Biosphere IIBiosphere II

-"planet in a bottle"

-Project begins in 1973, funded from oilfield giant: Edward Bass.

-John Allen, known to some critics as a “cult leader”, created Biosphere 2 in 1984.

- Cost about $236 million, the mini Earth had self-contained biomes — a mini-rainforest, savannah, desert and coral ocean — and was stocked with 3800 species.

Map of Biosphere IIMap of Biosphere II

Biosphere IIBiosphere II 4 men and 4 women entered on September 26, 1991 for two

years. Many problems: infestation of ants and morning glories;

collapse of many animals populations, including honey bees and humming birds.

Crops failed, O2 levels decreased and CO2 levels increased due to oxygen-using bacteria produced from organic composting.

Social problems: team split into 2 groups and hoarded food. However, they managed to stay entire 2 years.

6 months later, a second crew entered, but again, social problems occurred. Two members were arrested for a protest against a change in management in which they opened the sealed enclosure to let in outside air.

Biosphere II-todayBiosphere II-todayColumbia university took it in 1996,

changed it into a more campus-like facility.Project change from survivability to

sustainability.Scientists were allowed to come in a study,

until 1996, when Columbia pulled out.Now, it is now a tourist attraction.

Living SpaceLiving Space

WaterWater-900,000-gallon ocean

Sky City-Sky City- Japan Japan

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/engineering/skycity/interactive/interactive.html

-Japanese architect’s approach to urban crowding: living in the sky, a skyscraper that would house, entertain and employ hundreds of thousands of people. Can it be done?

Ostratornskolan, Lund, SwedenOstratornskolan, Lund, Sweden “ “Building ecology: first principles for a sustainable built environment”Building ecology: first principles for a sustainable built environment”

by Peter Grahamby Peter Graham

“School designed using ‘eco-cycles’, relationship between building and the social, economic, and environment at each of it’s life-cycle phases.” p.241

“Adhere to laws and principles of ecologically sustainable building, and takes advantage of the effectiveness of natural systems.” p. 241

“Create systems that consume max energy-quality.” p.255

“Use energy in a large number of small steps, not is a small number of large steps.” p. 255

“Minimize waste, consume resources no faster than the rate at which nature can replenish them.” p. 256

Examples of Reusing and Recycling:Examples of Reusing and Recycling:

•Use of 22 secondhand windows and 200,000 bricks.

•Use of crushed concrete and brick as aggregate, base-course, drainage, and foot paths.

•Designing few layers in the structures.

•Using no composite materials

•Use of durable, easy-to-maintain materials.

The Food Eco-CycleThe Food Eco-Cycle

-food and food-related waste is reused and recycled. Non-biodegradable materials used in cooking, serving food. Food comes from local farmer

-food grown is stored in an on-site earth cellar that maintains a constantly cool year-round temperature.

Energy Eco-cycleEnergy Eco-cycle-use of shade from facades, natural light, and low-energy light fittings to minimize heat.

-subsurface air used to heat air in winter, and cool in summer. Solar chimney to move air upward.

Solar EnergySolar Energy-solar energy to provide hot water.Entire roof is solar collector and heats water. It’s passed through a heat exchanger in the basement to heat water for use.

-Energy is in the system longer and reduces need to purchare energy for heating water.

Eco-water CycleEco-water Cycle-rainwater is toilet water. Two separate holding tanks—one for urine, the other for feces. After fermentation, sold as fertilizer to local farmer.-grey water is used for basins and showers, filtrated in ‘root zone”.

ReferencesReferences Highfield,R. (January 23, 2004) Trouble in the bio bubble.

The Age. Retrieved January 25, 2004. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/22/1074732535189.html

Extreme Engineering: Living in the Sky. http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/engineering/skycity/interactive/interactive.html

Graham, P. (2003). Building ecology: first principles for a sustainable built environment.Melbourne: Blackwell Science.