Owner approach of sustainability

4 years ago we decided to try a new concept of housing based on autonomy (water, energy, waste) and are thus reached the first independent urban habitat networks (and probably in the world, existing examples concern as villas or rural housing). The idea is to show that most of our needs can be covered hyper local level. Full autonomy (water, energy, waste), the total independence vis-à-vis integrated production networks and 50% of our vegetables have a major impact on the management of cities. Dams, water towers, sewage systems, energy distribution, substations, sewage treatment plants, water purification, production of electric power ... etc. : Maintenance of all these networks is so expensive that all accused major maintenance problems, including in developed countries. 40% of drinking water is lost in the endless pipes leak, and 15% of the electricity generated is dissipated by Joule effect. Energy independence, food and water is a major factor of international stability. After years of research, testing, proposals, this 100% autonomous house was made possible, offering amazing and fun areas and at very low costs. This fundamental first step allows to consider the autonomous city and the impact of this radically bioclimatic approach announce new paradigm of urban life in symbiosis with nature's cycles.

Architectural description

This 200m² property is designed according to specific rules: autonomy, respect for natural cycles, compactness and complexity. The main difficulty has been to achieve reproduce on a small scale and accelerated natural cycles (water cycle, cycle of organic matter, energy cycle) and then merge the various devices related to the conduct of these cycles within an architecture that integrates without hiding. This architecture, in addition to endorse these technical devices is innovative in terms of occupancy space strategy. Modular, it allows a real nomadism as needed (use change, transformation or reduction of spaces), the seasons, or the number of occupants (modification of the division). No fixed space to which a function is assigned; in this house everything changes and moves. The cybernetic approach is based on the relationship between the elements of a system in equilibrium. The items must be as simple as possible in the formal and constructive plan, but to establish the complex relationships between them. The goal is to increase opportunities for compatible inter-element relationships to achieve multiple formal combinations (some of which are not known to the designer). This results in a dynamic system, architecture, scalable and which potentially contains many spatial configurations. Materials used: the existing walls of earth / stone, wood and concrete high ceilings, insulation cork, intermediate floors in wood, steel doors and windows double glazed. Bioclimatic processes for autonomy: -2 Verrières totaling 24 m² double glazed for heating in winter. All windows are double glazed. -Walls Very high thermal inertia (earth / stone) -Isolation roof cork. -Recovery Rainwater in a cistern (40 m3) to power the entire house, after filtration and UV treatment Ultra microfiltration for drinking water. And filtration of gray water (aerobic reactor). Reusing treated water for watering the terrace (drip). Automatic dry -Toilet (ventilation and heating compost) -Robinetterie low water consumption (infrared). -tri Waste for composting -Potager terrace providing half the vegetables consumption. PV power -Power (5200 w / h / d) -Chauffe solar water 200l induction cooking -Plaque (low consumption). -Washing Machine powered by solar hot water (2/3 reduction in power consumption). -refrigerator High energy performance (300 w / h / d). Very low consumption -Lampes (yellow light). The house is organized as a triplex loft offering completely flexible spaces. On the ground floor there is a small garden lit by a large glass roof. Upon entering the premises we perceive the entire volume of the house with its different levels, as if we had to remove the walls to discover the spaces. In this garden is installed all the gray water treatment system as well as access to the well and the tank. A large white staircase leads to the upper level and leads to a lounge on the soft ground (tatami style) bathed in light thanks to a second hood. Hence, it flows in several spaces open to each other and closable, turn, change jobs ... A wooden staircase can be lifted and unlock the central space leads to another totally built level in wood. There are several convertible rooms connected by walkways. The bathroom is fully open and concealable through white blinds, floating above the tub in the garden. The dressing unfolds and becomes a real space or rather disappears and is no longer that of furniture. The terrace hosts the photovoltaic panels that also function of canopy dining area. On all edges fall fall vegetable garden and a welcoming flower pots for fruit trees. A small bedroom / living room is built on the terrace.

Energy consumption

• Primary energy need : 1,00 kWhep/m².an
• Primary energy need for standard building : 50,00 kWhep/m².an

Calculation method : Other

CEEB : 0.0007

• Initial consumption : 70,00 kWhep/m².an

Envelope performance

More information :

all the walls are built of mud and stone

Systems

Heating system :
• Others
• No heating system
Hot water system :
• Solar Thermal
Cooling system :
• No cooling system
Ventilation system :
• Natural ventilation
Renewable systems :
• Solar photovoltaic
• Solar Thermal
• Renewable energy production : 100,00 %

1075Wc of photovoltaic panels, a 150V / 70A max regulator, 5kVA UPS (220V), 6 batteries totaling 1320Ah. solar water heater 200L thermo-siphon without electrical resistance.

Solutions enhancing nature free gains :

greenhouse effect produced by the two windows of 24m² in DV. Radiation earthen walls in winter.

Life Cycle Analysis

Eco-design material : earth walls / stone, wood floors (spruce), cork insulation Morocco

Water management

• Consumption of grey water : 60,00 m³
• Consumption of harvested rainwater : 60,00 m³

The entire water supply comes from rainwater collected in an underground tank of 90m3 located in the garden of the ground floor.

Comfort

Health & comfort : The house was designed so that natural light penetrates everywhere. Unlike traditional houses of the medina, often damp, dark and cold in winter, impossible to heat, thermal comfort is immediately perceived here as soon as you pass the threshold. The 2 large double glazed removable canopies allow natural heating in winter thanks to the greenhouse effect when closed; they restore function to open patios with natural ventilation. In this house, we wanted to demonstrate that comfort goes very well with the autonomy! The modularity of the spaces offers several places to relax, always bright. Finally, all areas overlook the patio planted ground floor or on the terrace and garden.

Calculated thermal comfort : 20°C en hiver et 25°C en été

Measured thermal comfort : 20°C en hiver et 25°C en été (cf. attestations Cazeco et B.Cornu)

Product

Biolet Multoa



Biolet Headquarters

Biolet Toilet Systems, 830 West State Street, Newcomerstown, Sweden. Tel : 1 800 524 6538

 www.biolet.com


Product category : Second œuvre / Plomberie, sanitaire 

Dry composting toilet with electric mechanized system. The peculiarity of these toilets is that they compost the materials within the same toilet without any added chemicals and water. The result of composting is a gift for nature.

We installed them ourselves and habit changes are very fast!

Construction and exploitation costs

• Renewable energy systems cost : 10 000,00 €
• Total cost of the building : 70 000 €

Urban environment

Being a renovation in Medina, external facades of the house were not modified, it is perfectly integrated.

Building Environmental Quality