Tourist
Attractions of
http://www.galapagosonline.com/Islands/Galapagos_Islands.htm,
1999-2004
Economy
of the islands:
Types
of Tourism, and Possible Solutions to the Increasing
Number of Tourists:
First Proposal:
Why do we need to rebuild homes? The issue
here is not
so much homes as
the infrastructure of the city. The rebuilding of homes comes
from the
need to restructure the infrastructure of the city, which is not
designed to handle growth. Without an eco-friendly design, as
cities
grow, they will expand haphazardly and without much forethought into the
impact on the environment. This is to be avoided. By
restructuring
the
city, this unorganized expansion can be prevented. In addition to
this
factor, as the city grows, some people will grow wealthy. These
people
will want to buy luxuries such as air conditioners, which tend to waste
energy. If homes are eco-friendly, then they will have no need for
certain luxuries, such as air conditioners. Finally, an
eco-friendly
village will foster ecological awareness in its residents. Because
homes will be destroyed in the process of moving roads and other parts
of the infrastructure, these homes will have to be rebuilt. These
new
homes will be both eco-friendly and comfortable.
Overall orientation: Sun angle is not a major factor in the
Galapagos,
since the equator is extremely close, and actually passes through the
oriented such that the most wind can pass through them, cooling them
off. Large window openings should be oriented perpendicular to
these
prevailing winds, strongest in July?
Roof: Should overhang the windows considerably, such that only
indirect
light travels inside. Direct sunlight entering the houses should
be
minimized, as this would increase the temperature. The roof could
be
covered with solar panels, special plants, or both. If solar
panels are
used, they will be elevated from the roof, such that they shade the roof
below and allow air to pass beneath them. Plants also work to
provide
insulation, and are embedded in pumice rock. They also serve to
eliminate 10% of pollutants from the air (according to Lissa).
Walls/Floors: Cement or adobe construction in walls, with cement
or
tile floors inside. If cement is used inside, the floor could be
covered with a cork or natural linoleum covering, to make the room
appear more colorful and to improve ease of walking. No matter
what,
the walls and floors should be thick, so that heat that is absorbed is
not conducted to the inside of the house. During the day, the
walls and
floors can absorb heat, and at night they can release it.
Foundations: Fly cement possibly made of ash from coal power
plantsnon
toxic. Regular cement is also a possibility. Perhaps
building
materials could be used from previous structures, assuming that the
impact of recycling this material does not have a great impact on the
environment.
Windows: Windows can come in many forms, from casement to double
hung
to other types that have hinges on the tops or bottoms. Windows
that
swing upwards and out should be avoided, as the drafts they create tend
to travel along the ceilings indoors, which is uncomfortable.
Downward-swinging windows would work better because this would create a
comfortable downward airflow. At night, windows on opposite sides
of
the house, with similar opening sizes, can be opened to allow a draft
across the house to occur. This will vent heat. In fact, in
the
climate of the Galapagos, which is quite dry most of the year, it may
seem logical to keep windows open at all times. Another cooling
option
is evaporative cooling, used frequently in dry climates (uses
evaporation of water combined with an air blower to keep air flowing
through the house). I think there is a passive version of this,
so I
will look into it.
Here is a site about evaporative cooling:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/homeandwork/homes/inside/heatandcool/evaporative_coolers.html
General layout: Should be open to air flow with little
obstruction.
Such an open design would also allow for efficient movement around the
house. Possibly one room, the family room, will contain a large
amount
of windows, but this is only a vague idea.
As of now, I am not sure what my final product will or should look
like. We certainly do not have enough time to design houses, as
such a
project can take weeks to months and also requires extensive experience
in CAD design programs. Right now, I feel that the final project
should
be a representation (most likely textual) of what we see a eco-friendly
house to be. It may list options, or it may dictate how a house
should
be designed. I need advice on this. Due to the nature of my
schedule
up through wed. Nov. 24, I cannot guarantee any finished product until
after the break. Again, any advice on what a finished product
should
look like would be helpful.
Final Proposal (11/27/04):
Why do
we need to rebuild homes?
The issue here is not so much homes as the
infrastructure of the cities. The rebuilding of homes comes from
the need
to restructure the infrastructure of the cities, which are not designed
to handle
growth. Without an eco-friendly design, as the cities grow, they
will
expand haphazardly and without much forethought into the impact on the
environment. This is to be avoided. By restructuring the
city, this
unorganized expansion can be prevented. In addition to this
factor, as
the city grows, some people will grow wealthy. These people will
want to
buy luxuries such as air conditioners, which tend to waste
energy. If
homes are eco-friendly, then they will have no need for certain
luxuries, such
as air conditioners. Finally, an eco-friendly
village will foster ecological awareness in its residents.
Because homes
will be destroyed in the process of moving roads and other parts of the
infrastructure, these homes will have to be rebuilt. These new
homes will
be both eco-friendly and comfortable.
Cooling:
What: Cooling will be passive, utilizing a combination of green roofs (described under the “roof” section), shading, cross-ventilation, and evaporative cooling.
Why: Currently, it is not uncommon for residences to have either air-conditioners or refrigerators. The average home in the Galapagos will have one ventilator (300W) and one refrigerator (200W), each operated for about 8 hours per day (http://galapagos.solarquest.com/documents/SandiaGalapagosReport200307.pdf). If the need for active cooling were eliminated, then there would be no need for air-conditioners.
There are many forms of passive cooling that exist. Perhaps the most conventional method of cooling a house passively is through cross-ventilation. In order to do this, windows of relatively equal surface area must be located on opposite sides of the house. As air flows in one side of the house, it will flow across the house, and exit through the other side. An open house layout is required for such a design, such that the air can have the most unimpeded path possible. Such a layout can also create a more comfortable house by improving efficiency of movement and by allowing natural light to pass deeper into the house. Additionally, for cross-ventilation to work effectively, the house should be oriented such that large openings are found on the sides of the house that run perpendicularly to prevailing winds. Another factor, however, is the sun angle. The house should be oriented with its smaller faces on the east and west sides of the house. This way, when the sun is rising or setting, there will be little heat gain into the house. The sunlight factor creates the need for a balance between window openings and surface areas of sun-facing sides such that the house can maintain the coolest possible temperature.
Another method of passive cooling that could work in the Galapagos is evaporative cooling. This works in dry climates, like that of the Galapagos. One type of evaporative cooling involves a fan that draws air into the house through a damp surface, evaporating water in the process and cooling the house off significantly. Another type of evaporative cooling consists of an indoor pool of water that slowly evaporates, cooling the house. Also, since winds are never guaranteed, an evaporative cooler will keep the house cool even when cross-ventilation does not work.
Temperature Delivered by Evaporative Cooler
(http://energyoutlet.com/res/cooling/evap_coolers/.)
Insulation:
What: No insulation at all.
Why: Insulation will most likely be unnecessary. Insulation is only really necessary when the difference in air temperatures between night and day are significant. In the Galapagos, temperatures generally vary about 7 degrees Celsius between night and day. If the temperature were to drop off significantly at night, then insulation might be necessary to keep the heat in, but such is not the case. The other situation in which insulation might be preferable would be if air conditioning were used, because in this situation, it is most energy efficient to keep the heat out of the house. In the case the eco-friendly houses, which will use evaporative cooling in addition to cross-ventilation, the house will be open during the day anyway (evaporative cooling requires that the house be open during the day for it to work properly). Thus, insulation would do little or no good.
Foundations:
What: Foundations will be constructed of fly-ash cement.
Why: This is a recycled product derived from the waste gases from power plants. A glasslike powder, it is environmentally friendly and nontoxic. In addition to this, it uses less water, so it is less likely to crack (http://www.toolbase.org/tertiaryT.asp?DocumentID=2072&CategoryID=1402). Fly ash cement is a viable alternative to portland cement. By using fly ash cement, fewer virgin materials will be used, and these recycled materials are environmentally friendly as well.
Walls:
What: On top of the foundation, an adobe brick structure will be constructed. The walls will be thick. This varies with the building material. They may be as thick as 1-2 feet.
Why: Naturally, thicker, heavier walls, like those of adobe, have a greater capacity to absorb heat (they act as heat sinks). During the day, they absorb heat from the sun, and at night, they release it. Another option for the walls is stacks of rugs bound together into bales. These recycled rugs are a good insulator, and also serve to keep the elements out.
(http://www.cv.ic.ac.uk/el_salvador/Design/Assets/Colour%20Photos/pages/05%20Adobe%20Factory_jpeg.htm.)
Floors:
What: Floors will be made of a heavy material, like concrete or dirt.
Why: This will improve the passive cooling capacity of the home, by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night. It will function much like the walls. Two options, cement and dirt exist. Cement is heavy and cures quickly. Likely coverings to a cement floor include natural linoleum, which is environmentally friendly, and is easier on feet than concrete. Dirt is cheap and environmentally friendly. It is mixed with vegetable oil and set into place. After a couple months, it cures, and forms a comfortable, attractive surface.
Roofs:
What: Roofs will be green roofs.
Why: Green roofs are essentially gardens on roofs. They can consist of any number of types of plants, which grown in several inches of pumice rock on top of a protective, water-proof layer. (In the case of the Galapagos, these plants would be native species, as importing species to the Galapagos causes ecological problems as has already been seen. Native species would grow well on the roofs anyway, since they are used to the Galapagos climate.) Excess water is collected. A small pump run by a solar panel waters the garden with this water.
(http://newfarm.org/depts/talking_shop/0204/CASA2.shtml)
Green roofs are another method of passive cooling. These roofs reduce cooling costs drastically
by acting as an insulating layer. Compared
to a house with a non-green roof, homes with green roofs have
relatively constant
interior temperatures, due to this insulating factor.
According to a study done by the National
Research Council Canada,
(http://www.professionalroofing.net/article.aspx?A_ID=130)
Plants naturally filter pollutants from the air. Also, because much of the rainwater that falls on the roof is retained, heavy metals in the water, such as zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper, become bound to the soil instead of washing away into storm drains. (http://www.greenroofs.com/Greenroofs101/ecological.htm).
(http://www.greenroof.co.uk/html/main3.htm)
Green roofs significantly reduce runoff quantities. A
Another advantage of this type of roof is that it reduces noise inside the house by muffling sounds from the outside. They also have a long life-span, increasing the lifespan of roofs by about 3 times.
Windows:
What: Large enough to let light in, but not so large that an undue amount of heat is let in.
Why: Cross-ventilation is necessary, so windows of equal surface area should be found on two opposite sides of the house. If they swing outward with an upper hinge, a space should be located in between the hinge and the wall of the house, so that air flows along the floor inside the house instead of along the ceiling. This type of air flow is more comfortable. Windows can be of basically any type, from casement to double-hung. Whatever the case may be, these windows should not be located in direct sunlight so as to prevent the greenhouse effect from occurring within the house.
The idea of “super-windows” was presented. This type of window uses two layers of glass with a gas layer in between them, which acts as an insulator. As the Galapagos do not have a very large temperature range and conventional insulation is not necessary, however, these windows are most likely unnecessary, and would be an inefficient use of money.
General
Idea of Layout for Common Houses
This is a very basic outline of facilities that should exist in the common houses and their relations to each other. They should follow the same construction concepts of the houses (outlined above). The common houses should serve as a form of unification for housing communities. They should serve as a social center and boost the sense of community.
First of all, cooking facilities should exist, either of a communal type, or in the form of a restaurant/cafeteria. A large dining area should exist near the kitchen. In addition to an indoor dining area, an outdoor patio/dining area should be built; as such an area will be comfortable in a dry area like the Galapagos, especially in the evening.
Other social areas should be found around the dining area. Perhaps a library should be located near the dining area, assuming that this would be a valued part of the common house. Nothing will be definite until these common house proposals are discussed with current residents. Perhaps a daycare center should be included in the common house as well. A Laundromat and perhaps a small convenience store could be constructed unobtrusively in the common house as well. Outdoor facilities could include a playground, and possibly a sports field. None of these options, however, is definite until designers talk with current residents about the housing options that will be available.
Sources:
An
Assessment
of Energy and Water in the
“Ecological.” http://www.greenroofs.com/Greenroofs101/ecological.htm. greenroofs.com, 2004. Visted: 11/26/04.
“Evaporative Coolers: An energy-saving way to beat the heat.” Evaporative Coolers. http://energyoutlet.com/res/cooling/evap_coolers/. Energy Outlet, 1999. Visited: 11/24/04.
“Fly Ash Concrete.” http://www.toolbase.org/tertiaryT.asp?DocumentID=2072&CategoryID=1402. NAHB Research Center, 2001-2004. Visited: 11/24/04.).
“GREEN ROOFS.” http://www.greenroof.co.uk/html/main3.htm. Blackdown Horticultural Consultants Limited, 2003. Visited: 11/24/04.
http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/research/greenroofcenter/research.html.
http://www.cv.ic.ac.uk/el_salvador/Design/Assets/Colour%20Photos/pages/05%20Adobe%20Factory_jpeg.htm. Visited: 11/27/04.
Liu, Karen, Ph.D. “Going Green.” http://www.professionalroofing.net/article.aspx?A_ID=130. National Roofing Contractors Association, 2004. Visited: 11/24/04.
“Stars
of the
