Making the $300 House a Reality: The Sustainability Challenge

Read our case study abstract here first as well as David's Feb 2011 article in the Harvard Business Review: $300 House Challenge

PRESS RELEASE: October 15, 2011: Peerless Green Initiatives Director, Frank Costanzo and David Sands, AIA co-founder of Bamboo Technologies, LLC submit their UN-CBD relevant abstract for the 2012 The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Conference, in Leipzig, Germany.

"Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature: Challenges for Science and Implementation"
Organizers: TEEB

Place: Leipzig, Germany

Dates: Mon, 19/03/2012 - Thu, 22/03/2012

Link: Conference Website

Paper ID: 304
Delivering the 3BL Commercial Ag-Forestry Model: An Integrated Market-based Approach to Cross-cutting Verticals and Harmonizing Layers  
Sector Focus: Mainstreaming the value of Biodiversity: TEEB and the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity

CASE STUDY ABSTRACT

A real-world overview of the processes and facilities required to develop and implement an integrated end-purpose-design commercial enterprise dedicated to triple bottom line metrics. Commencing in 2008, and including participant partners of the UNEP 2010 Year of Biodiversity, the project required broad spectrum stakeholder cohesion re a forest-to-market triple bottom line (3BL) value chain.

The plan ethos included the UNGC-MDG as design roadmap. Unique to the plan were methods and processes of cross-cutting verticals necessary to reach a feasible holistic enterprise respectful of market-factors, human development needs and biodiversity ‘returns on investment’. Bamboo was chosen as a plan economic driver as it ticked many ‘critical boxes’ of the evergreen 3BL checklist:  natural attributes as a rapid renewable, carbon storage potential, natural resource enhancing ;a valuable material for economic value addition and rural development. (Note: Bamboo was the centerpiece of a greater forest product-service paradigm:community managed; supportive of prosperity; tech-enhanced; culturally sensitive/ biodiversity sensitive; food, fiber & fodder enterprise based.) 

 "Macro and micro-economic indicators and quantitative factoring of capital resources (eg. value of technology and biodiversity) were universally an attractive common denominator."        

Connectivity of verticals and layers required bespoken presentations tuned to critical interests. Like a metaphorical prism, the holistic 3BL ‘white light’ model required discreet dissection of critical issues.  Macro and micro-economic indicators and quantitative factoring of capital resources (eg. value of technology and biodiversity) were universally an attractive common denominator.  Environmental economics was an effective tool for establishing a baseline and expected 3BL returns.  Medium service providers familiar with their stakeholder were useful conduits to remote/ marginalized tribal communities; government nodal decision-makers; commercial investors; nature conservationists. 

Management and reporting will determine whether the end-to-end mainstreaming of 3BL/CSR processes will support the premise that broad and integrated market-approaches of pro-forest-economy, pro-woman/equality, pro-development can sustain historically disenfranchised populations while equally maintaining natural resource services, resistance and remediation. 

PGI Director Frank Costanzo, JD, BSc, BA in Uttarakhand, India

These experiences have broad application. Top down/bottom cross-cutting  can literally invent an industry driver with 3BL/CSR return potentials on a broad footprint platform. The blueprint is replicable in global geographies where bamboo can exist. (Abundant and rapidly renewable, commercial bamboo can promote biodiversity and is native to countries suffering most from loss of biodiversity and in need of HDI improvement. As a economic development driver, commercial bamboo requires additional economic factor consideration.

 Harvard Business Review

 The $300 House: The Sustainability Challenge

Wednesday February 2, 2011
by David Sands | http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/02/the_300_house_the_sustainabili.html

The $300 House:

• The Challenge
• The Financial Challenge
• The Design Challenge
• The Energy Challenge
• The Co-Creation Challenge
• The Marketing Challenge
• The Performance Challenge
• The Corporate Challenge
• The Urban Challenge

I was pleased to discover the $300 House challenge and I applaud the efforts of Vijay Govindarajan and Christian Sarkar. My passion for a sustainable future led me to quickly say yes when asked to collaborate on this important project.

It's easy to say a $300 House for the poor should be designed a sustainable solution, but it's no easy feat. To be sustainable, all the elements must be good for the user, good for the environment and good for those who made them. Where do the materials come from? Of what are they composed? Are they nontoxic? Or better yet, are they biophilic: Is life on earth improved for everyone and all creatures because this product is being made? Also, if it is not affordable, it is not sustainable! With their reduced economic means, fewer choices are available to the poor and cost precludes many otherwise sustainable options.

"It's easy to say a $300 House for the poor should be designed a sustainable solution, but it's no easy feat."

The Case for Bamboo

I was first drawn to bamboo as a construction material seventeen years ago for many reasons:

Hardiness: Bamboo can be annually cropped for many decades without replanting. It's a pioneering plant that will grow on marginal land not good for food production (such as steep hillsides or eroded land) and it shows promise for watershed regeneration.

Strength: One square inch of bamboo can hold up to 7 tons of weight before failure. In 1992, 95% of all homes were built with softwoods like Douglas fir. University studies show softwoods can't match bamboo's compression and tensile strength.

Hurricane-resistant: Properly constructed bamboo homes surpass the toughest hurricane codes in the U.S. In 1995, bamboo homes withstood three back-to-back hurricanes in which winds maxed out at 173 mph. Recent tests show that conventionally built wood homes can't stand up 100 mph winds. (Watch the video.)

Earthquake-resilient: In April 1991, twenty bamboo houses built for the National Bamboo Foundation in Costa Rica suffered no structural damage from an earthquake that measured 7.5 on the Richter scale. These homes were located in the epicenter. The same earthquake leveled scores of conventionally built homes, hotels and resorts. (Read the article in Washington's Observer Reporter)

David Sands, AIA, Co-founder BT, LLC Hawaii, USA

Bamboo is only one of a number of promising materials for the $300 House. But whatever materials are used, they must share certain qualities. First, they will need to be less expensive than current building materials. The source material will need to be readily available locally and cheap to obtain and process.

Ideally, the source material also solves some other environmental problem such as providing long term storage of carbon from the atmosphere, as in the case of bamboo. Large scale sustainable bamboo projects, like homes and eco-developments, serve as carbon sinks, and have a zero or less than zero carbon footprint.

"Ideally, the source material also solves some other environmental problem such as providing long term storage of carbon from the atmosphere, as in the case of bamboo."

To be a sustainable solution the material must be highly durable itself or have a highly durable finish, otherwise the structures will need to be replaced regularly. One very promising option with which I am involved is a bamboo-silica composite panel. Through a process of molecular surface modification the silica material develops high strength and fire resistance properties and the durability of glass without the brittleness. The durability of this material and the high strength of the bamboo have proven to be an excellent combination for creating structural panels. These panels also provide a high level of thermal comfort in a thin cross section.

Considerations for a $300 House

Given my experience with bamboo, I've also started to envision how a $300 House might work using it as a base material. I envision a cube structure 2.2 meters on a side as the basic unit made up of 12 panels all the same size: two panels for the floor, two for each wall and two for the roof. Wall panels have a door, a window or are solid. Each 1.1m x 2.2m panel is light enough for one person to carry by hand and is easily connected with other panels to form a weather tight structure.

The size of the structure is dictated by the length required for two people to sleep comfortably side-by-side. Sleeping mats can be rolled up and put away during the day and all other activities such as food preparation and cooking can be adapted to the size of the space available. In tropical areas, a covered porch is needed for outside cooking. The flat roof is designed to support rainwater collection. The essential module can be added onto over time by installing adjoining modules or adapted by attaching site built structures.

Due to issues with land ownership in most slums, the buildings are permanent temporary structures, that is, built to last but designed to be disassembled quickly and then easily reassembled elsewhere. The foundation system needs to be moved as quickly as the structure itself. I envisioned long pegs with auger tips that anchor each corner of the building and resist the uplift of hurricane winds keeping the building firmly planted in the unstable soil of slopes where slums are often built. The pegs are installed and removed by hand and attached to the building through a clip at each corner that allows for leveling of the floor.

The technology we have developed can be used to create local production facilities that process bamboo harvested from nearby farms. With some initial investment into the panel production facility and bamboo farms, inexpensive and sustainable bamboo housing becomes an enduring and versatile option for a community in need. The carbon offset credits also become an asset in that emerging market, providing additional streams of revenue for the local production facility and farmers.

Finally, this system not only addresses the housing issues of the impoverished, but creates local jobs and stimulates the economy. We have first-hand evidence of this with our work in Vietnam. We think this idea could scale, and that it could scale sustainably.

David Sands is the co-founder and architect of Bamboo Living, which makes bamboo prefab homes meeting U.S. building code standards. He served on the INBAR (International Network for Bamboo and Rattan) committee to develop the International Standards Organization (ISO) standard for structural bamboo.

Fair Use Notice: This post contains copyrighted material that has not been authorized by the copyright owners. PGI believes this educational use on the Green Eye Web-blog constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.) If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Fair Use notwithstanding we will immediately comply with any copyright owner who wants their material removed or modified or wants us to link to their web site which we routinely do as a business practice notwithstanding.

Politics for Business versus The Business of Politics

Are Divisive Politics a Form of Corruption?

The United Nations Global Compact Principle Ten states:

Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery

Corruption is recognized to be one of the world's greatest challenges. It is a major hindrance to sustainable development, with a disproportionate impact on poor communities and is corrosive on the very fabric of society. The impact on the private sector is also considerable - it impedes economic growth, distorts competition and represents serious legal and reputational risks. (Emph added)


Business Dictionary.com defines corruption as:

Wrongdoing on the part of an authority or powerful party through means that are illegitimate, immoral, or incompatible with ethical standards. Corruption often results from patronage and is associated with bribery. (Emph added)

Bright line examples of corruption are easy to identify and have been well reported by media in U.S. and India viz Wall Street and 2G-scam, respectively. These instances require no further analysis. However, what about the effect on development and SR as it relates to the seeming permanence of ‘divisive’ politics of parties the world over? The conventional political model is to break the electorate into definable ‘banks’ across perceivable lines of race, caste, creed and economic differences. Can divisive political platforms be considered a form of corruption for their ability to focus the electorate on differences that hinder progress and sustainable economics? Is it possible for businesses to cross-cut their political support to dissuade party politics –as-usual?

The news today from the U.S. includes the protests and ‘occupations’ by frustrated Americans in Boston and Wall Street. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill party division has prevented a much needed job stimulus package. The vitriolic rhetoric of those more interested in party political gain than the common good is glaring. Half a world away, the same scenario plays out in the city elections at Madras, Tamil Nadu, India. The local news reports daily the critical issues of 1000’s of MW electricity production deficit, hyper inflation of food and goods that has all but stalled India Inc.’s manufacturing might and an urban natural resource crisis that threatens short and long term food and water security. Meanwhile, politics as usual has taken to the streets driving platforms based on the distinctions of caste, creed and class rather than pressing 3BL issues.

In India and U.S., the competition for the powerful Government posts leads to complete preoccupation with maintaining and fueling the electorates’ prejudices and in turn results in poor strategic management of the resources the population rely upon for security and sustainability. The increasing scarcity of resources economic, social and environmental-unlike political parties- apply their pressures equally among all.

The U.S. can learn much from the relatively short political history of post-partition India and it’s chronic failure to heed the economists who for decades have warned of the coming day when India’s need for adequate infrastructure and human development security would reach tipping point. There is no other reason for the current 3BL crisis than lack of political SR and obsessive divisive political ambitions. The U.S. can also learn from India business sector whose ambition and sustainable planning has succeeded despite broken political machinery.

India can learn much from the U.S. political stand-off that has stalemated economic growth stimulus in favor of maintaining the flames of dis-satisfaction over the course of the current administration. The U.S. stands best equipped of any country in the world to revive the global economies through strong promotion of evergreen and 3BL recalibration of business. What the stand-off demonstrates is that deciding to do nothing is a decision non-the-less; and is contrary to the ethic for which representative members are voted to protect. As such, it can be considered corruptive.

For businesses, who are by-and-large the largest financial supporters of political parties, is it ethical to fund a party or campaign that finds its strength in non-sustainable policies, action and platform? How should businesses decide their political allegiance? The depth and sincerity of a company’s CSR and 3BL should include this analysis.


 -Peerless Green Initiative Sustainable Business and CSR Planning and Facilitation. info@peerlessgreen.net



Fair Use Notice: This post contains copyrighted material that has not been authorized by the copyright owners. PGI believes this educational use on the Green Eye Web-blog constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.) If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Fair Use notwithstanding we will immediately comply with any copyright owner who wants their material removed or modified or wants us to link to their web site which we routinely do as a business practice notwithstanding.

The Source of All Conflict

All human conflict can be traced to a systemic imbalance of economy. Humans are inherently industrious and individually concerned for their own hierarchy of needs and welfare. Whether it wears the hat of religion, race, caste, profession or political border, the core of all conflict arises from threats to our genetic desire and biological need for assets and revenue- commercial, equitable and natural. Therefore, balancing the three systems, commercial; equity and natural services is the only cure for the disease for which conflict is a symptom.



http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/203666/20110825/climate-change-triggers-civil-conflict-and-violence-study-does-climate-change-cause-war.htm



Categorically, in politics the cure is labeled ‘freedom’, socially it is labeled ‘equality’ and ecologically it is labeled ‘sustainable.’ Any one without the other two, and a system will remain out of balance. Accordingly, the triple bottom line approach is the natural delivery model of enterprise, social responsibility and sustainability. It is not some rote plan, it is an ethos requiring a holistic change of mind before change of habit.

Our planet ecology and population is stretched to the tipping point. Economists paint a bleak portrait of the coming decades. The decision now is whether to adopt policies of crisis management, lest we will expend  resources managing increasing global crisis, both civil and natural. The use here of the term policy refers to each individual’s policy – their ethic, not the narrow definition of government interventions. What is required is humankind’s reconnection to our natural state that for centuries as a race we have distanced ourselves through the failed belief that our industry and technology could sustain our need hierarchy without inclusion of each other and the environment.

Despite much media regarding renewable energy and clean technology, the Evergreen Revolution is only in small part about changing the type of light bulb and fuel we use. Only through individual critical analysis and behavior modification re the relationship between economy, ecology and equality can humankind recognize we are part of a global harmonic community and ecosystem. We are living in and with nature not against it. The following are a few actions you can take to change yourself and the world around you:




4 Things You Can Do:

1) Examine your consumption pattern: Use available technology to research the upstream of your consumables. Determine what value changes in your consumption pattern can add to the human and ecological welfare. Do the vendors of your food, fuel or consumer products treat their workers and community well? What is their impact on the environment? Are you getting good triple bottom line value for your money? Find out. Become a 3BL detective and support the brands and sources you can verify respect 3BL values. Validate claims, publish your findings in social media, become the intel-arm or the Evergreen Revolution.

2) Examine your systems: Look at your life like it is a business or a machine that requires inputs and produces outputs. This includes the food you eat, the impact of transporting yourself to work, the work you do, the people with whom you come in contact. Is your machine efficient at utilizing 3BL inputs and produce value added outputs? This is very much a lifelong exercise that can start with simple tasks such as recycling your waste in ways that reduce land fill or improves soil qualities in your yard or community.  Do you know how and where your waste is being handled and processed? Is it being done in a way that impacts the environment and social stakeholders? Find out and if it not in balance, find out what groups exist that are promoting better 3BL solutions. At work or school- examine whether the service and/or products of the entity treat all equally and what impact the entity has on the environment. Can things be done differently? Seek out networks, blogs, organizations and professionals that can offer suggestions or can assist you facilitate change. Use the incredible power of social media as the source of networks that can deliver change. No one is alone. Connect and create synergy.

3) Get out there and do something however small and promote others do same. 

*  One look no further than UNEP's One Billion Tree Campaign as an example of the power of individual enterprise on scale. With a goal to persuade one billion people to plant one billion trees, this historic campaign entering its 8th year has exceeded its titled goal and registered the planting of 11 billion trees, with a current goal of 14 billion (two for every person on the planet): http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/   http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/InformationMaterials/Statements/TreesOurAnchorforlife/tabid/51991/Default.aspx

*   Or perhaps plant a rural or urban home garden permaculture:

4) Join 'nutritious' Social Networks that provides the right fuel for discussion and to facilitate change:

For Business:   http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

For Schools and Students: PGI for the past year has been organizing a network based forum "TreeBridge" that brings together students of all ages from around the world to inspire each other into action and discussion. The forum is designed to awaken young minds to the global issues that regardless of nationality or background we must all proactively address. University and College students are also part of the forum to mentor primary and secondary school students as a mode of allowing older students to recognize the value of stewardship and provide opportunities for applied learning and action. TreeBridge is in its final stages of facilitation and will be globally available the beginning of 2012 starting with several India and U.S. schools. http://thegreeneyeofpgi.blogspot.com/2010/11/living-bridges-of-assam.html

For more information on TreeBridge or to add your school or program as a participating group, email info@peerlessgreen.net Subject: TreeBridge

Fair Use Notice: This post contains copyrighted material that has not been authorized by the copyright owners. PGI believes this educational use on the Green Eye Web-blog constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.) If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Fair Use notwithstanding we will immediately comply with any copyright owner who wants their material removed or modified or wants us to link to their web site which we routinely do as a business practice notwithstanding.