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An Excerpt from “Affordable Independence”Constantine AlatzasThe well being of the occupants is a vital aspect of my design motivation, so non-toxic and self-powered are natural elements that are included in all I do. Most of us have forgotten that not too many years ago, we all lived sustainably. Without electric companies, natural gas pipelines, gas stations or even supermarkets, my grandparents grew up in a world where they understood the interdependence of plant life, sea life, the animals and themselves. Together they could thrive. There seems to be a belief today that living self-powered and in harmony with our bodies are new ideas that have to cost a lot of money. In my experience, the exact opposite is true. When we build a home or commercial structure, we first need to apply our oldest bit of architectural technology: orienting our cave opening to the south. By honoring the four directions of Nature, we bring free heating and cooling into the structure. Extra costs associated with glazing that faces south, adding interior mass to hold heat or coolness, and insulation that exceeds the State code, pay off in energy savings |
within the first five years. Passive solar structures typically flood the structure with natural light and save their owner lighting costs, whether they are grid-tied or producing their own electricity. I call solar/wind systems “Personal Power Stations.” The more efficient the home, the smaller the PPS needs to be. The sooner you take responsibility of producing your own power needs, the more money you save. If done in a holistic fashion, it is truly not expensive at all. Contact: ICE Architectural Design and Energy
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