Sustainable Living Center
Building Features
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The key to our sustainable electric system is a combination of day lighting in every room and efficient lights and appliances. The remaining electric load can then be easily handled by solar, wind, and our back up battery array and biodiesel generator. The result? A building that produces more electricity than it uses.
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Self Sufficient Heating and Cooling Our
building features walls with ten inches of natural cellulose insulation
and eight inches of locally made earth blocks. In the winter the thick
insulation protects from the cold while the earth block thermal mass
stores and radiates heat. Additional heat comes from the in-floor radiant
heating system, supplied by solar thermal panels. In
the summer the 18 inch walls and cool earth blocks protect from the
heat of the sun. Indoor air is dehumidified by a liquid dessicant. The
dessicant is cooled by earth tubes and dried back out by heat from our
solar thermal panels. This system combined with natural night time flushing
ventilation, which re-cools the thermal mass walls, which absorb the
heat gain of the day, creates very comfortable summer living. |
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Rain Water The Sustainable Living Center will be supplied entirely by rain water. Water will be caught on the roof and stored in an under ground cistern. A filtration system including an ultra violet filter will render the water potable for faucet use and for drinking.
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Waste and Storm Water Management In
conventional buildings waste water goes into a sewer system and is eventually
chemically treated, leaving behind toxic sludge. |
Local, Non-toxic Materials The MUM Sustainable Living Center features compressed earth blocks, literally from our back yard, as well as natural earth plasters. All of our lumber comes from a 500 mile radius and is sustainably harvested according to FSC guidlines. Every material used in the building must pass the guidlines set out by the Cascadia Living Building Challenge for purity and local sourcing. |
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Native and Edible Landscaping The grounds surrounding the Sustainable Living Center feature both native and edible plants. Native flora take less maintenance, less water and add beauty and local authenticity. This beautiful and functional landscape will include six types of grape vines, wild plums, a mix of wildflowers, and a host of trees and shrubs.
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Check out what the press has to say about the Sustianable Living Center! |
Off
the Electric Grid!
All
of the waste water in our building will slowly flow through a constructed
wetland. Here the water is naturally purified and integrated back into
the environment. The wetland plants filter out nitrogen, that would
otherwise contaminate ground water. Often storm water also ends up in
the sewer system. On our parking lot Aquabrick permeable pavers will
let rain water filter through and eventually flow down to our wetland.
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