Renewable Energy Houses / Maisons Écologiques

Renewable energies represent a sustainable solution to reduce pollution due to energy consumption. Tunisia invested in both recycling and renewable energy. Currently, the energy sector accounts for approximately 5 % of the GDP of the country and less than 7 % of the total national exports. The Tunisian authorities have engaged in an energy policy that is compatible with sustainable development.

Above all, consumers need to adhere to these initiatives at different levels. As mentioned in previous posts, it is a social problem. Education is a first step, taking action and implementing such actions is the second and most important step! I do believe that micro-strategies (at the consumer level) are very effective and efficient! Here is a good example.

Last September there was the third annual Renewable Energy Tour in Thunder Bay (Ontario, Canada). It was a great experience to see how people are changing their lifestyle to live in a planet-friendly home (see pictures).

Some of the characteristics of those energy efficient houses are:

• All exterior walls are built with straw bales, providing superior insulation.

• A smart solar design makes air conditioning and duct heating unnecessary.

• A hug efficiency wood burning kitchen stove provides all the heat needed in the winter, while also providing heat to cook.

• A heat coil provides domestic hot water. In summer, a propane gas stove is used for cooking.

• The houses are powered by a 1400 Watt solar array. A heat coil provides practically all the power needed in the houses.

• Composting toilets significantly cut back on water usage, while providing fertile compost for the gardens; also, a much smaller septic system is required.

• Cost to build compared: comparable to conventional building, possibly cheaper if owners take care of the basic baling and plastering work. Solar and wind power are extra.

For more info:
Home Power
EcoVillage
Planet Friendly
www.anme.nat.tn

Green roofs/Toitures Vertes

Une traduction en français suit:

The “Heat Island Effect” is a hot topic nowadays in major metropolitan areas around the globe. This local phenomenon describes the temperature increase in urban centers with comparison to its surrounding rural areas. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, this increase can be as much as 1 to 6°C and has major impacts at the level of a city or urban community as it means higher energy use and air pollution.

“Heat Islands” form as a result of replacing natural land cover by heat-absorptive surfaces such as dark pavement, roads, and buildings. As a response, city planners and building designers are looking today at innovative solutions such as the use of highly reflective materials or green roofs!

Green roofs can be simply described as gardens that are installed on top of roofs. These structures are carefully engineered to account for waterproofing, drainage, weight on exisisting structures, and many other factors that are nicely detailed here. The landscaping and type of plants used varies from one project to the other but many structures accommodate native species for lower maintenance requirements. Some of these green roofs are simply gorgeous! Take a look at some pictures on Google Photos to see what I am talking about.

Green roofs are gaining a lot of interest in North America: Cities like Chicago are encouraging the installation of green roofs and are offering incentives to developers and owners. Research centers such as the one at Penn State or British Columbia Institute of Technology are being created to come up with innovative products. More and more designers are adopting this new “technology”.

In Tunisia, and since a long time ago, buildings -including roofs-  are being painted in white or light colors, which minimizes the heat island effect. Adopting green roof technology may also be a good idea as it comes with additional advantages such as aesthetics and stormwater management.

Imagine seeing greens everywhere on the roofs of the Medina!

——

« L’effet des îlots de chaleur » est un sujet hot de nos jours dans les grandes métropoles autour du globe. Ce phénomène local décrit l’augmentation de la température dans les centres urbains en comparaison avec leurs entourages ruraux. Selon l’agence de protection de l’environnement des USA, cette augmentation peut atteindre 1 à 6°C et a par conséquent des impacts majeurs au niveau d’une ville ou d’une communauté urbaine vu qu’elle s’accompagne d’une augmentation dé l’utilisation d’énergie et de pollution atmosphérique. 

« Les îlots de Chaleurs » se forment en raison du remplacement de la couverture végétale par des surfaces absorbantes telles que les trottoirs, les routes, et les bâtiments. Pour répondre à ce phénomène, les urbanistes et concepteurs des bâtiments se tournent aujourd’hui vers des solutions innovatrices telles que l’utilisation des matériaux fortement réfléchissants ou des toitures vertes!

Les toitures vertes peuvent être simplement décrites comme des jardins installés sur les toits des bâtiments. Ces structures sont soigneusement conçues tenant en compte de l’imperméabilisation, le drainage, le poids sur les structures existantes, et beaucoup d’autres facteurs qui sont bien détaillés ici. L’aménagement et le type des plantes utilisés changent d’un projet à un autre mais beaucoup de ces structures adaptent des espèces végétales indigènes vue leurs besoins d’entretien minimaux. Certains de ces toits verts sont simplement magnifiques ! Jeter un coup d’oeil à quelques images sur Google Photos pour avoir une idée. 

Les toitures vertes gagnent beaucoup d’intérêt en Amérique du Nord : Des villes comme Chicago encouragent leur installation et offrent des incitations aux promoteurs immobiliers et propriétaires. Des centres de recherches tels que celui de Penn State ou de British Columbia Institute of Technology ont été créés pour développer des produits innovateurs. Les concepteurs adoptent de plus en plus cette nouvelle « technologie ». 

En Tunisie, et depuis longtemps, les bâtiments -incluant les toits- sont peints en blanc ou dans des couleurs claires. Ceci réduitl’effet des îlots de chaleur. Adopter la technologie verte de toit peut également être une bonne idée vue les avantages additionnels telles que l’esthétique et la gestion des eaux de pluie….

Imaginer, de la verdure à vue d’oeil sur sur les toits de la Medina !

Canadian wells / Puits Canadiens

Anis, one of our most assiduous readers sent us this interesting post. This is the first Arabic post published by KEN. It deals with Canadian wells to control the interior temperature of the buildings. The idea is very simple; the Canadian wells are very useful systems. They combine cooling and ventilation. This is part of the roman heritage. For more details, read the post. Thanks Anis!