An article on the 3D printers capabilities to not only print affordable homes, but offer solutions to the environmental crisis by lowering oil usage while also aiding in relief efforts in places such as Yemen.

1. HAITHAM ALAINI
The Future of Yemen: 3D Printed Homes Could
Provide More than Just Affordable Housing

2. 2
Background
Only days after a Russian mobile 3D printer constructed a 310-square-foot
structure with a bathroom, kitchen, and living room/bedroom in only 24 hours
at a cost of $10,134, a Ukranian 3D printer claimed it can also create a home in
less than a day. They call it the PassivDom.
The home is wired for connectivity and can be controlled from a smartphone, but
what’s more impressive are the eco-friendly features. PassivDom is a completely
self-supporting home that produces its own heat and power from the energy
provided by roof solar panels. “The thermal characteristics are high enough to
use 20 times less energy than an ordinary building,” stated PassivDom founder,
Max Gerbut. The house requires no gas or water hookups, allowing the home to
be assembled almost anywhere. The home is constructed from a material which
is a combination of aluminum, carbon, and fiberglass, making the entire
structure recyclable.

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Unlike the Russian home, the PassivDom costs approximately $64,000 to print,
however, it comes move-in ready, even including kitchen appliances and wine
glasses. The Ukranian company has already come up with “packages” that cater
to different individuals, such as the Comfort home, which features a fireplace,
terrace, and home theater. They also have the Tamagotchi smart-house and the
Zombie Apocalypse house with a perimeter alarm system intact.
While this is all exciting to dream about, I must take an interest in the
possibilities this can lead to. We are burning more fossil fuels than we can
regenerate. Additionally, the burning of those fossil fuels emits pollution which
weakens our ozone layer, which has drastic effects on our environment. We burn
fossil fuels for energy and the most common forms of energy generation in
homes in the United States are natural gas and electricity, followed by heating
oil.
Background

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How Can 3D Printing Help the Environment and Yemen?
The 2016-2017 estimated average residential winter heating bills are expected to be over
$2,000 for heating oil and $553 for electric. A recent study shows that this year’s U.S.
consumer heating expenditures versus the preceding year’s show an increase in consumer
heating expenditures for natural gas (13%), heating oil (44%), and propane (22%.) Energy,
oil, and fuel are always the focus of conflict.
Generating affordable, energy efficient homes could make a positive change in the current
consumption rates, it could also change the landscape of housing crises around the world.
Yemen is directly affected by the housing crisis. Many homes have been destroyed from
the war in Yemen. The possibility of 3D printed homes could mean rebuilding these homes
quicker than ever before and more Yemenis living in environmentally friendly homes.

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How Can 3D Printing Help the Environment and Yemen?
If we can generate homes that people can live in, costing less than $10,000,
requiring no energy, water, heating set up; we can create not only more homes
but make a true impact on the environment. Not only would solar-powered
homes decrease energy consumption, but it would provide affordable homes that
are eco-friendly as well. We could house citizens of Yemen, we could use solar-
panel run structures to run hospitals, vehicles, etc. The sheer possibility of what
3D printing can offer at an affordable price and in an eco-friendly manner is
endless.

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The Future of Yemen: 3D Printed Homes Could Provide More
than Just Affordable Housing
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