SolaRoof Technology: Ecological Life Support Systems

Country: United Kingdom

Organization: Life Synthesis LLP

2. Focus of activity: Design
3. Start Year: 2000

4) Positioning in the mosaic of solutions: - Main barrier addressed: Inadequate current product offerings - Main principle addressed: Radically lower the cost of the entire housing delivery process

5. Description of housing product/service offering:

Life Synthesis LLP will act as provider and consultant of SolaRoof Technology projects.

SolaRoof is an Open Source low-cost method for "do it yourself" (DIY) construction of effective climate controlled lightweight structures that provides renewable and sustainable supplies of essential resources such as water, food and energy generated within the building systems. Going beyond basic shelters, SolaRoof designed built environments deliver comfortable as well as productive environments for plants, livestock and people.

Life Synthesis LLP aims to shelter residential communities within SolaRoof systems. This includes replacing conventional resource and energy intensive climate control systems with new and dynamic structures that capture and use solar energy by bringing daylight and plants into buildings. These ecologically designed, low cost SolaRoof structures use energy capture, storage, and cooling methods to incorporate plants, water and water based liquids, creating an integrated ecosystem within the building itself.

SolaRoof is both accessible and affordable to those living in poverty, but at the same time desirable to the affluent.

Due to traditions and the scale of the challenge, self-built homes need to be the main focus of new patterns of sustainable construction methods. Therefore training will include replicable training efforts that will be given to qualified applicants within targeted communities. These trainees will be supported by a global online community, and our social enterprise framework.

Our Open Source approach gives end-users maximum benefit and control, while allowing suppliers to compete to offer the components and materials at the lowest possible cost.

Aid dependency is addressed by using SolaRoof Technology as a way forward to new patterns of self-reliant, ecological and sustainable living that can create life with dignity, and prosperity for all.

6. Description of innovation:

SolaRoof methods facilitate an integrated approach to development and design based on principles of biomimicry. Our approach is truly ecological, and we believe SolaRoof is a necessary, proactive and novel approach to climate change. The versatility, adaptability and holistic approach to the issues involved is innovative in it's own right.

SolaRoof as a unique method of utilisation and interaction of solar energy, water workings and plant processes, depends on transparent roofs/building envelopes to enable two key processes; Liquid Cooling and Liquid Bubble Insulation/Shading.

SolaRoof is suitable for most types and uses of structures and can: Stand independently from an existing building to form an additional roof/superstructure; be added to the exterior of a roof or a wall; be part of or fully form roof or wall/s of new buildings; or replace existing features.

Various designs are possible combining SolaRoof with other technologies. Our team has in-depth experience with low cost DIY construction methods using rammed earth block and lightweight concrete components. Where other building methods use on-site aggregates, production and construction can take place below a SolaRoof cover to be protected from the wind, sun and rain.

Key SolaRoof benefits include:

• Versatility and cost of materials and uses;
• Elimination of hot roof disadvantages;
• Dramatic reduction of heat loss (R value of <30-40);
• Water recirculation, purification and desalination;
• Efficient food production;
• Maximum use of natural light;
• Dynamic and space effective energy production;
• Effective temperature and humidity control;
• Symbiotic relationship to nature that’s mutually beneficial;
• Realistic potential for self-sufficiency within a small area.

The above attributes of SolaRoof enable the transition into living with full ecological life support gradual and stress free; without unnecessary need for uprooting supportive social communities.

Bubbles in south side for shading: look carefully at the left side to see bubbles while the right side of the greenhouse tunnel is empty

7. Benefits to clients:

We encourage sharing of these best practices at our interactive development site http://www.solaroof.org and our discussion forum at the Yahoo Groups site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/so laroof/. These sites are linked with many other sustainable development groups and initiatives. A online social enterprise and e-learning framework, will expand the existing SolaRoof internet community, providing support to start up, develop and promote projects.

Several collaborators are focused on establishing networks of educational community centres for sustainable development, both in the developed and the developing world.

Dream Farm developed by the Institute of Science in Society is based on Professor George Chan’s Integrated Farming & Waste Management System. Prof. Chan is linked with ZERI (Zero Emission Research Initiatives) and has over 40 years experience developing it in over 70 countries.

Another example is the One Village Foundation - a US based NGO - now seeking to establish several Multi-purpose Community & Unity Centres Africa. This is part of a larger effort to work with the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) to further develop the existing GEN Africa chapter.

Other linked networks with particular focus on the Open Source methodology are Global Villages, Open Leader, Open Co-op, Open Source Ecology and Demo Tech to list a few.

The above together with many aligned businesses - of which Nottingham University, Max Fordham, Alcoa and The Alom Group are key - will raise awareness and credibility.

Commercial projects will contribute to the cost of implementation and production within poor communities though an Honour Payment system. This open source approach is designed for DIY and grassroots production and ideal for small enterprise development. Another key advantage to the SolaRoof system is that parts can be manufactured with minimum industrial infrastructure, resulting in value added local production and significant job creation.

8. Key operational partnerships: Key commercial partners:

• Nottingham University School of Built Environment, UK - Head of School Prof. Riffat;
• Max Fordham, Engineers, UK – Senior Director Mr. Watts;
• The Alom Group, Malaysia - Director Mr. Yiin.

Life Synthesis with the above partners form a global consultancy committed to R&D, design, manufacturing, delivery, sales and marketing. These partners are central to our expansion and credibility within the industry, government and funding bodies.

Partners planning to co-launch SolaRoof pilot projects:

• One Village Foundation, US – refining and developing best practices for emerging markets and adopting Solaroof into Unity Centre scheme that includes training, health care, ICT, business incubation, etc;
• Khutso Foundation, South Africa - set in the Waterberg Biosphere, is dedicated to showcasing - through environmental solutions - the empowerment of impoverished African communities in transforming the poorest of the poor;
• Gamspirit, The Gambia – exploring best practices for ecotourism with minimum footprint and maximum local involvement such as with SolaRoof designs that are included in ecovillage, spa and farming aspects of the project;
• Institute of Science in Society, UK – dedicated to the promotion of sustainable & integrated farming practices in the UK and other parts of the world.

9. Financial model:

Mechanisms for ensuring affordability of SolaRoof technologies will depend on each particular project. However in our projects, we are planning Community centres as a central point for organizing commmunity based social enterprises. These enterprises promoting local economic development taking direct or indirect advantage of SolaRoof technologies will lead to income growth that will make these housing developments more affordable.

This scheme of dramatically increasing agricultural and infrastructure productivity and efficiency will ensure the affordability of our products to low income marginalized populations in the target regions.

SolaRoof low cost housing because it is closely linked with income generation, will be used to fund and/or subsidize housing for workers.

• Costs as percentage of income: 200

• Financing: Initially, we rely on finance from private sources, though our own commercial activity and funding bodies. As our technology enables productivity, it is geared towards profitability, and consequently self-sustaining. The expenses of set-up can in most cases comfortably be paid back within 1-2 years, and thus make finance available to new users. As our structures are protective against climate change, pests, drought, floods etc, the potential for secure livelihoods are far greater than with traditional farming methods, and up to 10 times more productive than field production.

As a social enterprise with a unique and innovative approach to poverty alleviation, we will also approach all significant NGOs and individuals, media, internet as well as use carbon credit schemes to boost funding.

10. Effectiveness

    • Project outcomes: SolaRoof concept has been validated by several proof of concept greenhouses. There are 500+ members of the global community and many of these are considering and planning to build SolaRoof structures. Many more would like to get involved in other ways. The SolaRoof Community is not a business, but encourages leadership by individual and group initiatives. The method of collaborative and grassroots activity has often been effective where governments and universities have lacked in action. The next step is therefore to complete pilot projects for hands-on experience and training, and finalise initial supply chain management systems. Life Synthesis will encourage, enable and promote the Community so it can keep growing in parallel to our other activities.

    • Number of clients in past year: We estimate that hundreds have benefited from our online activity at our public forum, and several functional projects have been built,for example: www.solarbubblebuild.com. We also worked with www.ecoshelter.org

    • Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: 50

    • Potential demand: The potential and realistic demand for SolaRoof structures is enormous, and too vast to quantify in currency or number of clients!

Our market is truly global as SolaRoof is adaptable to all climates and all cultures, and can be applied in rural as well as urban settings.

With the effects of global warming and climate change are becoming increasingly noticeable and to many life-threatening, we aim to be prepared to tackle demands for energy efficient buildings as well as house displaced environmental refugees (expected to be 50 million within the next couple of decades).

Additionally, we aim to improve any house that is not currently providing adequate protection against the elements, for humans, animals and plants!

Overall market is therefore potentially much greater than 5 million people/several billion dollar industry.

11. Scaling up strategy

    • Stage of the initiative: Start Up stage.

    • Expansion plan: Rapid and effective diffusion include:

• Complete and promote several notable SolaRoof greenhouses.
• Undertake large-scale projects for desalination and energy production in Malaysia and Spain including components complimentary to low cost housing projects.
• Guide housing projects in planning through to completion, and establish on-site training.
• Design 20-30 houses for government of Oslo, Norway;
• Assist with set-up of Dream Farms;
• Assist with set-up of Unity Centre with One Village Foundation;
• Continue work to alleviate poverty and design mobile transitional shelters also suitable for environmental refugees (The Rotary is on standby to fund such shelters);
• Fundraise and promote technology.

Rapid expansion of DIY implementation is anticipated once the initial proof of concept stage is completed within the next three years.

12. Origin of the initiative: SolaRoof is based on the work and inventions of Richard Nelson and a background and list of IP is available at http://www.solaroof.org/wiki/Sol aRoofGuy. The technology has been research extensively for greenhouse applications the last two decades, but previously with a proprietary approach. Since 2000, an Open Source approach was adopted, and work initiated to supply know-how for independent exploitation, with intent to refine an Honour Payment structure through Creative Commons Public License to provide support to developing countries. The project escalated in response to the tsunami of December 2004, and the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005.

    Tropical SolaRoof Garden provides shelter and shade from living leaf canopy of plants, which can cool and provide food

Contact Information: Richard Nelson Director, Inventor, Entrepreneur Life Synthesis LLP (Social Ethical Enterprise, Network Coordinator and Holding Company) 140 Hayling Road United Kingdom Tel: 44 (0)7985 193731 Email: solaroof@yahoo.com