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23 June 2009 | 0 Comments
Since Steve’s brain is kept alive by his intrepit team, he has interest in their survival. One key ingredient of keeping humans alive is hydration (some of them like to keep clean too.) Here are some of the formulas we’ve used to calculate water consumption, and the method we’re using for gray water.
We’re capping at a 30 person support team. Estimating: 40 people X 7 days X 1.5 gallons per day, totaling: 420 gallons.
Plus, initial support staff of 8 people X 6 days X 1.5 gallons per day, totaling: 72 gallons.
The gnomes tell us that that 1/2 of each gallon of water used goes to grey water, totaling: 246 gallons.
We’re paying $500 for use of a 250 gallon tank plus a mid-week pumping (varies), giving us 500 total gallons.
This should keep us covered for the water being bought and used within the group, and allows for other water brought by people… plus the possibility of no (or a very late) mid-week pumping.
Hope this helps other people know what’s available and what costs are associated.
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8 June 2009 | 0 Comments
In order to simplify our life, several of us are going to be using the Hexayurt guide to create some living spaces. They are an “open-source” design for cheaply constructing an insulated, simple to build, little temporary home. I imagine this is also a great resource for disaster relief or refugee situations.
The Hexayurt is a prize-winning shelter you can build yourself for about $200 (backup link). Suitable raw materials include common building materials ( fire safe insulation boards,) hexacomb cardboard and plastic. You cut six 4′ x 8′ panels in half diagonally to make the roof, and use six more whole panels to form the walls. It takes about two hours. The design (backup link) is in the public domain.
Different materials are appropriate for different uses – insulation, extended life, low cost, durability in extreme environments and so on. The design is in the public domain, and is in active development as a Free/Open Source style project.
PS: The balloon pictured on the right is a floating, in-the-field, wifi access point. A whole other awesome project!
Here are two links to resources on building these great structures…
http://hexayurt.com
http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_Playa
Our friend Philthy gave us a lesson. Here’s how he builds them with a spot to walk in without ducking!
http://philthysanchez.com/cib/2008/hexayurt/building_a_hexayurt_with_a_vestibule.pdf
