Solarpunk Urbanism

Greenery on walls can reduce a buildings heat loss by 30%, improve air quality, help absorb sounds, and can even reduce a cities temperature, so it is no wonder so many places are considering them.

Here are two options I think are interesting:

Vertical Meadows:

There is a bit of a terminology game here. Verticals gardens are sometimes found in wealthy office buildings, but they do nothing for local eco-systems and are often non-local tropical varieties of plants. Even for those found outside, the plants are often picked for appearance alone, instead of what would help local biodiversity.

In comparison, vertical meadows have a different goal. Vertical meadows (started in London, England) are outdoor vertical greenery walls that uses locally-grown native and seasonal plants, ensuring year-round options for wildlife like pollinators and birds.

The main problem with these setups is that they tend to require watering systems, which (even if rainwater collection is installed) can be rather costly.

More Info:

• https://youtu.be/Qyi_7HCVoPM
• https://youtu.be/OXUYZdfqq1Q

Moss Walls:

Companies like Respyre use upcycled bioreceptive concrete and a moss coating encourage moss-growth on any vertical surface without risk of damaging the buildings. Other companies(such as Green City Solutions) grow panels of moss, which can then be installed like tiles.

Due to moss being so inexpensive to incorporate, it is becoming a popular option.

For added benefits, moss is drought tolerant to a point, and can absorb 6x more C02 than other plants. Moss is basically a living filter, and can even filter arsenic out of water.

More info:

• https://youtu.be/cE02cQIVSAs
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tYG3MepUu0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tYG3MepUu0

However, moss can be hard to grow commercially(mostly due to the fact that they release spores instead of seeds), so many of the mosses people buy, especially those used for craft supplies, are illegally poached from the wild. If a little is left behind, moss typically can regenerate, but many harvesters simply roll up huge blankets of moss, leaving nothing behind. It is estimated that the mosses can take 10-20 years to grow back.

So, please research where the moss is sourced if you plan on buying any. If the company does not grow it themselves or does not mention where they source it, do not buy any.

I grabbed some quotes for those short on time. More details on everything are in the article.

In São Paulo’s favelas, low-income communities are building their own green roofs. These affordable vinyl sheet roofs were created by Teto Verde Favela, a nonprofit founded by local Luis Cassiano.

In place of traditional air-conditioning, Seville has turned to a 3,000-year-old solution. With the help of two scientists, the city in southern Spain is reviving a Middle Eastern technology: qanats, underground channels that transport water from higher to lower altitudes and drive the coolness upwards.

A simple approach to heat is helping Singapore address its urban heat challenges: painting buildings and other surfaces with reflective paint.

Munich’s climate-friendly cooling system utilizes natural energy from underground water streams. According to the city utility of Munich, Stadtwerke Muenchen (SWM), the use of these natural cold water streams has resulted in energy savings in the city of 70 percent compared to traditional cooling technology like air conditioning. Thanks to the city’s cooling system, more than 80,000 residents in Munich receive ecological energy.

https://reasonstobecheerful.world/cities-cool-down-creatively/

Pocket link

Have you ever wondered why so many large chain stores have two sets of doors? No, it is not just to store shopping carts.

Where I live, any home that is around 100 years old (that hasn't seen any renovations) will very likely have two front doors. Putting it simply, you open one door, step into a small space, and there will be another door in front of you.

(Image Sources: Image 1 | Image 2)

The space goes by many names, including: arctic entry, mud room, breeze room, vestibule, airlock, foyer, and more. For sake of simplicity, I am going to call them "entry vestibules."

Entry vestibules create a buffer between the outside and the inside of the building, preventing drafts. This can help greatly with temperature regulation in both the winter cold and summer heat. I can't find number details on energy saving, but the fact that large chains still build them may hint of their importance for money-saving.

In homes, this space also typically serves as the mud room ( a place for shoes and jackets).

In the name of "first impressions," and open concept designs, vestibules are often the first thing to go during renovations, and I think that's a real shame.

“Every year summers are hotter and heat waves more frequent, with cities suffering most. A network of climate shelters in Barcelona isn’t only making people more comfortable, it’s also saving lives.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZI4Rh_APFQ

https://youtu.be/620omdSZzBs

“How do you cool a building without air conditioning? Using an approach called biomimicry, see how architect Mick Pearce harnessed the ingenuity of termites to design a natural cooling system for the largest commercial building in Zimbabwe.”

Using the technology inspired by a termite mound, The Eastgate Centre in central Harare, Zimbabwe uses up to 35% less energy than other buildings.

Have you ever heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child?” Well, where I live, most people do not know the name of their next door neighbor.

This isolation can cause loneliness, but it is more than that. Having a community is helping people do jobs they can’t, it's lending tools, it's teaching someone something their parents never taught them, and more.

Luckily, there is a solution that is becoming common in both co-housing and eco-villages around the world. They utilize common areas or community centers, as well as outdoor spaces(such as courtyards or rooftop gardens). While you still have your private home with your own kitchen, you also have these spaces which are open to everyone.

Here are some ideas you might see in these common spaces:

• Indoor play area. In some, the retired senior citizens who like to keep busy volunteer to watch children in these areas while parents are at work.
• Dining room big enough to fit every person who lives there and guests.
• Community Kitchen. People take turns cooking, or they have occasional dinners together.
• Private office spaces (for work-from-home workers who still want to be around people).
• Tiny libraries.
• Outdoor play area.
• Outdoor sitting spaces.
• Community gardens and/or a greenhouse.

More Ideas:

• Window awnings which utilize passive solar, so the sun is blocked in the summer but not the winter
• A central courtyard for passive cooling. Examples: Skywells (China), Tsubo-niwa (Japan). Thevenin @beehaw.org adds that a retractable cover of some kind might be important to protect from wind pressure.
• Better insulation for better temperature control, and sound proofing.
• Bird-safe windows
• Rainwater collection for watering plants (or, the more expensive option: for piping into toilets)
• White roofs for cooling in hot climates, dark roofs for warming in cold climates

Recommended Video:

• https://youtu.be/mguvTfAw4wk

What else would improve apartment buildings?

Mycelium is a viable option in the search for ecologically friendly and sustainable building materials. Mushroom roots provide mycelium, a fungal substance made of fibers resembling roots and the vegetative portion of a fungus. The use of mycelium in constructing materials matches globally set targets concerned with persistence, henceforth offering an eco-friendly, renewable source that is also carbon-neutral, unlike common substances such as cement, plastic, and steel.

Mycelium is a type of fungal material obtained from mushrooms. The fungus fibers make up this fungal substance. It is made of hyphae, which are thin white filaments between which the fungi grow. It is used in construction to grow hyphal strands on organic substrates. The process starts by injecting fungal spores into the substrate, which then develop, spread, and bind together. This mixture is put into molds, and the required shapes and sizes are attained. After the substrate is completely covered with mycelium, it is dried to prevent further growth and to produce long-lasting material; this results in very tough, fireproof, and waterproof fibers from the mushroom root that are also environmentally friendly and decompose easily.

This article explores mycelium’s properties, its construction applications, examples of structures built using this innovative material, and the challenges and prospects.

Prior to when electricity became common place, people were looking for other ways to make life easier. One of these inventions, the solar water heater, came in 1760, and boomed with popularity in the 1900’s for warm areas.

“In 1891, Clarence Kemp released the first ‘Climax’ solar water heater in Baltimore. He placed several water-filled iron elliptical tubes inside the box in series with cold water entering one side and warm water exiting from the other end. Multiple tubes avoided warm and cold-water being in close proximity, thus avoiding adverse heat exchanges.” PassiveHousePlus

These early models did have faults (such as heat lost, and poor resistance to frost, but continued to improve and build with popularity over time.

Eventually, for a complex number of reasons, solar water heaters disappeared and gas and electric took the show.

Today, this tech is making a comeback, though with modern touches.

Videos with More Info:

• https://youtu.be/YdM9TgzRc9A
• https://youtu.be/fAyY0kGmgmc

This is an article that dates back from 2019 but I think it's pretty relevant still.

((Note: this is post of mine from a different site that is about a year old, but thought I would share it here too in case it helps anyone))

Old technology is once again getting attention, and this time it’s air-conditioners made out of terracotta clay.

“She was inspired by the Palestinian Jara, a traditional clay water container that is hung from the ceiling to cool water and cool the air. Specifically, the water contained in the hollow internal structure moves outward through the porous clay walls. With the heat of the air, it evaporates and is transformed into water vapor. This reaction absorbs heat from the surrounding air, cooling the water, the material itself and consequently the air in the room.” Forbes India In regards to Yael Issacharov.

There are two unrelated people currently being mentioned for promoting their designs using this technology; Monish Siripurapu(from India), and Yael Issacharov(from Israel).

Monish Siripurapu’s design is based off a beehive and uses a small pump to create a beautiful water fountain that both cools the air and can be used for gardening.

Yael Issacharov’s design uses no electricity, and instead relies on the naturally porous nature of the clay.

For dry and hot climates, this old technology could provide cooler air at an affordable price. The clay is readily available almost entirely world-wide, making it accessible and inexpensive.

"The humid clay traps some heat the air and the surrounding air gets cooled down to around 6-10⁰ C due to the process of evaporative cooling.“ EcoIdeaz in regards to Monish Siripurapu

Videos with more info:

• https://youtu.be/nt2oyaP2m6Q
• https://youtu.be/19JWhN1lK8E

Based on this information, I am wondering if a terracotta pot and a fan would have the same effect for a small room. Here's a drawing of mine to help explain what I mean:

^ (Image Source) ^

It is no secret that white reflects heat, and that is true for your roof as well. In fact, many hot climates around the world have been utilizing this knowledge for centuries.

“The darker the surface, the more the heating. Fresh asphalt reflects only 4 percent of sunlight compared to as much as 25 percent for natural grassland and up to 90 percent for a white surface such as fresh snow.” Yale

Other places have also started catching on. For example, even in 2012 in the USA, volunteers started painting tar roofs white in New York. However, this is not something trending everywhere. Some places are accustomed to dark colored roofs, so even in hot climates, they are slow to change.

This change will of course be easier in places where flat roofs are more common and ready to paint, but slanted roofs have options too.

For example, metal roofing is more environmentally friendly than shingles(100% recyclable), is more durable, and can last longer. What is more, the reflective properties of the metal can also help cool your homes. Some are now even made to look like tiles.

^(Image Source)^

There are other (more expensive) options as well, such as painted terracotta.

However, if these are not your style, solar panels on your roof may also reflect heat, so you could generate some power while you stay cooler.

“Solar panels “cool daytime temperatures in a way similar to increasing albedo via white roofs,” according to a study by scientists at the University of New South Wales. ”Yale

If you live somewhere cooler, I do not suggest a white roof, since the white can raise winter heating bills.

https://youtu.be/uhbDfi7Ee7k

This video by Technology Connections talks about how window awnings can greatly help cool your home.

Another thing I want to add is that window awnings can protect windows. We get pretty big hail here, and (wood or aluminum) awnings can save your window glass. I have also heard of “Clamshell Awnings” which are on hinges, so you can remove the poles and lower the awning to cover and protect windows in extreme weather.

Lastly, here are some old window awning ads for your entertainment (from Wikimedia commons)

Image Links: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3

Source: @joan_de_art

Text version vi BoredPanda.

Creator at Substack

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/10748432

Alternative Invidious Link

cross-posted from: https://feddit.de/post/12718654

Group of university students awarded plot after city hall passes plan for 15 to 20 cooperative projects

De Torteltuin, or “Dove Garden”, was born from an existential, if depressingly common, question. A group of young Amsterdammers, most still at university, looked into their futures and asked how they would ever afford to live in their own city.

“It was 2020, we were 22 or 23 years old,” said Iris Luden. “It was a dream. We were fantasising. What if we built our own place? We imagined a kindergarten, growing our own food … We got together every month to talk about it. But slowly, it happened.”

Amsterdam, the sought-after capital of a country in an acute housing crisis, is one of the toughest places in Europe to set up home. Private-sector rents are sky-high – €900 (£770) for a room in shared flat – and you can wait up to 20 years for social housing.

"It’s just so bad,” said Luden, an AI engineer fortunate enough still to be living in her old student accommodation. “People are just constantly on the move, once a year on average. You can’t settle. We wanted somewhere affordable. And a community.”

The group’s vision might have stayed a dream had city hall not passed a plan for 15 to 20 cooperative housing projects within four years, half of them self-built. The aim eventually is for 10% of all new Amsterdam housing stock to be cooperatively owned.

“We started to take things more seriously,” said Lukas Nerl, 28, another Torteltuin member. “We set up subgroups: financing, sustainability, the rest. We had to learn a lot, fast. We registered as an association, wrote a project plan. We applied.”

To their amazement, they were accepted – perhaps, said Nerl, precisely because of their youth, and because, as recent graduates, they might be assumed to be capable of navigating their way through a labyrinth of rules, regulations and bureaucracy.

They secured a team of architects with experience in non-profit cooperative projects, raised the money to pay them, and presented a plan for a four-storey, timber-clad, sustainably built block of 40 apartments, from studios to three-bedders.

Against stiff competition with other projects, De Torteltuin was awarded a plot 20 minutes from the city centre by tram and 45 minutes by bike, in IJburg, a new residential quarter slowly emerging on artificial islands rising from the IJmeer lake.

Through a mixture of loans from a bank and city hall, crowdfunding from friends and family and two bond issues, the 26-member group has raised almost €9m of the estimated €12 to €13m construction cost. With luck, work will begin by year-end.

The cooperative will own the building, with every resident paying a monthly rent, said Enrikos Iossifidis, another member. About a third of the apartments will qualify as social housing, while the most expensive – a family flat – should cost €1,200 a month.

"A decade ago it wouldn’t have been possible,” said Iossifidis. “Even now it’s been a rollercoaster ride: when building costs soared after Russia invaded Ukraine, there was a truly awful moment when we thought it might not happen after all.”

But by late next year or early 2026, the group should be thinking about moving into a carbon-neutral home complete with roof-top solar panels, communal spaces on each floor, guest rooms, a shared toolshed, a stage and a music studio in the basement.

Their adventure is not just about affordable housing, said Luden. “It is very much also about building a real community,” she said. “Some flats are being reserved for people who face even bigger housing challenges – asylum seekers, for example.”

De Torteltuin, said Nerl, “actually sets a vision of future city living. It’s not one of pollution, concrete, high-rises, speculation, ever-rising rents and more unaffordable mortgages. The new homes of the city will be social, sustainable – and affordable.”