FlexSola is an innovative housing design that provides flexibility, affordability, and environmental benefits. The design allows units to accommodate one or two dwellings and be constructed with one, two, or three storeys. FlexSola units can also be expanded over time. The houses incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels and geo-thermal heating. FlexSola addresses many current housing trends like aging populations, multigenerational living, and working from home. The flexible and affordable design helps create stable, caring communities.
This document proposes a duplex housing scheme for New Orleans that maintains connections to the neighborhood while improving flood resilience. One unit is located at a lower elevation and closer to the ground to preserve social connections. The second larger unit is raised higher to provide increased protection from flooding. The lower unit could be rented out or used by family, while the larger upper unit acts as the primary residence. This design aims to rebuild neighborhoods in New Orleans through a familiar housing type adapted to current needs.
The document discusses building envelopes and energy conservation in buildings. It defines a building envelope as the outer shell that maintains indoor climate control. Properly designing, constructing, and maintaining the building envelope prevents air and water infiltration. The purposes of the building envelope include water resistance, air flow control, and serving as a thermal envelope. Passive solar systems operate without external devices by using solar energy captured through windows. Active solar systems use collectors and storage to capture solar heat and transfer it within a building. The document also discusses types of energy used in commercial buildings and embodied energy in building materials and construction processes. Building automation and management systems aim to efficiently control building operations and reduce energy consumption and costs.
Ever wondered why some homes feel more comfortable than others? Want to re-discover what our ancestors knew about home building that works in concord with site, climate and orientation? Want to visit a honest-to-goodness passive solar home? Join us as we investigate the concepts and practice of passive solar buildings. Whether you're building new, remodeling or want to improve the energy and comfort performance of your home, this workshop is for you.
The document discusses principles of passive solar design and appropriate structures for different climates. It covers designing structures to maximize solar gain in winter and minimize it in summer through site placement, building orientation, materials, glazing, thermal mass, ventilation and shading strategies. Passive solar design techniques discussed include direct gain, indirect gain, isolated gain and passive cooling approaches.
William McDonough + Partners (Charlottesville) Damian-111093
The document describes a proposed house design that aims to be eco-effective and promote connections between humans and the natural environment. The design includes modular construction, photovoltaic roofing, and uses materials classified as biological nutrients, technical nutrients, or products of service. It also features integrated water collection, solar thermal systems, and green roofs. The house is designed to accommodate changes over time through expandable spaces and future disassembly/reuse of components.
The document presents diagrams for a sustainable housing design called the 3+1 b2 House in New Orleans. It utilizes several passive design strategies to reduce energy needs including cross ventilation through a longitudinal hallway and floor vents, stack ventilation with high ceilings and operable windows, and raised foundation to allow air circulation. Other strategies are daylighting from north-facing windows, deep overhangs, a rainwater cistern, and solar photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roof. The design is derived from traditional New Orleans "camelback" housing adapted for sustainability and alternative family living patterns.
The document is a presentation about strategies for improving energy efficiency in homes in the Virgin Islands. It discusses various appliances and equipment that use significant energy, such as water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators and lighting. It promotes programs like ENERGY STAR that designate high-efficiency products and recommends behaviors for saving water and energy, such as fixing leaks, running full loads of laundry, and unplugging phantom loads. The presentation emphasizes that energy efficiency provides benefits like saving money and energy independence while helping the environment.
This document describes the design of a sustainable housing project based on traditional Creole cottages in New Orleans. Key features include a main three-bedroom unit at the front and a one-bedroom rear unit that can be combined or used separately. The raised structure is set back to optimize solar orientation around a central courtyard. Natural cross ventilation and stack effect ventilation are maximized using room layouts, high windows, and sloped ceilings. Rainwater is collected and reused for irrigation and plumbing, while stormwater is managed through swales and rain gardens. Construction uses prefabricated structural insulated panels for efficiency, and sustainable materials provide a highly insulated building envelope.
This document proposes a duplex housing scheme for New Orleans that maintains connections to the neighborhood while improving flood resilience. One unit is located at a lower elevation and closer to the ground to preserve social connections. The second larger unit is raised higher to provide increased protection from flooding. The lower unit could be rented out or used by family, while the larger upper unit acts as the primary residence. This design aims to rebuild neighborhoods in New Orleans through a familiar housing type adapted to current needs.
The document discusses building envelopes and energy conservation in buildings. It defines a building envelope as the outer shell that maintains indoor climate control. Properly designing, constructing, and maintaining the building envelope prevents air and water infiltration. The purposes of the building envelope include water resistance, air flow control, and serving as a thermal envelope. Passive solar systems operate without external devices by using solar energy captured through windows. Active solar systems use collectors and storage to capture solar heat and transfer it within a building. The document also discusses types of energy used in commercial buildings and embodied energy in building materials and construction processes. Building automation and management systems aim to efficiently control building operations and reduce energy consumption and costs.
Ever wondered why some homes feel more comfortable than others? Want to re-discover what our ancestors knew about home building that works in concord with site, climate and orientation? Want to visit a honest-to-goodness passive solar home? Join us as we investigate the concepts and practice of passive solar buildings. Whether you're building new, remodeling or want to improve the energy and comfort performance of your home, this workshop is for you.
The document discusses principles of passive solar design and appropriate structures for different climates. It covers designing structures to maximize solar gain in winter and minimize it in summer through site placement, building orientation, materials, glazing, thermal mass, ventilation and shading strategies. Passive solar design techniques discussed include direct gain, indirect gain, isolated gain and passive cooling approaches.
William McDonough + Partners (Charlottesville) Damian-111093
The document describes a proposed house design that aims to be eco-effective and promote connections between humans and the natural environment. The design includes modular construction, photovoltaic roofing, and uses materials classified as biological nutrients, technical nutrients, or products of service. It also features integrated water collection, solar thermal systems, and green roofs. The house is designed to accommodate changes over time through expandable spaces and future disassembly/reuse of components.
The document presents diagrams for a sustainable housing design called the 3+1 b2 House in New Orleans. It utilizes several passive design strategies to reduce energy needs including cross ventilation through a longitudinal hallway and floor vents, stack ventilation with high ceilings and operable windows, and raised foundation to allow air circulation. Other strategies are daylighting from north-facing windows, deep overhangs, a rainwater cistern, and solar photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roof. The design is derived from traditional New Orleans "camelback" housing adapted for sustainability and alternative family living patterns.
The document is a presentation about strategies for improving energy efficiency in homes in the Virgin Islands. It discusses various appliances and equipment that use significant energy, such as water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators and lighting. It promotes programs like ENERGY STAR that designate high-efficiency products and recommends behaviors for saving water and energy, such as fixing leaks, running full loads of laundry, and unplugging phantom loads. The presentation emphasizes that energy efficiency provides benefits like saving money and energy independence while helping the environment.
This document describes the design of a sustainable housing project based on traditional Creole cottages in New Orleans. Key features include a main three-bedroom unit at the front and a one-bedroom rear unit that can be combined or used separately. The raised structure is set back to optimize solar orientation around a central courtyard. Natural cross ventilation and stack effect ventilation are maximized using room layouts, high windows, and sloped ceilings. Rainwater is collected and reused for irrigation and plumbing, while stormwater is managed through swales and rain gardens. Construction uses prefabricated structural insulated panels for efficiency, and sustainable materials provide a highly insulated building envelope.
Passive Solar Design (Architecture)
The intention of this slideshow is to provide a basic introduction to passive solar design and architecture.
A very simple historical example (Afghanistan) is given with some diagrams to explain the basics of passive solar and some passive ventilation principles (comparing winter and summer). Towards the end an example of a more complex design (Solar decathlon 2012-SLIDE house, Egypt) is included to illustrate some of the combination of solar principles and movement in relation to the sun (harvesting the energy of the sun). On some of the last slides I make a comment about the SLIDE house to
get the viewer to think about Nano technology and bio-mimetics. The last slide provide a link to a website on Bio-mimetics.
The viewer can explore bio-mimicry and its role in design by asking nature how?
Website: http://williamvanzyldvchc.co.nz/
Guide to Building an Energy Efficient Home mrconroy
The document provides guidance on building an energy efficient home. It discusses selecting an appropriately oriented site that receives winter sun and is sheltered from wind. The building should have a compact form and south-facing orientation to allow for passive solar heating. High levels of insulation throughout the building fabric are important to minimize heat loss, as is avoiding thermal bridges. Proper ventilation is also essential to provide fresh air while minimizing energy wasted through draughts.
This document describes a proposed housing design for the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. The design utilizes a structural furniture unit (SFU) system pioneered by architect Shigeru Ban. The SFUs act as the primary structure, providing storage and allowing for rapid, low-cost construction. By incorporating passive environmental strategies like cross ventilation and shading, the design aims to reconnect residents to the outdoors while reducing energy needs.
The document describes the Make it Right (MIR) duplex home designed by Pugh + Scarpa Architects. The home seeks to redefine the concept of a home as a flexible, multifunctional space that addresses the needs of modern families while emphasizing public and private zones. It was designed to restore pride and strengthen the social network in neighborhoods in New Orleans hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Key design elements include an oversized front porch with seating areas, a cook pit, and steps connecting to the street to encourage socialization. Interior spaces are organized to mediate between public and private areas while connecting the two units. Sustainable features also help passively cool the home.
Passive solar buildings utilize passive solar gain and thermal mass to minimize energy costs and provide comfort. They are designed to maximize winter sun exposure through large, south-facing windows while minimizing overheating in summer through features like eaves, shading, and insulation. Thermal mass materials like concrete or brick absorb solar heat from windows and re-radiate it to maintain an even temperature without needing active heating systems. Proper orientation, insulation, and passive solar techniques can significantly reduce a building's energy costs through natural heating and cooling.
William Mcdonough & his works (Architect study)Shailja km
1) The document discusses several sustainable building projects designed by architect William McDonough, including offices that use wastewater recycling, green roofs to reduce stormwater and heat gain, and daylighting and natural ventilation.
2) It also describes a new NASA facility that uses an exoskeleton structure for seismic performance and daylighting, as well as McDonough's redesign of the Ford River Rouge Complex, which included installing a sedum roof to clean rainwater and reduce energy costs.
3) Finally, the document discusses an Ohio school that uses geothermal wells and passive solar strategies for heating and cooling, as well as landscaping that includes local ecosystems. The materials, lighting, and HV
Solar panels are a popular form of renewable energy that can generate electricity for homes and businesses. They provide environmental benefits by reducing harmful emissions and helping address climate change. Through government incentives, homeowners can save £200-300 annually on electricity bills and earn a tax-free income from solar panels. Solar panels require an investment but can generate £900-1000 per year for the homeowner.
The document describes a prototype home designed by Pugh + Scarpa called the Make it Right (MIR) home. The MIR home seeks to redefine the concept of a home as a flexible, multifunctional and adaptable space. It features large common areas and emphasizes community over private isolated spaces. The exterior features recycled wooden pallets wrapped around the building to provide shade and texture. The design incorporates various sustainable systems like solar panels, cross ventilation, and rainwater collection to be efficient and environmentally friendly.
South-facing glass is a key component of passive solar design that uses direct sunlight to heat buildings without mechanical devices. In a direct gain system, sunlight enters through windows and warms interior spaces, with the living area absorbing heat and distributing it to thermal mass materials like masonry floors and walls. Direct gain systems can use 60-75% of sunlight's energy to heat the building. Double or triple glazed windows are recommended for direct gain to reduce heat loss during winter.
Sustainable architecture without architects presentationSimi Razavian
Assess how sun, wind, water, and thermal mass have been used to transform a harsh natural environment into a comfortable residential environment
Evaluate innovative uses of local material in building
Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using only local materials to create buildings
The Lagniappe House was designed with a flexible floor plan that connects indoor and outdoor spaces. It applies the Cradle to Cradle concept through its orientation, materials, energy/water management, and passive survivability features. Young Aspirations/Young Artists, a non-profit, will provide murals and art for the exterior to empower inner-city youth. The house has front and rear porches, decks, and a landscaped yard to foster community and accommodate Louisiana culture.
This document provides an overview of passive solar design principles for homes. It discusses 14 principles, including orienting the home towards the sun, incorporating sufficient thermal mass, insulating the building envelope, and using landscaping and overhangs for shading. The document explains how passive solar design can significantly reduce energy costs while improving comfort. It also presents examples of passive solar strategies used historically and provides a hypothetical modeling comparison showing energy savings from applying passive solar measures.
This document describes several pre-designed, sustainable home designs from Fab-Homes and their builder partner AppleBuilt. The homes featured are highly energy efficient and environmentally friendly, using principles of passive house design. Floor plans and descriptions are provided for models like the Olympia I, Gardenhouse, and Marken, highlighting features like bedrooms, floors, and options for green roofs or renewable energy systems. Heating and cooling is primarily via efficient ventilation systems.
This document discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various alternative energy sources including solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, and bioenergy. It notes that alternative energy sources can help address problems with fossil fuel usage like air pollution, economic security issues, and global warming. However, initial costs are high for many alternative energy implementations. Overall, the document advocates for increased alternative energy development and usage as a step towards addressing energy and environmental challenges.
components of a green home...different kinds of green homes..What makes these homes special and different from others is that they are built with ecological recyclable and renewable materials
This document outlines principles of energy efficient house design, including siting, orientation, passive solar heating and cooling, insulation, thermal mass, glazing, and designing for greater energy efficiency. Some key points discussed are orienting living areas to the north, using eaves and shading to control solar access, incorporating thermal mass to moderate temperatures, choosing efficient glazing and frames, and options like enhanced insulation and double glazing to improve a home's energy rating. The purpose is to design homes that require minimal energy to maintain comfort while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Presentation to the North York Library on passive approaches to cooling schools and residential buildings in light of the recent issues with overheating.
Trombe walls in lTrombe Walls in Low-Energyow energyomaribr
- Trombe walls are thick, south-facing walls that trap heat from sunlight during the day and slowly release it at night to help heat buildings. They were incorporated into the design of the Zion National Park Visitor Center and an NREL building.
- The Zion Visitor Center Trombe wall is an 8-inch concrete wall that provided 20% of the building's heating over one winter. Infrared images show interior wall temperatures up to 96°F providing radiant heating in the evenings.
- Monitoring found the NREL building's thinner, 4-inch Trombe wall released heat more quickly, keeping interior spaces warm through the afternoons during the winter with no other heating needed.
The owners of Shirey Handyman, Donna and Riley Shirey are building a Zero Energy Demonstration Home on the shores of Lake Sammamish. Shirey Contracting Inc. is the builder. The Shirey\'s have been building with green and sustainable ideals before it had the name of "Green Building" and can now showcase their work in this wonderful home while educating the public.
Passive Solar Design (Architecture)
The intention of this slideshow is to provide a basic introduction to passive solar design and architecture.
A very simple historical example (Afghanistan) is given with some diagrams to explain the basics of passive solar and some passive ventilation principles (comparing winter and summer). Towards the end an example of a more complex design (Solar decathlon 2012-SLIDE house, Egypt) is included to illustrate some of the combination of solar principles and movement in relation to the sun (harvesting the energy of the sun). On some of the last slides I make a comment about the SLIDE house to
get the viewer to think about Nano technology and bio-mimetics. The last slide provide a link to a website on Bio-mimetics.
The viewer can explore bio-mimicry and its role in design by asking nature how?
Website: http://williamvanzyldvchc.co.nz/
Guide to Building an Energy Efficient Home mrconroy
The document provides guidance on building an energy efficient home. It discusses selecting an appropriately oriented site that receives winter sun and is sheltered from wind. The building should have a compact form and south-facing orientation to allow for passive solar heating. High levels of insulation throughout the building fabric are important to minimize heat loss, as is avoiding thermal bridges. Proper ventilation is also essential to provide fresh air while minimizing energy wasted through draughts.
This document describes a proposed housing design for the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. The design utilizes a structural furniture unit (SFU) system pioneered by architect Shigeru Ban. The SFUs act as the primary structure, providing storage and allowing for rapid, low-cost construction. By incorporating passive environmental strategies like cross ventilation and shading, the design aims to reconnect residents to the outdoors while reducing energy needs.
The document describes the Make it Right (MIR) duplex home designed by Pugh + Scarpa Architects. The home seeks to redefine the concept of a home as a flexible, multifunctional space that addresses the needs of modern families while emphasizing public and private zones. It was designed to restore pride and strengthen the social network in neighborhoods in New Orleans hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Key design elements include an oversized front porch with seating areas, a cook pit, and steps connecting to the street to encourage socialization. Interior spaces are organized to mediate between public and private areas while connecting the two units. Sustainable features also help passively cool the home.
Passive solar buildings utilize passive solar gain and thermal mass to minimize energy costs and provide comfort. They are designed to maximize winter sun exposure through large, south-facing windows while minimizing overheating in summer through features like eaves, shading, and insulation. Thermal mass materials like concrete or brick absorb solar heat from windows and re-radiate it to maintain an even temperature without needing active heating systems. Proper orientation, insulation, and passive solar techniques can significantly reduce a building's energy costs through natural heating and cooling.
William Mcdonough & his works (Architect study)Shailja km
1) The document discusses several sustainable building projects designed by architect William McDonough, including offices that use wastewater recycling, green roofs to reduce stormwater and heat gain, and daylighting and natural ventilation.
2) It also describes a new NASA facility that uses an exoskeleton structure for seismic performance and daylighting, as well as McDonough's redesign of the Ford River Rouge Complex, which included installing a sedum roof to clean rainwater and reduce energy costs.
3) Finally, the document discusses an Ohio school that uses geothermal wells and passive solar strategies for heating and cooling, as well as landscaping that includes local ecosystems. The materials, lighting, and HV
Solar panels are a popular form of renewable energy that can generate electricity for homes and businesses. They provide environmental benefits by reducing harmful emissions and helping address climate change. Through government incentives, homeowners can save £200-300 annually on electricity bills and earn a tax-free income from solar panels. Solar panels require an investment but can generate £900-1000 per year for the homeowner.
The document describes a prototype home designed by Pugh + Scarpa called the Make it Right (MIR) home. The MIR home seeks to redefine the concept of a home as a flexible, multifunctional and adaptable space. It features large common areas and emphasizes community over private isolated spaces. The exterior features recycled wooden pallets wrapped around the building to provide shade and texture. The design incorporates various sustainable systems like solar panels, cross ventilation, and rainwater collection to be efficient and environmentally friendly.
South-facing glass is a key component of passive solar design that uses direct sunlight to heat buildings without mechanical devices. In a direct gain system, sunlight enters through windows and warms interior spaces, with the living area absorbing heat and distributing it to thermal mass materials like masonry floors and walls. Direct gain systems can use 60-75% of sunlight's energy to heat the building. Double or triple glazed windows are recommended for direct gain to reduce heat loss during winter.
Sustainable architecture without architects presentationSimi Razavian
Assess how sun, wind, water, and thermal mass have been used to transform a harsh natural environment into a comfortable residential environment
Evaluate innovative uses of local material in building
Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using only local materials to create buildings
The Lagniappe House was designed with a flexible floor plan that connects indoor and outdoor spaces. It applies the Cradle to Cradle concept through its orientation, materials, energy/water management, and passive survivability features. Young Aspirations/Young Artists, a non-profit, will provide murals and art for the exterior to empower inner-city youth. The house has front and rear porches, decks, and a landscaped yard to foster community and accommodate Louisiana culture.
This document provides an overview of passive solar design principles for homes. It discusses 14 principles, including orienting the home towards the sun, incorporating sufficient thermal mass, insulating the building envelope, and using landscaping and overhangs for shading. The document explains how passive solar design can significantly reduce energy costs while improving comfort. It also presents examples of passive solar strategies used historically and provides a hypothetical modeling comparison showing energy savings from applying passive solar measures.
This document describes several pre-designed, sustainable home designs from Fab-Homes and their builder partner AppleBuilt. The homes featured are highly energy efficient and environmentally friendly, using principles of passive house design. Floor plans and descriptions are provided for models like the Olympia I, Gardenhouse, and Marken, highlighting features like bedrooms, floors, and options for green roofs or renewable energy systems. Heating and cooling is primarily via efficient ventilation systems.
This document discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various alternative energy sources including solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, and bioenergy. It notes that alternative energy sources can help address problems with fossil fuel usage like air pollution, economic security issues, and global warming. However, initial costs are high for many alternative energy implementations. Overall, the document advocates for increased alternative energy development and usage as a step towards addressing energy and environmental challenges.
components of a green home...different kinds of green homes..What makes these homes special and different from others is that they are built with ecological recyclable and renewable materials
This document outlines principles of energy efficient house design, including siting, orientation, passive solar heating and cooling, insulation, thermal mass, glazing, and designing for greater energy efficiency. Some key points discussed are orienting living areas to the north, using eaves and shading to control solar access, incorporating thermal mass to moderate temperatures, choosing efficient glazing and frames, and options like enhanced insulation and double glazing to improve a home's energy rating. The purpose is to design homes that require minimal energy to maintain comfort while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Presentation to the North York Library on passive approaches to cooling schools and residential buildings in light of the recent issues with overheating.
Trombe walls in lTrombe Walls in Low-Energyow energyomaribr
- Trombe walls are thick, south-facing walls that trap heat from sunlight during the day and slowly release it at night to help heat buildings. They were incorporated into the design of the Zion National Park Visitor Center and an NREL building.
- The Zion Visitor Center Trombe wall is an 8-inch concrete wall that provided 20% of the building's heating over one winter. Infrared images show interior wall temperatures up to 96°F providing radiant heating in the evenings.
- Monitoring found the NREL building's thinner, 4-inch Trombe wall released heat more quickly, keeping interior spaces warm through the afternoons during the winter with no other heating needed.
The owners of Shirey Handyman, Donna and Riley Shirey are building a Zero Energy Demonstration Home on the shores of Lake Sammamish. Shirey Contracting Inc. is the builder. The Shirey\'s have been building with green and sustainable ideals before it had the name of "Green Building" and can now showcase their work in this wonderful home while educating the public.
Book of Daniel, part 2 (Bible prophesies for the last times series)Anar R Guliyev
The document discusses two groups of God's people that are mentioned in Revelation:
1) The 144,000 who meet Christ alive on Mount Zion and are sealed to be protected from tribulations.
2) The great multitude that comes out of great tribulation, who are resurrected to stand before the throne of God. Both groups ultimately meet together with Christ, with the resurrected rising first followed by those alive being caught up.
The story of Daniel and his friends is presented as a foreshadowing of these two groups, with Daniel representing the 144,000 who remain faithful until the end, and his friends representing the great multitude who face tribulation but are saved.
The document discusses techniques for sentiment analysis and opinion mining from social media, including defining the concepts, describing business interests and software packages for analyzing sentiment, and explaining how sentiment analysis can be done at the document, sentence, and entity level through automated classification of text. It also provides examples of sentiment analysis at the document level as a text classification problem using supervised machine learning algorithms.
Vacances et réseaux sociaux : 3 mythes déjoués pour les marques Groupe 361
À moins de ne pas avoir d’accès à Internet par manque de couverture ou de data, aucune raison de ne pas consulter son fil d’actualité pendant les vacances !
Pour les marques, pas question de se reposer ! Groupe 361 balaye les préjugés des annonceurs sur la période estivale et les réseaux sociaux.
Indian Medical Advisors Summit 2014 HighlightsAnup Soans
INMAS - Indian Medical Advisors Summit is first of its kind initiative that has been
undertaken in India for the cause of Medical Affairs.
INMAS - Indian Medical Advisors Summit - 2014 - Watch Video on
www.youtube.com - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCNVUlzyEpg
Mining and analyzing social media bollywood w pajek - hicss47 tutorial - da...Dave King
This document outlines steps taken in analyzing a bipartite network of Bollywood movies and actors. It describes transforming the bipartite network into separate actor and movie networks, calculating metrics like degree and distance for each, and visualizing the results including coloring nodes by popularity and size by degree. Key metrics calculated include the average distance of 3.44 in the actor network.
The document discusses the rise of social media and social engagement as the future of branding. It notes that consumers are increasingly researching products online and sharing information via social networks. While brands have less control in social media than in their own websites, the document provides an example of how Heinz was able to generate sales and insights by engaging mothers in an online community discussion about a new product. It emphasizes that brands need new skills and processes to effectively participate in conversations on social media.
The document discusses different types of friends represented by different colors. A green friend is positive and hopeful. A blue friend brings peace and serenity. A yellow friend makes people laugh and provides comfort when sad. A red friend encourages rule following but also change through warm words. An orange friend enhances spirit and energy. A grey friend teaches silence and self-reflection. A purple friend helps learn wisdom and true authority. A brown friend helps come down to reality. A white friend helps discover wisdom in experiences. Together, all friends form a rainbow of love.
A presentation of "How we communicate God in Public Life" and what role faith has in public life. Representations were made by leading bishops, politicians and news broadcasters. Emphasis was given on we can be confident in communicating faith values in secular societies with ethical principles and values as a common denominator.
This document provides an agenda and instructions for a Groupsite training session. It outlines how to access and set up an account on the NEA Retired Groupsite, including completing a profile, changing email addresses, participating in discussions, attaching files, inserting images, using the file cabinet, sharing links, and switching between Groupsites. The training covers basic functions for participating in and navigating the site.
Este documento menciona varios lugares de interés histórico y cultural en la ciudad de San Fernando, como el Castillo de San Felipe, el Castillo de la Palma, la Plaza de España, la Plaza de Armas y el Palacio Consistorial, el Teatro Jofre y el Parador de Turismo.
This document discusses cyberbullying and the author's experience with it. The author found offensive comments on their website from a former classmate. They considered reporting the bully, retaliating, or forgiving them. The author chose forgiveness and provides advice to both bullies and victims of bullying, encouraging them to seek help and support rather than spreading hate. They hope bullies will learn to find joy instead of bullying others.
This document summarizes the goals and activities of the European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs (YES) to improve entrepreneurship in Europe. YES aims to foster business cooperation and networking among young entrepreneurs aged 18-45 across 16 European countries. It also maintains dialogue with EU institutions. YES sees opportunities to boost entrepreneurship in Europe through improving access to capital, markets, and building a more entrepreneurial culture, especially by supporting startups and considering the EU as a single market. YES' action plan includes initiatives to boost startup funding, facilitate B2B connections across Europe, and foster a more supportive environment for entrepreneurship.
A lever is a simple machine that uses a bar on a fixed point to lift heavy objects with ease. The fulcrum is where the two pieces meet and effort and load are applied on opposite sides. A door handle is an example lever.
A pulley is a wheel with a grooved rim that a rope or chain runs through to change the direction of a pull and lift loads. Examples are shoe laces and window blinds.
An inclined plane is a ramp that raises an object to a higher level, making it easier to move. Examples are wheelchair ramps and stairs.
A wheel and axle uses an axle on which a wheel is attached to pull a rope or chain and move
The document provides an overview of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and its Valuation Council in the Americas. RICS is a leading professional body for property and valuation specialists with over 140,000 members globally. The Valuation Council was established to provide leadership on important valuation issues and represent the various valuation disciplines. It aims to serve the public interest by promoting high standards, advocacy, education, and peer review across the valuation profession in the Americas.
Decades ago, Peter Drucker was invited to address the senior management team at General Motors, he asked them a simple, but penetrating question: “Why should I buy a GM car?”
Many senior executives attempted to answer that simple question but, nobody was able to give a convincing answer! The senior managers at General Motors had unlearnt the art of winning customers by not being able to answer the simple question - “Why should I buy a GM car?” But they kept introducing more and more new models which less and less customers bought. And that was the prelude to GM’s decline and bankruptcy.
That question still resonates for every business including Indian Pharma. I wonder how many field sales people - Medical Reps and their managers can answer the question - Why Should the Doctor Rx Your Product? Having a clear answer to that question is the key to winning customers - be they doctors, chemists, distributors or hospitals.
As companies grow larger, hierarchies are created and sales processes like CRM/SFA evolve and become embedded. In the absence of a dynamic top leadership, hierarchy and processes become rigid and difficult to change even though rapidly changing market dynamics demand that they do. Bureaucracy slows down customer-centric decision making and inaction becomes part of the organisation's culture. The emphasis shifts from developing employees and winning customers to launching products and hitting numbers.
Peter Drucker rarely blamed individuals; he saw root causes in the design of organizations—in their structures, processes, norms, and routines. He would ask leaders a few provocative questions: “What is your mission? What should you stop doing? Where has the drive for short-term efficiencies undermined long-term effectiveness? What should be your objectives and guiding principles?”
This document provides details about NP Enterprises South Africa (PTY) Ltd, including its company registration information, board of directors, history, product lines, quality certifications, strategic partners, and business strategy. The company was established in South Africa in 2015 and specializes in renewable energy sources and technologies. It offers a range of green products and solutions related to solar power, biomass heating, water management, and more. The company works with strategic partners in Greece to access specialized expertise and provide clients with sustainable and cost-effective energy and resource management.
Vermeulen proposes redeveloping existing neighborhoods in Oxford by purchasing older homes, demolishing them, and constructing modern apartment buildings with greater density. This could triple the number of homes in some areas without losing green space. Apartment buildings would be no more than four stories tall. Redeveloping just one neighborhood could create over 8,000 additional households. Expanding this approach across Oxford could create around 57,000 new homes, comfortably meeting housing demand. The redevelopment could pay for itself through sale of new apartments and increased tax revenues.
This document discusses green roofs and their benefits. It provides examples of four different types of green roof designs: 1) Wave House with various plant varieties in a sine wave design; 2) Mill Valley Cabins with succulent sedum in bands; 3) Ecospace sustainable garden studios with flat or mono-pitched mossy roofs requiring little maintenance; 4) Mobius Villa eco dwelling in China with a figure 8 design featuring a living green roof and solar panels. Green roofs provide benefits like reducing air pollution, managing stormwater, insulating buildings, and extending the life of roof materials.
E-Citizen as a part of its social responsibility towards society in terms of reducing air pollution, improve public health and to reduce mortality rates playing its important role by bringing the renewable energy products like Solar air conditioning, Solar chargers, Solar chimney, Solar Calculator, Solar cooker, solar inverter, street lights, solar vehicles and many more, at the doorstep of customer, which in turn results into economic growth of the nation.
This document discusses solar building design principles and provides examples of solar homes. It begins by explaining how ancient civilizations oriented buildings toward the sun and discusses how modern passive solar design is practical and affordable. It then describes four solar home projects: 1) An award-winning passive solar home in Northern California that needs no fuel for heating or cooling. 2) A five-story solar tower house with a solar-heated hot tub. 3) A barn with a 3 kW integrated solar roof that powers a home and apartment. 4) A 2,000 square foot home combining passive solar and solar collectors for heating and a roof-integrated PV system. It provides details on orientation, thermal mass, insulation and the energy savings of the
1. The document discusses protected cultivation (also called greenhouse cultivation) of vegetable crops in India, including its history, types of greenhouses, advantages, and challenges.
2. Different structures used for protected cultivation include low-cost, medium-cost, and high-cost greenhouses, as well as plastic tunnels, shade net houses, and types defined by their shape (lean-to, quonset, etc).
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Living roofs are rooftops that are partially or completely covered with vegetation. They have been gaining popularity in Europe, where one-third of new roofs in some areas are now living roofs. Living roofs can provide insulation, help regulate rooftop temperatures, increase habitat for wildlife, and beautify buildings. They are categorized as either extensive or intensive based on soil depth and plant types supported. Creating a living roof involves installing multiple layers like a waterproof membrane, root barrier, drainage system, and growing medium before planting vegetation suited to the roof environment.
Protected Cultivation of Vegetable crops Present Status and Futures Prospects...Hemant Kumar Gurjar
Protected cultivation techniques provide favorable growing conditions for crops by controlling the environment. In India, protected cultivation was first started by DRDO in the 1960s and has grown significantly since then due to various government schemes. Different structures are used for protected cultivation based on cost and needs, including low-cost structures made of bamboo, medium-cost structures with GI pipes, and automated high-cost greenhouses. Protected cultivation allows year-round production, higher yields, better quality, and less pesticide use than open field cultivation. However, the high initial costs and need for technical skills remain challenges to adoption in India. Future areas of focus include developing standardized protocols, farmer-friendly techniques, and suitable crop varieties for different climate zones.
Every year, the innovation platform Sustainia compiles a guide showcasing 100 solutions from around the globe that are already creating a more sustainable future.
Tiny homes guide: here's everything you need to knowTradePros
Tiny homes are residential structures under 500 square feet that are gaining popularity in Canada. They suit singles, couples, empty nesters, and nomadic lifestyles due to their affordable size. Tiny homes can be stationary, meaning they remain in one location, or mobile, allowing freedom of movement. Budgets can range from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on materials, furnishings, and construction method. Living off the grid requires water storage, composting toilets, generators or renewable energy for power. With proper insulation, tiny homes can withstand cold Canadian winters.
This document provides guidance for residents living in conservation areas or listed buildings who want to install renewable energy systems in their homes. It discusses how to position renewable energy technologies like solar panels, solar hot water systems, and wind turbines in ways that do not negatively impact the historic or architectural character of the property. The document emphasizes that planning permission and/or listed building consent is required for installations. It provides diagrams showing appropriate and inappropriate positions for solar hot water panels on different types of buildings and rooflines.
This document discusses passive solar home design. It explains that a passive solar home uses natural sunlight and the thermal mass properties of materials to provide heating, cooling, and lighting with minimal mechanical systems or supplementary energy. Some key passive solar design elements mentioned include large south-facing windows, solid walls for thermal storage, water tanks, fans for air circulation, and overhangs to block summer sun. The document emphasizes that passive solar design can significantly reduce a home's energy usage and costs while improving comfort.
This document discusses passive solar home design. It explains that a passive solar home gets heating, cooling, and lighting from the sun through design elements like large south-facing windows, solid walls, and overhangs that collect and store solar energy. Passive solar homes require no mechanical systems and are independent of future fuel costs, saving money over time while providing comfort. The document emphasizes that passive solar design can significantly reduce a home's energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through natural heating and strategies like super insulation.
Besides the aesthetics of a newly minted infill, there’s a lot more to the home build than meets the eye. Given the rapid growth in popularity of infills some people may rush to invest in their dream home and often overlook (or don’t consider) important aspects of the home during construction.
Here are some modern building techniques to look out for. These methods will improve the efficiency, longevity and safety of your new home!
Micro Dwellings is a modular housing system that can be configured in many ways and adapted based on changing lifestyle needs. Pad is an example of modular construction with interchangeable rooms built off-site for quick assembly. Smartshax cabins are meant to blend into natural surroundings. The Seoul Commune towers propose separating functions into public, private, and commercial spaces with rooms, communal areas, and services, built with photovoltaic glass and plants for environmental benefits.
The document provides information on greenhouses and controlled environment agriculture. It discusses the optimal conditions needed for plant growth in greenhouses, including temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and light spectrum. It describes how greenhouses allow crops to be grown year-round by modifying the natural environment. Greenhouses are framed structures covered with transparent materials that allow crops to be grown under partially controlled conditions. The document also summarizes the history and global use of greenhouses, and provides examples of different greenhouse types based on their shape.
reseach notes on architectural servicezonesEsmiMusa
This document discusses factors to consider for the optimal design of residential housing. It introduces the different zones of a house - private, social, and service - and describes key elements of each zone. The service zone elements discussed include the kitchen, garage, laundry room, workshop/office, greenhouse, lobby, and recreation room. Guidelines are provided for the spatial relationships between these service zones and other areas of the home, with a focus on kitchen layout and efficiency.
The document proposes a new business model for providing sustainable electricity to rural and remote areas currently without power. The model involves decentralizing solar thermal energy production using miniature molten salt storage systems that can power individual homes or small communities. It would reduce costs and environmental impacts compared to traditional grid expansion. Partnerships with companies like Bright Source and GE would help develop the technology and provide efficient appliances to minimize energy demand. Microfinance could help customers afford the systems, while carbon credits could incentivize their adoption. With over a billion potential customers, the model could be profitable while solving a major global problem.
This document discusses various topics related to urban agriculture technologies, including greenhouses, green roofs, vertical gardens, urban livestock, hydroponics, and container growing. It provides definitions, brief histories, types, and considerations for implementing these technologies in an urban environment. The primary focus is on greenhouses and their construction, equipment needs, and suitable plant species for the climate in Quebec. Alternatives for heating greenhouses and examples of innovative urban agriculture projects utilizing these technologies are also presented.
Dr. Sean Tan, Head of Data Science, Changi Airport Group
Discover how Changi Airport Group (CAG) leverages graph technologies and generative AI to revolutionize their search capabilities. This session delves into the unique search needs of CAG’s diverse passengers and customers, showcasing how graph data structures enhance the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated search results, mitigating the risk of “hallucinations” and improving the overall customer journey.
Generative AI Deep Dive: Advancing from Proof of Concept to ProductionAggregage
Join Maher Hanafi, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, in this new session where he'll share a practical framework to transform Gen AI prototypes into impactful products! He'll delve into the complexities of data collection and management, model selection and optimization, and ensuring security, scalability, and responsible use.
For the full video of this presentation, please visit: https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/06/building-and-scaling-ai-applications-with-the-nx-ai-manager-a-presentation-from-network-optix/
Robin van Emden, Senior Director of Data Science at Network Optix, presents the “Building and Scaling AI Applications with the Nx AI Manager,” tutorial at the May 2024 Embedded Vision Summit.
In this presentation, van Emden covers the basics of scaling edge AI solutions using the Nx tool kit. He emphasizes the process of developing AI models and deploying them globally. He also showcases the conversion of AI models and the creation of effective edge AI pipelines, with a focus on pre-processing, model conversion, selecting the appropriate inference engine for the target hardware and post-processing.
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Imagine a world where software fuzzing, the process of mutating bytes in test seeds to uncover hidden and erroneous program behaviors, becomes faster and more effective. A lot depends on the initial seeds, which can significantly dictate the trajectory of a fuzzing campaign, particularly in terms of how long it takes to uncover interesting behaviour in your code. We introduce DIAR, a technique designed to speedup fuzzing campaigns by pinpointing and eliminating those uninteresting bytes in the seeds. Picture this: instead of wasting valuable resources on meaningless mutations in large, bloated seeds, DIAR removes the unnecessary bytes, streamlining the entire process.
In this work, we equipped AFL, a popular fuzzer, with DIAR and examined two critical Linux libraries -- Libxml's xmllint, a tool for parsing xml documents, and Binutil's readelf, an essential debugging and security analysis command-line tool used to display detailed information about ELF (Executable and Linkable Format). Our preliminary results show that AFL+DIAR does not only discover new paths more quickly but also achieves higher coverage overall. This work thus showcases how starting with lean and optimized seeds can lead to faster, more comprehensive fuzzing campaigns -- and DIAR helps you find such seeds.
- These are slides of the talk given at IEEE International Conference on Software Testing Verification and Validation Workshop, ICSTW 2022.
“An Outlook of the Ongoing and Future Relationship between Blockchain Technologies and Process-aware Information Systems.” Invited talk at the joint workshop on Blockchain for Information Systems (BC4IS) and Blockchain for Trusted Data Sharing (B4TDS), co-located with with the 36th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE), 3 June 2024, Limassol, Cyprus.
Full-RAG: A modern architecture for hyper-personalizationZilliz
Mike Del Balso, CEO & Co-Founder at Tecton, presents "Full RAG," a novel approach to AI recommendation systems, aiming to push beyond the limitations of traditional models through a deep integration of contextual insights and real-time data, leveraging the Retrieval-Augmented Generation architecture. This talk will outline Full RAG's potential to significantly enhance personalization, address engineering challenges such as data management and model training, and introduce data enrichment with reranking as a key solution. Attendees will gain crucial insights into the importance of hyperpersonalization in AI, the capabilities of Full RAG for advanced personalization, and strategies for managing complex data integrations for deploying cutting-edge AI solutions.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 6DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Climate Impact of Software Testing at Nordic Testing DaysKari Kakkonen
My slides at Nordic Testing Days 6.6.2024
Climate impact / sustainability of software testing discussed on the talk. ICT and testing must carry their part of global responsibility to help with the climat warming. We can minimize the carbon footprint but we can also have a carbon handprint, a positive impact on the climate. Quality characteristics can be added with sustainability, and then measured continuously. Test environments can be used less, and in smaller scale and on demand. Test techniques can be used in optimizing or minimizing number of tests. Test automation can be used to speed up testing.
Pushing the limits of ePRTC: 100ns holdover for 100 daysAdtran
At WSTS 2024, Alon Stern explored the topic of parametric holdover and explained how recent research findings can be implemented in real-world PNT networks to achieve 100 nanoseconds of accuracy for up to 100 days.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technologies, XML continues to play a vital role in structuring, storing, and transporting data across diverse systems. The recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present new methodologies for enhancing XML development workflows, introducing efficiency, automation, and intelligent capabilities. This presentation will outline the scope and perspective of utilizing AI in XML development. The potential benefits and the possible pitfalls will be highlighted, providing a balanced view of the subject.
We will explore the capabilities of AI in understanding XML markup languages and autonomously creating structured XML content. Additionally, we will examine the capacity of AI to enrich plain text with appropriate XML markup. Practical examples and methodological guidelines will be provided to elucidate how AI can be effectively prompted to interpret and generate accurate XML markup.
Further emphasis will be placed on the role of AI in developing XSLT, or schemas such as XSD and Schematron. We will address the techniques and strategies adopted to create prompts for generating code, explaining code, or refactoring the code, and the results achieved.
The discussion will extend to how AI can be used to transform XML content. In particular, the focus will be on the use of AI XPath extension functions in XSLT, Schematron, Schematron Quick Fixes, or for XML content refactoring.
The presentation aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of AI usage in XML development, providing attendees with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions. Whether you’re at the early stages of adopting AI or considering integrating it in advanced XML development, this presentation will cover all levels of expertise.
By highlighting the potential advantages and challenges of integrating AI with XML development tools and languages, the presentation seeks to inspire thoughtful conversation around the future of XML development. We’ll not only delve into the technical aspects of AI-powered XML development but also discuss practical implications and possible future directions.
Enchancing adoption of Open Source Libraries. A case study on Albumentations.AIVladimir Iglovikov, Ph.D.
Presented by Vladimir Iglovikov:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/iglovikov/
- https://x.com/viglovikov
- https://www.instagram.com/ternaus/
This presentation delves into the journey of Albumentations.ai, a highly successful open-source library for data augmentation.
Created out of a necessity for superior performance in Kaggle competitions, Albumentations has grown to become a widely used tool among data scientists and machine learning practitioners.
This case study covers various aspects, including:
People: The contributors and community that have supported Albumentations.
Metrics: The success indicators such as downloads, daily active users, GitHub stars, and financial contributions.
Challenges: The hurdles in monetizing open-source projects and measuring user engagement.
Development Practices: Best practices for creating, maintaining, and scaling open-source libraries, including code hygiene, CI/CD, and fast iteration.
Community Building: Strategies for making adoption easy, iterating quickly, and fostering a vibrant, engaged community.
Marketing: Both online and offline marketing tactics, focusing on real, impactful interactions and collaborations.
Mental Health: Maintaining balance and not feeling pressured by user demands.
Key insights include the importance of automation, making the adoption process seamless, and leveraging offline interactions for marketing. The presentation also emphasizes the need for continuous small improvements and building a friendly, inclusive community that contributes to the project's growth.
Vladimir Iglovikov brings his extensive experience as a Kaggle Grandmaster, ex-Staff ML Engineer at Lyft, sharing valuable lessons and practical advice for anyone looking to enhance the adoption of their open-source projects.
Explore more about Albumentations and join the community at:
GitHub: https://github.com/albumentations-team/albumentations
Website: https://albumentations.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100504475
Twitter: https://x.com/albumentations
Unlocking Productivity: Leveraging the Potential of Copilot in Microsoft 365, a presentation by Christoforos Vlachos, Senior Solutions Manager – Modern Workplace, Uni Systems
Communications Mining Series - Zero to Hero - Session 1DianaGray10
This session provides introduction to UiPath Communication Mining, importance and platform overview. You will acquire a good understand of the phases in Communication Mining as we go over the platform with you. Topics covered:
• Communication Mining Overview
• Why is it important?
• How can it help today’s business and the benefits
• Phases in Communication Mining
• Demo on Platform overview
• Q/A
Communications Mining Series - Zero to Hero - Session 1
Flex sola
1. FlexSola – Flexible Solar House
FlexSola is the “green” upgrade of the winning FlexHouse™ design. By applying the main
principles of FlexHousing™, adaptability, accessibility and affordability, FlexSola will enable people to
purchase and keep their home, rather than move when family or economic conditions change.
Each unit can accommodate one or two independent dwellings, so it can function as a single-
family home, or as a duplex. In addition, it could be constructed with one, two or three storeys, to suit a
variety of needs and budgets. Furthermore, the design incorporates a storage space stacked on each
floor, for an optional wheelchair elevator. All this unique flexibility, presently not available on the housing
market, will facilitate stable residencies, and create safe and caring neighbourhoods.
From the environmental point of view, FlexSola will require less natural resources and energy
than conventional housing. Furthermore, the ecological footprint of the house will be reduced by its green
roof, which will give back to nature a large portion of the land covered by the building. Complemented by
an optional greenhouse, the private rooftop will be an outdoor oasis for leisure, pets, or to grow organic
fruits and vegetables; a most attractive selling feature for the nature lovers.
3. Sample Front Elevation of 3 two storey + 3 three storey units
The FlexSola Type A may be expanded from an initial one storey 728 sq ft unit, to 1456 sq ft two
storeys, or to 2096 sq ft three storeys, with minimum disruptions to the occupants. This is achieved by
designing the initial flat roof as a future floor, and by using state-of-the-art steel framing and concrete
technology. The staircase to access the roof, the sunroom and the green roof assembly, are all features
that may be added later.
The facades will be high-tech, appropriate for the twenty-first century. An overhead metal
structure can be erected on the roof terrace, to support solar panels, which can also act as sunshades;
they will be installed with optimum orientation for maximum efficiency. The surplus electricity they will
produce will be stored in batteries, or converted to hydrogen, obtained from water through hydrolysis. The
owner will also have the option of selling electricity to the grid. The oxygen, also produced through
hydrolysis, could be sold or used to improve the interior air quality. On cloudy days, a small hydrogen
burning generator could be used for back up heat and to produce electricity and pure water.
The building will have built-in passive solar heating, with distribution ducts running through the
open floor space. The surplus heat will be stored in the concrete floors and will be supplemented by the
radiant floor heating generated through a geo-thermal system. This combination of renewable energy
sources will provide comfortable and efficient heating and cooling.
Technologically advanced materials and systems will be used to create adaptable, comfortable
and healthy housing. The use of open lightweight steel joists and suspended ceiling tiles will allow for
easy installation and future modification of the mechanical and electrical systems. A “smart house”
computer control system can also be easily installed anytime through the wall and floor spaces. All
interior partitions will be non-load bearing and may be relocated as desired.
The house will require very low maintenance and will not produce any harmful emissions. By
using non-combustible construction, the house will also have lower fire insurance premiums.
4. FlexSola Type C
FlexSola Type C is a wider unit, which can be developed as townhouse, semi-detached or
detached housing. Depending on site, it can also accommodate an attached garage
.
Floor Plan Rooftop Terrace
5. Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device
One solar unit has four photovoltaic panels mounted on a metal frame, supported by the roof
parapet and elevated above the rooftop terrace. It can produce approx. 1Kw of electricity. The number of
units required depends on lifestyle and habits, and additional units may be easily added in the future.
The author has designed a Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device (DASTD) to support photovoltaic
panels, which can be mounted on the parapet at locations that would not cause shading of the rooftop
garden. The steel pivoting support with counterweight is designed for easy adjustment to solar altitude
and azimuth. The Rooftop Terrace plan shows the appropriate locations when the front is facing south.
The number of DASTD’s is subject of the owner’s budget, the electricity to be generated for
personal consumption or to be sold to the grid. The system has the great advantage of flexibility of
location and production efficiency over conventional solar panels mounted on pitched roofs.
Dual Axis Solar Tracking Device (DASTD)
6. The sample of FlexSola Type A & C Streetscape illustrates the flexibility of the FlexSola concept.
It shows a combination of one, two & three storey type A & C units, in townhouse and semi-detached
configure
Sample of FlexSola Type A & C Streetscape
7. FlexSola Benefits
1. Allows for multi-generational family living
2. Making home ownership more affordable
3. It can grow in time
4. Offers neighbourly security and assistance
5. Facilitates home care for seniors
6. Provides adaptability of the living space
7. It is ideal for people who need two residences, such as “snow birds”
8. Provides a private outdoor space on the roof
9. Has comfortable radiant floor heating, ideal for seniors
10. Eliminates most allergens from interior finishes
11. Strengthens community neighbourhood spirit
12. Potential rental income
13. Ground floor may have a separate office for home business
14. Low maintenance requirements
16. Potential electricity generation
17. Growing fruits and vegetables on the roof
18. Reduced insurance premiums due to non-combustible construction
19. Saving on CMHC mortgage insurance
20. Reduced moving costs
21. Longer building life span
22. Higher resale value
Following are several housing market trends that make FlexSola attractive to a wide range of
buyers:
Aging population: An increasing number of elderly people seek more convenient forms of
housing that have less space and lower maintenance; housing that can also provide them with outside
assistance. Many homeowners sell their houses and move into apartments or "trendy" one-storey
condominiums. Then, as they become less self-reliant, most move to some form of senior housing that is
suitable to their income. Moving is stressful, especially for seniors, but for many it is the only alternative
available at the present. FlexSola also offers an ideal home for snowbirds. They can fly south in the
winter without leaving their house vacant.
Changes in family lifestyles: As the older generation ages, there is a trend to live with adult
children, rather than in nursing homes. The grandparents become part of a larger family; they are cared
for and contribute to the wellbeing of all, especially the grandchildren. They can provide free, high quality
childcare in families where both, or the single parent(s) work.
Accommodating people with disabilities: There is growing awareness for the needs of the
physically and mentally challenged. The last few years have brought new building code regulations,
active contribution from numerous organizations and broader acceptance by the public. There is a trend
towards integrating people with disabilities into the community. FlexSola offers a unique solution for
making the entire home barrier free, through its stacked storage space, which can accommodate an
elevator with minimum disruptions and cost.
8. Increasing number of self-employed: Due to downsizing, the army of small entrepreneurs is
growing steadily. To keep overhead costs low, many self-employed are obliged to use part of their
homes to run their businesses. This is a return to the times when many houses, especially on Main
Street, had a shop at the ground floor with flats above. The increase in communication technologies will
allow more people to work from home with TV links to the “virtual office”. This frees up locations so homes
could go in the best locations for communities rather than the cheapest place to build.
The economic factor: Many people are searching for more affordable housing and new sources
of income. The affordability of FlexSola is achieved in two ways: firstly, the purchaser can start with an
initial smaller and lower priced unit and expand it later; secondly, the home itself can become a source of
revenues. Also, due to financial restraints, more families are forced to pull back together. Young adults
who cannot find work have to live with their parents; parents who could not save for retirement have to
live with their children. The rising cost of energy and long term maintenance is becoming another
determinant factor in selecting a home. FlexSola will have much lower maintenance costs. This is due to
its high energy conservation standards. And finally, being virtually non-combustible, FlexSola will secure
lower long term insurance premiums, over a longer lifespan than conventional housing.
The social factor: Many social problems, such as crime, juvenile delinquency, child abuse,
vandalism, neglect, etc., can be alleviated by creating integrated communities. Staying in one place for a
long time creates a sense of belonging and caring. Home ownership strengthens urban communities and
can be made affordable with new innovative forms of housing.
Urban renewal: There is a growing acceptance today of the fact that society cannot afford to let
urban sprawl continue. The environmental, economic and social costs are becoming more and more
evident. New planning ideas and concepts that focus on better management of resources, especially land
and infrastructure, are gaining ground. Infill and higher density residential developments work towards
preserving the natural environment and farm land and also revitalizing downtowns. Compact, two/three
storey dwelling units can compete effectively with conventional houses. FlexSola is ideal for creating
economically sustainable residential communities.
Environmental awareness: The number of people who are environmentally conscious is
growing rapidly. The trend in home buyers’ expectations is towards sustainable housing. By reducing the
need for energy and natural resources, FlexSola will meet and exceed these expectations.
Target Market: FlexSola will break into a housing market, which is thirsty for something new that
would meet the immediate and long term needs of a growing number of consumers: new home buyers,
empty nesters, snow birds, people with special needs, ethnic groups with extended family traditions, etc.
First home buyers will have the choice of starting with a small unit and enlarge it later, or partnering and
buying a larger unit. FlexSola could be particularly attractive to seniors and to those who care for them.
Each unit can fluctuate between a single family home and a duplex; this allows for independent living.
Thanks to its sustainability and reduced footprint on the land, FlexSola will also appeal to the
environmentally conscious home buyer, not satisfied with the wasteful conventional housing presently
available.
Competitive Edge: In view of the survey and trends described above, there is a demonstrated
growing demand for housing that combines the adaptability, accessibility and affordability of FlexHousing
with healthy housing, energy conservation and low maintenance. FlexSola will offer such housing,
presently not available on the market. Most presently available forms of housing have been targeted for
specific types of individuals and families based on age, mobility, income, and so on. Such housing makes
it difficult to accommodate changing needs within the same home. Therefore, by providing a much
needed alternative, FlexSola will have a competitive edge over the competition.
9. Economic Projections for FlexSola Type A
To assess the economic viability of the FlexSola Type A design, certain assumptions were made
based on current home ownership trends. Based on these assumptions, FlexSola appears to be
economically viable and attractive compared to other homes currently available on the market. The
economic projections indicate that, due to all the potential financial benefits, the initial investment in a
FlexSola unit could be recovered in less than twenty years.
From the financial point of view, considering that a large percentage of a house’s purchase price
is covered by a mortgage, a conventional home is in fact a liability to the owner, in spite of its long-term
equity buildup. In contrast, FlexSola becomes a financial asset from the beginning thanks to the
revenues it can generate and the long-term savings on energy and maintenance.
The following considerations should appeal to the informed homebuyers and housing providers.
All costs indicated are rough estimates based on the information available to the author, and shall be
verified and confirmed at the time of construction.
The estimated construction cost for a three storey FlexSola Type A unit, of 2096 ft2, is $230,000
(excluding land, development charges and other soft costs). Compared with a conventional townhouse of
similar size, a FlexSola Type A unit would cost up to $30,000 more, required to provide the following
features:
A. FlexHousing™ Design Features (based on award-wining design): $ 1,000
B. Green Roof, Terrace & Staircase (to replace a pitched roof): $ 9,000
C. Concrete & Steel Structure (to replace wood framing): $ 4,600
D. Radiant Floor Heating (to replace conventional forced air heating): $ 3,400
E. Solar panels: $12,000
Total additional cost: $30,000
The above features provide the following corresponding benefits which make FlexSola an
economically viable and sustainable alternative over conventional townhouses currently available on the
market:
A. Adaptability, Accessibility & Affordability features accomplished with the unique design, which
has won the CMHC national award. Initial affordability is achieved either by starting with a smaller
unit (one or two floors), or by using a two or three storey unit as a duplex.
B. The green roof saves energy, lowers roof maintenance over the life of the building, and
provides space for growing fruits & vegetables.
C. The concrete & steel structure is safe, durable and energy efficient due to thermal mass. It
also extends the life of the building well beyond what is expected from a conventional townhouse.
D. The radiant floor heating is most comfortable and energy efficient. It can also be easily
integrated into a geothermal heating & cooling system.
E. The solar panels will produce electricity allowing the owner to take advantage of lucrative feed-
in tariff programs.
10. The additional cost required to construct FlexSola should be considered as a profitable
investment for achieving the following objectives:
1. Improved safety, health & comfort
2. Energy efficiency
3. Low maintenance
4. Revenue generation
Following is a comparison of projected live-in costs between a Conventional Townhouse and a
FlexSola Type A unit using its full revenue-generating potential. It appears that FlexSola will be a
profitable investment and could pay for itself in less than 20 years.
Conventional Townhouse
Month Year 10years
Heating (*): $ 90 $1,080 $12,960
Electricity (*): $130 $1,560 $18,720
Maintenance (*): $ 80 $ 960 $11,520
House insurance (*): $ 70 $ 840 $10,080
Moving (**): $ 0 $1,000 $ 2,000
Total expenses: $370 $5,440 $55,280
FlexSola Type A
Month Year 10years
Heating (*): $ 30 $ 360 $ 3,600
Electricity (*): $ 50 $ 600 $ 7,200
Maintenance (*) no roof maintenance required: $ 20 $ 240 $ 2,880
House insurance (*) for non-combustible construction: $ 50 $ 600 $ 7,200
Moving (**): $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Total expenses: $150 $1,800 $20,880
Notes:
* These expenses will most likely escalate in the future. 2% per year increase, without
compounding, is included in the calculation.
** 2 moves over 10 years are included in the calculation.
Approximate reduced expenses of FlexSola
Type A unit, after 10 years, as compared with a
conventional townhouse ($55,280 - $20,880): $34,400
11. FlexSola Type A potential revenues
Month Year 10years
Rent (*): $700 $8,400 $100,000
Food (*): $100 $1,200 $ 14,000
Total Revenue: $800 $9,600 $115,200
Approximate net gain of FlexSola Type A unit, after 10 years,
as compared with a conventional townhouse ($34,400 +
$115,200): $149,600
This long-term net gain will make FlexSola a profitable investment to a wide range of home
owners; an investment made affordable through flexibility of choice and initial purchase price, associated
with flexibility of use and potential revenues. This is a great choice that FlexSola will offer; a choice
presently not available on the market.