)measuring)the)impact)of)offsets)are)nearly)impossible)and)how)are)we)to)know)if)that)clean)energy)project)wouldn’t)have)been)developed)anyways)without)the)aid)of)the)dirty)energy)company? )

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Refrences can be found at iynf.org

¨HOW TO KNOW IF YOU´RE AN EN

ENVIRONMENTALIST?¨ TEST

by Jen Muir

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#1 | 2013, December /25