My sacred quest is to establish a Self Sustaining Community and Retreat Centre in South Africa that will be made up of like minded individuals that will allow and encourage one another to live sustainably. Together, I believe that we can encourage one another as a community to grow to the size and recognition necessary to have an influence on the global community. Focusing on children and working with adults seems like a positive and empowering step for the future of our country and indeed the world.
Firstly, I want it to be known and understood that after many years of contemplation. I have managed to put my dream together and it has given me a great deal of satisfaction as I now see this as proof of my intention and willingness to serve God.
Thirdly, and it is not of my words but that of another that I have embraced as my own truth. It goes as follows, “I believe that order is better than chaos, creation better than destruction. I prefer gentleness to violence, forgiveness to vendetta. On the whole I think that knowledge is preferable to ignorance, and I am sure that human sympathy is more valuable than ideology. I believe that, in spite of recent triumphs of science, men haven’t changed much in the past 2000 years, and in consequence we must still learn from history. History is ourselves. I also hold one or two beliefs that are more difficult to put shortly. For example I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which we avoid hurting other people’s feelings by satisfying our own egos, and I think we should remember that we are part of a great whole which, for convenience, we call nature. All living things are our brothers and sisters.” James Clarke
“I am not concerned if my beginnings into this spiritual life are small. I believe that all good things have small beginnings. The mighty oak starts from a tiny acorn. From a tiny seed the most wonderful plants and flowers spring forth. From a tiny seed of love many lives can be changed. From a tiny thought of faith and belief wonder upon wonder can come about. Little things grow into big things. I am grateful for all”. Eileen Caddy.
Firstly, I want it to be known and understood that after many years of contemplation. I have managed to put my dream together and it has given me a great deal of satisfaction as I now see this as proof of my intention and willingness to serve God.
Thirdly, and it is not of my words but that of another that I have embraced as my own truth. It goes as follows, “I believe that order is better than chaos, creation better than destruction. I prefer gentleness to violence, forgiveness to vendetta. On the whole I think that knowledge is preferable to ignorance, and I am sure that human sympathy is more valuable than ideology. I believe that, in spite of recent triumphs of science, men haven’t changed much in the past 2000 years, and in consequence we must still learn from history. History is ourselves. I also hold one or two beliefs that are more difficult to put shortly. For example I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which we avoid hurting other people’s feelings by satisfying our own egos, and I think we should remember that we are part of a great whole which, for convenience, we call nature. All living things are our brothers and sisters.” James Clarke
“I am not concerned if my beginnings into this spiritual life are small. I believe that all good things have small beginnings. The mighty oak starts from a tiny acorn. From a tiny seed the most wonderful plants and flowers spring forth. From a tiny seed of love many lives can be changed. From a tiny thought of faith and belief wonder upon wonder can come about. Little things grow into big things. I am grateful for all”. Eileen Caddy.
My dream is to establish a community that will bring together like minded people that will share in the vision where all life is celebrated and beauty in all its forms treasured for this and future generations. No religion or cult practices shall dominate another.
Each person will be free to follow his or her own bona fide tradition– seriously, deeply, genuinely, and should be free to access higher universal realizations and understanding. It will be based on shared ecological, social and spiritual values, working with the simple principle of not taking more away from the Earth than one gives back. A lifetime commitment to a vegan or lacto-vegetarian diet will be encouraged, but will not be enforced for people living in this community. Each person shall refrain from killing or harming other living creatures. Each person shall do an honest days work.
This community will strive to be culturally diverse enough to provide a home for people from any background and with many different desires. People of varying education, ethnicity, ability or socio-economic status will be welcomed. Co-operation is important, but the need for individual responsibility and freedom is an essential aim. Bylaws of this community will include provisions defining the bounds of sustainable living. These will most likely include rules regarding the use of non-sustainable materials and practices, such as petroleum products, pesticides, and inorganic fertilisers. This community will also have a land management plan, setting aside land for ecosystem preservation, farming, housing, and community use.
This community will not legislate or direct the internal workings of individual homes, beyond the guidelines for ecological sustainability. (As a lease implies an exchange, there will most likely be expectations for leaseholders to "give back" to this community in some fashion.) People will be encouraged to make their settlements around a central gathering point, creating an atmosphere which allows people to share resources and promote community interaction.
In short, this way of life hopes to provide like minded people with the opportunity to live with the freedom to define their lifestyle within the new sustainable structure. My conception of sustainable living requires both lifestyle and technological choices quite different from those which have become typical for modern society. I cannot predict the choices exactly; what may follow is a general description of the kind of life that I would call sacred living, and examples of only some of the practices and structures that will most likely be found in the community that I aim to establish.
What little I can assert is that local production and local employment are essential. Life as we know is becoming more and more challenging. Jobs are scarce, transport accounts for the bulk of energy use. There is huge material waste, pollution and so on. It is therefore important that systems of food production, soil fertility management, home energy, sanitation, etc., are integrated in a manner such that materials and energy are reused efficiently without depleting the local resource base or fouling surrounding natural systems. Every subsystem above, and the manner in which they are integrated, can be designed for the local climate, soils, etc.
Food, in particular, can be produced locally, providing the basis for economic independence. Organic growing practices that rely principally upon human labour and biological processes can similarly replace machinery and material inputs. Conventional high-input food production can seriously degrade the long-term productivity of agricultural soils. One technique with which there has been success is the bio-intensive model, which allows high yields from a very small area. However, there is a wide range of sustainable farming systems to be tried.
Living "off our national grid" will automatically improve the sustainability of this community and municipal energy use. In the beginning this may be a difficult proposition. One of the first challenges will be to find ways to minimise consumption through efficient design and pursuit of alternative routes to any goal, as even renewable sources have environmental cost; the idea would be to generate power only for cases where a goal cannot be served without it. Second, no power should be used that cannot generate sustainably, meaning that windmills, small hydroelectric generators, etc., should be the way to go.
Typical homes are expensive and waste huge quantities of energy for temperature control, lighting and food storage. Simple, common-sense design changes, such as super insulating, window placement for passive solar heating, and addition of thermal mass, can make homes dramatically more energy efficient as their temperature is controlled by the sun and earth. Some of the most efficient alternative home-building techniques and materials allow homes to be built cheaply by human labour. Straw bale constructions, for example, are ancient, proven methods.
Energy independence and economic independence, is possibly the greatest challenge. To reinforce the sense of self-sufficiency will encourage residents and visitors alike. When a way is found to minimise the cost of energy, a form of bartering or a similar internal exchange system could enable people to exchange goods and services. Although I plan for economic independence long-term, this community as an entity will always need money, as will individual members. Early on I would expect major expenses will be for the set-up of infrastructure. As much as possible the necessary labour will be done by members, and most raw materials will be obtained onsite or obtained from the waste of mainstream society. Any goods or services that absolutely need to be bought, every attempt to purchase locally, must be the focus point by giving back to our neighbours. As a community we should apply our standards of sustainability when choosing such suppliers, and hope that all the residents will do the same with individual purchases. When necessary, this community may provide co-operatively for medicine and food products that are not available. As this community becomes more established and each household becomes more able to provide for itself, our reliance on unsustainable products should be continually diminishing. Because our high quality of life will stem from local sources, our cash needs should be quite small.
Each person will be free to follow his or her own bona fide tradition– seriously, deeply, genuinely, and should be free to access higher universal realizations and understanding. It will be based on shared ecological, social and spiritual values, working with the simple principle of not taking more away from the Earth than one gives back. A lifetime commitment to a vegan or lacto-vegetarian diet will be encouraged, but will not be enforced for people living in this community. Each person shall refrain from killing or harming other living creatures. Each person shall do an honest days work.
This community will strive to be culturally diverse enough to provide a home for people from any background and with many different desires. People of varying education, ethnicity, ability or socio-economic status will be welcomed. Co-operation is important, but the need for individual responsibility and freedom is an essential aim. Bylaws of this community will include provisions defining the bounds of sustainable living. These will most likely include rules regarding the use of non-sustainable materials and practices, such as petroleum products, pesticides, and inorganic fertilisers. This community will also have a land management plan, setting aside land for ecosystem preservation, farming, housing, and community use.
This community will not legislate or direct the internal workings of individual homes, beyond the guidelines for ecological sustainability. (As a lease implies an exchange, there will most likely be expectations for leaseholders to "give back" to this community in some fashion.) People will be encouraged to make their settlements around a central gathering point, creating an atmosphere which allows people to share resources and promote community interaction.
In short, this way of life hopes to provide like minded people with the opportunity to live with the freedom to define their lifestyle within the new sustainable structure. My conception of sustainable living requires both lifestyle and technological choices quite different from those which have become typical for modern society. I cannot predict the choices exactly; what may follow is a general description of the kind of life that I would call sacred living, and examples of only some of the practices and structures that will most likely be found in the community that I aim to establish.
What little I can assert is that local production and local employment are essential. Life as we know is becoming more and more challenging. Jobs are scarce, transport accounts for the bulk of energy use. There is huge material waste, pollution and so on. It is therefore important that systems of food production, soil fertility management, home energy, sanitation, etc., are integrated in a manner such that materials and energy are reused efficiently without depleting the local resource base or fouling surrounding natural systems. Every subsystem above, and the manner in which they are integrated, can be designed for the local climate, soils, etc.
Food, in particular, can be produced locally, providing the basis for economic independence. Organic growing practices that rely principally upon human labour and biological processes can similarly replace machinery and material inputs. Conventional high-input food production can seriously degrade the long-term productivity of agricultural soils. One technique with which there has been success is the bio-intensive model, which allows high yields from a very small area. However, there is a wide range of sustainable farming systems to be tried.
Living "off our national grid" will automatically improve the sustainability of this community and municipal energy use. In the beginning this may be a difficult proposition. One of the first challenges will be to find ways to minimise consumption through efficient design and pursuit of alternative routes to any goal, as even renewable sources have environmental cost; the idea would be to generate power only for cases where a goal cannot be served without it. Second, no power should be used that cannot generate sustainably, meaning that windmills, small hydroelectric generators, etc., should be the way to go.
Typical homes are expensive and waste huge quantities of energy for temperature control, lighting and food storage. Simple, common-sense design changes, such as super insulating, window placement for passive solar heating, and addition of thermal mass, can make homes dramatically more energy efficient as their temperature is controlled by the sun and earth. Some of the most efficient alternative home-building techniques and materials allow homes to be built cheaply by human labour. Straw bale constructions, for example, are ancient, proven methods.
Energy independence and economic independence, is possibly the greatest challenge. To reinforce the sense of self-sufficiency will encourage residents and visitors alike. When a way is found to minimise the cost of energy, a form of bartering or a similar internal exchange system could enable people to exchange goods and services. Although I plan for economic independence long-term, this community as an entity will always need money, as will individual members. Early on I would expect major expenses will be for the set-up of infrastructure. As much as possible the necessary labour will be done by members, and most raw materials will be obtained onsite or obtained from the waste of mainstream society. Any goods or services that absolutely need to be bought, every attempt to purchase locally, must be the focus point by giving back to our neighbours. As a community we should apply our standards of sustainability when choosing such suppliers, and hope that all the residents will do the same with individual purchases. When necessary, this community may provide co-operatively for medicine and food products that are not available. As this community becomes more established and each household becomes more able to provide for itself, our reliance on unsustainable products should be continually diminishing. Because our high quality of life will stem from local sources, our cash needs should be quite small.
This intentional project will strive to be a working example of a liveable, ecologically designed system that will be financially and economically viable.
It will comprise building an inclusive living and learning community that includes both old and modern technologies.
It will demonstrate in practice what it means to live in sustainable ways that could also provide initiatives to the wider community.
A high priority will be put on ecological building, renewable energy systems, local organic food production, sustainable economics, and social and family support schemes including: cultural diversity, rituals and celebrations, inclusive decision making processes and holistic health care.
It will be a constantly evolving model providing human and social needs while at the same time working in partnership with the environment to offer an enhanced quality of life for all.
This community will work with the environment and will be based on the premise that new strategies for sustainable life on Earth must incorporate fundamental changes to the way we relate to ourselves, one another and to nature.
The life of this community will focus on children.
It will comprise building an inclusive living and learning community that includes both old and modern technologies.
It will demonstrate in practice what it means to live in sustainable ways that could also provide initiatives to the wider community.
A high priority will be put on ecological building, renewable energy systems, local organic food production, sustainable economics, and social and family support schemes including: cultural diversity, rituals and celebrations, inclusive decision making processes and holistic health care.
It will be a constantly evolving model providing human and social needs while at the same time working in partnership with the environment to offer an enhanced quality of life for all.
This community will work with the environment and will be based on the premise that new strategies for sustainable life on Earth must incorporate fundamental changes to the way we relate to ourselves, one another and to nature.
The life of this community will focus on children.
On forming this community, the need for members to be clear on agreements will be necessary. For this reason, several documents, some of which hold sacred, while others are simply guidelines should be in place.
A Membership Covenant, for example, will be a signed agreement to which everyone will live by when joining this community. In it can be our goals, beliefs, and basic agreements.
A Site holding Agreement can do with design, building and land use.
The community process will be guided by Permaculture principles; the site agreement can have good examples of how to apply these principles.
Meetings could be held weekly; comprised of the chairs of each sub-committee and committee members; empowered to make timely decisions during the design and construction phases, and all humane, financial and legal issues involving this community.
Usury: The practice of lending money at exorbitant interest, especially at higher interest than is allowed by law: such as interest shall not be permitted on behalf of the community, or as an individual living in the community.
Commercial ventures, youth and basic adult educational schemes will be part of the sustainable programme.
A Membership Covenant, for example, will be a signed agreement to which everyone will live by when joining this community. In it can be our goals, beliefs, and basic agreements.
A Site holding Agreement can do with design, building and land use.
The community process will be guided by Permaculture principles; the site agreement can have good examples of how to apply these principles.
Meetings could be held weekly; comprised of the chairs of each sub-committee and committee members; empowered to make timely decisions during the design and construction phases, and all humane, financial and legal issues involving this community.
Usury: The practice of lending money at exorbitant interest, especially at higher interest than is allowed by law: such as interest shall not be permitted on behalf of the community, or as an individual living in the community.
Commercial ventures, youth and basic adult educational schemes will be part of the sustainable programme.
Land-use, roads, building design materials and construction strategies will remain a priority throughout the development stages.
Every effort must be put towards finding a way for all power used at this community centre to be from renewable and sustainable sources.
All gardening, landscaping, horticulture, silviculture and agriculture conducted should conform to the standards as set by organic procedures and processing. In addition, no petrochemical biocides should be used or stored on the property for household or other purposes.
Vehicles should be limited to certain areas only.
Every effort must be put towards finding a way for all power used at this community centre to be from renewable and sustainable sources.
All gardening, landscaping, horticulture, silviculture and agriculture conducted should conform to the standards as set by organic procedures and processing. In addition, no petrochemical biocides should be used or stored on the property for household or other purposes.
Vehicles should be limited to certain areas only.
Older buildings will be conscientiously renovated, as far as possible, with natural materials towards sustainable living. New development will focus on optimizing the use of interior space through careful design so that the overall building sizes and resource use in constructing and operating it is kept to a minimum.
When the building works with Nature, rather than in spite of Nature, the occupants will avoid the huge expenses incurred in cooling overexposed rooms or heating the too protected ones. The house should be “intelligent” and use natural mechanisms and materials passively.
This is a non-intrusive existence, where natural forms and shapes, flows and lines lend results in shapes and lines that are more organic, move beautiful and tranquil, and softer on both the eye, one’s spirit and to the community at large.
What our ancestors brought to designing and building was personal involvement and an understanding of infusing the building with their lives and in harmony with nature. Previously building materials were harvested from nature and later when needed, they were replaced with new. There was a natural process of growth, decay and replacement. Synthetics, in their final forms, are very difficult for Nature to draw back into her cycles. The mechanical, thermal or chemical production causes huge amounts of pollution. The result is the escalating environmental destruction we see around us today. Because people are becoming concerned, they are moving towards traditional building materials, designs and styles, where they can have an intimate and personal relationship between themselves and the land. As we become increasingly aware of our surroundings and the effects we cause , natural architecture takes into account the insight, sensitivity, care and concern, thus contributing towards the ecological balance, physical health, and growth.
When the building works with Nature, rather than in spite of Nature, the occupants will avoid the huge expenses incurred in cooling overexposed rooms or heating the too protected ones. The house should be “intelligent” and use natural mechanisms and materials passively.
This is a non-intrusive existence, where natural forms and shapes, flows and lines lend results in shapes and lines that are more organic, move beautiful and tranquil, and softer on both the eye, one’s spirit and to the community at large.
What our ancestors brought to designing and building was personal involvement and an understanding of infusing the building with their lives and in harmony with nature. Previously building materials were harvested from nature and later when needed, they were replaced with new. There was a natural process of growth, decay and replacement. Synthetics, in their final forms, are very difficult for Nature to draw back into her cycles. The mechanical, thermal or chemical production causes huge amounts of pollution. The result is the escalating environmental destruction we see around us today. Because people are becoming concerned, they are moving towards traditional building materials, designs and styles, where they can have an intimate and personal relationship between themselves and the land. As we become increasingly aware of our surroundings and the effects we cause , natural architecture takes into account the insight, sensitivity, care and concern, thus contributing towards the ecological balance, physical health, and growth.
It is my intention to use straw bales as the main theme for construction throughout this community. All natural materials within the communities environment will be considered. Corrugated metal sheets will have preference over thatch roofs to prevent fires.
Why build with straw bales
There are many benefits to building with straw, and even for those people who are not ”environmentally conscious," like so many of us are in today's society, straw bale is still the way to go for energy-efficient, low cost, low maintenance housing.
Straw-bale building is an exciting and environmentally friendly way to build homes, classrooms, greenhouses, commercial buildings, and virtually any other structure.
When covered in plaster, straw-bale walls have a greater fireproof level than wood-frame buildings, which is a significant benefit for the Western Cape and other fire prone areas of South Africa.
Using straw bales creates houses that are much more efficient than conventional wood-frame buildings.
These homes are comfortable in hot or cold weather, and save money on utility bills.
If passive and active solar design is added, the utility savings are even greater.
Straw is completely sustainable it can be grown in one season.
Straw has no nutritional value.
It is a waste product.
It is not used for feed, like hay.
Straw is usually burned to prepare the fields for the next planting, adding to air-pollution levels. By making use of this waste, we save the air from pollution, as well as make use of an excellent insulator.
Building with straw both clears the air, and puts an otherwise wasted product to highly efficient use.
Straw bale is often referred to as a sustainable building material, this means that the system or building could perpetuate forever, be self supporting and living.
You do not need to sacrifice the best land for straw, in China straw is grown between rows of fruit trees.
Another consideration is the amount of energy consumed manufacturing the product; straw bales bypass much of the energy and waste produced by other manufactured building materials.
Straw is also biodegradable, another plus for the environment
As far as the building goes, it is easy to modify, and flexible enough to be used in a variety of different ways, yet solid and sustainable, and durable over time.
It is easily maintained, and construction wise, it is affordable and easily acquired, plus there are no expensive tools required and only unskilled labourers, even kids, and grandparents can help in the wall raising.
Straw is a forgiving form of building, and it encourages creativity.
Straw bale buildings have a good width to height ratio and can be easily and effectively reinforced with wood, bamboo, or metal pins. The nature of the bales, their flexibility and strength, are ideal for seismic design as the connections between the bale wall system and the roof and foundation are adequate. Bale walls may actually absorb much of the shock of an earthquake, instead of transferring it all to the roof as in conventionally built structures.
Straw bale buildings are capable of successfully surviving humid climates and moisture so long as the roof and plaster is done quickly and in dry weather conditions.
The straw bales/mortar structure wall has proven to be exceptionally resistant to fire. The straw bales hold enough air to provide good insulation value but because they are compacted firmly they don’t hold enough air to permit combustion.
There are several straw bale homes and other structures still standing around the world that are over, or close to a hundred years old.
Straw appears small and light, and most people do not know how really weighty it is. If people knew the true value of straw, a human revolution could occur, which would become powerful enough to solve the housing problem of the world.
Why build with straw bales
There are many benefits to building with straw, and even for those people who are not ”environmentally conscious," like so many of us are in today's society, straw bale is still the way to go for energy-efficient, low cost, low maintenance housing.
Straw-bale building is an exciting and environmentally friendly way to build homes, classrooms, greenhouses, commercial buildings, and virtually any other structure.
When covered in plaster, straw-bale walls have a greater fireproof level than wood-frame buildings, which is a significant benefit for the Western Cape and other fire prone areas of South Africa.
Using straw bales creates houses that are much more efficient than conventional wood-frame buildings.
These homes are comfortable in hot or cold weather, and save money on utility bills.
If passive and active solar design is added, the utility savings are even greater.
Straw is completely sustainable it can be grown in one season.
Straw has no nutritional value.
It is a waste product.
It is not used for feed, like hay.
Straw is usually burned to prepare the fields for the next planting, adding to air-pollution levels. By making use of this waste, we save the air from pollution, as well as make use of an excellent insulator.
Building with straw both clears the air, and puts an otherwise wasted product to highly efficient use.
Straw bale is often referred to as a sustainable building material, this means that the system or building could perpetuate forever, be self supporting and living.
You do not need to sacrifice the best land for straw, in China straw is grown between rows of fruit trees.
Another consideration is the amount of energy consumed manufacturing the product; straw bales bypass much of the energy and waste produced by other manufactured building materials.
Straw is also biodegradable, another plus for the environment
As far as the building goes, it is easy to modify, and flexible enough to be used in a variety of different ways, yet solid and sustainable, and durable over time.
It is easily maintained, and construction wise, it is affordable and easily acquired, plus there are no expensive tools required and only unskilled labourers, even kids, and grandparents can help in the wall raising.
Straw is a forgiving form of building, and it encourages creativity.
Straw bale buildings have a good width to height ratio and can be easily and effectively reinforced with wood, bamboo, or metal pins. The nature of the bales, their flexibility and strength, are ideal for seismic design as the connections between the bale wall system and the roof and foundation are adequate. Bale walls may actually absorb much of the shock of an earthquake, instead of transferring it all to the roof as in conventionally built structures.
Straw bale buildings are capable of successfully surviving humid climates and moisture so long as the roof and plaster is done quickly and in dry weather conditions.
The straw bales/mortar structure wall has proven to be exceptionally resistant to fire. The straw bales hold enough air to provide good insulation value but because they are compacted firmly they don’t hold enough air to permit combustion.
There are several straw bale homes and other structures still standing around the world that are over, or close to a hundred years old.
Straw appears small and light, and most people do not know how really weighty it is. If people knew the true value of straw, a human revolution could occur, which would become powerful enough to solve the housing problem of the world.
Amazing what you can do with straw
Example of Small Size House
Example of Structure Re-inforcement
Corner View
Hard at work
Just look what you can do
Re-inforcement
Stairway
Hybred wall raising
Framework for staw bales
Interior of straw bale house
Wall raising
Straw Bale House
Straw Bale House
Look at the height
Straw Bale House
Beautifully finished Straw Bale House
Inside a Straw Bale House
Could be an information centre
Under Construction
This is me... Holding, touching, smelling and believing that Straw Bale Building can revolutionise our housing challenges for the poor... and more!
For more technical advice on how to build Straw Ble Houses and more - refer to “The Straw Bale House Book.” ISB-N-O930031-71-7.8.20
To get full details of everything that you would like to know about building with Sraw Bales - Visit StrawBale.com
To get full details of everything that you would like to know about building with Sraw Bales - Visit StrawBale.com
Choose low-maintenance building materials: Where possible, select building materials that will require little maintenance (painting, retreatment, waterproofing, etc.), or whose maintenance will have minimal environmental impact.
Choose building materials with low embodied energy: Heavily processed or manufactured products and materials are usually more energy intensive. As long as durability and performance will not be sacrificed, choose low-embodied-energy materials.
Buy locally produced building materials: Transportation is costly in both energy use and pollution generation.
Look for locally produced materials.
Use building products made from recycled materials: Building products made from recycled materials reduce solid waste problems, cut energy consumption in manufacturing, and save on natural resource use.
Use salvaged building materials when possible: Reduce landfill pressure and save natural resources by using salvaged materials: lumber, millwork, certain plumbing fixtures, and hardware, for example. Make sure these materials are safe (test for lead paint and asbestos), and don’t sacrifice energy efficiency or water efficiency by reusing old windows or toilets.
Seek responsible wood supplies.
Avoid materials that will off gas pollutants: Solvent-based finishes, adhesives, carpeting, particleboard, and many other building products release formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds into the air. These chemicals can affect workers’ and occupants’ health as well as contribute to smog and ground-level ozone pollution outside.
Minimize use of pressure-treated lumber: Use detailing that will prevent soil contact and rot. Where possible, use alternatives such as recycled plastic lumber. Take measures to protect workers when cutting and handling pressure-treated wood. Scraps should never be incinerated.
Choose building materials with low embodied energy: Heavily processed or manufactured products and materials are usually more energy intensive. As long as durability and performance will not be sacrificed, choose low-embodied-energy materials.
Buy locally produced building materials: Transportation is costly in both energy use and pollution generation.
Look for locally produced materials.
Use building products made from recycled materials: Building products made from recycled materials reduce solid waste problems, cut energy consumption in manufacturing, and save on natural resource use.
Use salvaged building materials when possible: Reduce landfill pressure and save natural resources by using salvaged materials: lumber, millwork, certain plumbing fixtures, and hardware, for example. Make sure these materials are safe (test for lead paint and asbestos), and don’t sacrifice energy efficiency or water efficiency by reusing old windows or toilets.
Seek responsible wood supplies.
Avoid materials that will off gas pollutants: Solvent-based finishes, adhesives, carpeting, particleboard, and many other building products release formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds into the air. These chemicals can affect workers’ and occupants’ health as well as contribute to smog and ground-level ozone pollution outside.
Minimize use of pressure-treated lumber: Use detailing that will prevent soil contact and rot. Where possible, use alternatives such as recycled plastic lumber. Take measures to protect workers when cutting and handling pressure-treated wood. Scraps should never be incinerated.
Installing high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment not only save the building occupants money, but also produce less pollution during operation. Install equipment with minimal risk of combustion gas spillage, such as sealed-combustion appliances.
Install high-efficiency lights and appliances: Fluorescent lighting has improved dramatically in recent years and is now suitable for homes. High-efficiency appliances offer both economic and environmental advantages over their conventional counterparts.
Install water-efficient equipment: Water-conserving toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators not only reduce water use, they also reduce demand on septic systems or sewage treatment plants. Reducing hot water use also saves energy.
Install high-efficiency lights and appliances: Fluorescent lighting has improved dramatically in recent years and is now suitable for homes. High-efficiency appliances offer both economic and environmental advantages over their conventional counterparts.
Install water-efficient equipment: Water-conserving toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators not only reduce water use, they also reduce demand on septic systems or sewage treatment plants. Reducing hot water use also saves energy.
All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that national and international fire prevention and protection standards will be adhered to.
All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that national and international; safety standards will be adhered to.
All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that national and international; safety standards will be adhered to.
The proposed plan is to have one single storey building that will have a number of classrooms, toilet and shower facilities.
The idea would be to embrace primary school children from the local community at a reasonable cost. It will also be the aim of this community to sponsor a child or children who cannot afford these fees.
Education will be based on the Waldorf approach which is inspired by the principals of Rudolf Steiner, whose aim is to encourage the enfoldment of each child’s individual potential, and the development of the children’s intellectual, emotional, creative and practical abilities in relation to their age and level pf readiness. Lessons will incorporate story telling, drama, movement, music, rhythmical activity, environmental awareness activities, handwork and crafts, and stimulate original and vital thinking.
The teachers and children will be encouraged to take part in community markets that could bring in funds to support the schools drive to improve the dynamics of learning.
The classrooms can also be used for basic adult education.
The idea would be to embrace primary school children from the local community at a reasonable cost. It will also be the aim of this community to sponsor a child or children who cannot afford these fees.
Education will be based on the Waldorf approach which is inspired by the principals of Rudolf Steiner, whose aim is to encourage the enfoldment of each child’s individual potential, and the development of the children’s intellectual, emotional, creative and practical abilities in relation to their age and level pf readiness. Lessons will incorporate story telling, drama, movement, music, rhythmical activity, environmental awareness activities, handwork and crafts, and stimulate original and vital thinking.
The teachers and children will be encouraged to take part in community markets that could bring in funds to support the schools drive to improve the dynamics of learning.
The classrooms can also be used for basic adult education.
The proposed plan for a community hall will be a single storey building that will cater for a number of eventsthat could include the following:
Market outlet for the community, school and local areas
Musical and theatrical drama
Games
Lectures
And other community events.
All proceeds will go towards maintaining and upgrading the retreat and community centre.
Market outlet for the community, school and local areas
Musical and theatrical drama
Games
Lectures
And other community events.
All proceeds will go towards maintaining and upgrading the retreat and community centre.
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The art centre will play a vital role in our community, acting as a focus for creative activity and marketing of products. It can provide a cultural base for artists, a source of income for people who have very little option of employment and with that income can improve their own lives, and that of their family. The potential for the Arts and Craft Centre is huge and can be exciting for both adults and children al
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