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ZTD

Butti wrote: »

Yes exactly.
What is carbon free housing? Does it include appliances or not?
What is it about - the building or the behaviour?
What are the barriers?
What are the drivers?

That leaves 19,972 to write.

B

Just think of the materials...

Brick is made from clay which has been fired - usually natural gas. Contrary to popular (American) Politician's wishful thinking, natural gas is fossil fuel (the "natural" confused her...).

Wood. Loads of carbon in wood... (and those chainsaws aren't wind-up and those trucks are really needed as trees can be a touch heavy)

Concrete. Made from calcium carbonate - hint is in the name...

What does that leave? Igloos and mud huts...

Though I guess you could make a house out of aluminium and ship it here by a sailing ship and pull it through the streets using Rickshaw drivers...

That's almost a Goodies sketch in itself...

tenmah

Z - How is Wol doing? She doesn't post on her diary anymore, so I am hoping she is ok?

Butti

Gosh, I get to impart knowledge to Z - how often does this happen, NOT!:rotfl:


Carbon Free Housing is not 'literally' carbon free as that is pretty impossible. It is housing that matches and therefore rules out the carbon that is used in occupying it. So the heating and cooling is provided by solar panels, wind turbines and passive ventilation. The insulation is ultra thick and windows triple glazed. The house is well located for transport so that a car isn't needed - that sort of thing.

However the reality is usually that humans like a technical solution that 'sorts the problem' without really changing their behaviour....and as far as I'm aware we are not yet counting flights as part of our carbon reduction. Not sure we've really cracked this yet.

B

Butti

Very quiet on here today.

B

beanielou

Cant believe that the News of THe World was the best sellimg nwspaper.

ZTD

Butti wrote: »

Gosh, I get to impart knowledge to Z - how often does this happen, NOT!:rotfl:

It happens every day. That's how I know so much crap...

Butti wrote: »

Carbon Free Housing is not 'literally' carbon free as that is pretty impossible. It is housing that matches and therefore rules out the carbon that is used in occupying it.

Well that's a con. I could make a house out of the finest concrete in that case, and claim a carbon credit because the concrete pulls CO2 out of the air during it's long, slow return back to limestone (that's what pulled Biosphere 2's nuts out of the fire).

Butti wrote: »

So the heating and cooling is provided by solar panels, wind turbines and passive ventilation.

I think you're mistaking "passive" with "no". Passive ventilation is when you open a window. The current building standards are aiming for airtight buildings. See the details of the PassivHaus.

Don't mention "sick building" syndrome. That illicits a response similar to mentioning Hindu beefburgers...

Butti wrote: »

The insulation is ultra thick and windows triple glazed. The house is well located for transport so that a car isn't needed - that sort of thing.

There are many tens of thousands of people who already live in accomodation with thick walls and small windows, and no need for private transport. We call them "prisons"...

Butti wrote: »

However the reality is usually that humans like a technical solution that 'sorts the problem' without really changing their behaviour....and as far as I'm aware we are not yet counting flights as part of our carbon reduction. Not sure we've really cracked this yet.

What problem are we supposed to be sorting here?

ZTD

beanielou wrote: »

Cant believe that the News of THe World was the best sellimg nwspaper.

That's because you have taste Beanie.

I find it difficult to believe day time television has any viewers. That's because I have taste too...

ZTD

tenmah wrote: »

Z - How is Wol doing? She doesn't post on her diary anymore, so I am hoping she is ok?

Almost missed this:

She's doing OK, just very very busy with things.

Butti

beanielou wrote: »

Cant believe that the News of THe World was the best sellimg nwspaper.

Wasn't it the best selling chip paper?

Butti

ZTD wrote: »

It happens every day. That's how I know so much crap...



Well that's a con. I could make a house out of the finest concrete in that case, and claim a carbon credit because the concrete pulls CO2 out of the air during it's long, slow return back to limestone (that's what pulled Biosphere 2's nuts out of the fire).

if your concrete was south facing with solar panels across the whole of its area I would give you that. I don't think your concrete would sort the problem quick enough. I think people visiting the Maldives would still need wellies



I think you're mistaking "passive" with "no". Passive ventilation is when you open a window. The current building standards are aiming for airtight buildings. See the details of the PassivHaus.

Don't mention "sick building" syndrome. That illicits a response similar to mentioning Hindu beefburgers...

I just threw in passive haus because it is one of the approaches being taken along with other forms of mechanical ventilation. You are right in that airtightness is very key at the moment and nobody seems to have thought of sick building syndrome.

There are many tens of thousands of people who already live in accomodation with thick walls and small windows, and no need for private transport. We call them "prisons"...



What problem are we supposed to be sorting here?

The problem that the earth is warming, sea levels are rising and the need for wellies to go and visit the maldives.


Sorry about the lack of quotes. I haven't quite cracked the cutting and pasting function on this laptop.

B