The Sustainable House

In a recent post I talked about a prototype of sustainable social housing, which main features relate to the construction materials and energy efficiency principles. While it is still a prototype, we can’t know if its performs as intended and if it is really sustainable. So what about existing housing? Is there any chance to retrofit them and make them sustainable? Michael Mobbs, the self-defined off-grid guy demonstrates with his ‘Sustainable House’ that it is possible.

Today i was very lucky because i was invited by Michael Mobbs to visit his place . I must say that I was a bit skeptical about the fact of a house that costs $300 a year to run. I thought that there was something fishy going on the house. But once in the place, Michael revealed the ‘secrets’. For him, the off-grid living is based in three aspects:

1. Own electricity generation: the house harvests the sun energy in solar panels installed in the roof. The energy is stored in a set of batteries.

2. Collection of water: rainwater is collected by a simple plumbing system into a 8,500 liter tank. There is no connection to mains water.

3. Dealing with waste: greywater (shower, bath, basins and washing machine) and blackwater (toilets and kitchen) is treated and reused for toilet flushing, clothes washing and gardening.

It seems to be a simple equation that is complemented with high rating energy efficiency appliances in the kitchen, LED lights all over the house and water efficiency fittings. To make it more sustainable, food is provided by chooks and beekeeping in the backyard and from kerbside gardens along the street.

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There is no doubt that the off-grid utopia could be possible, however there are still barriers that make the Mobbs sustainable house model not being of massive application. Michael was brave and stubborn enough to deal with the red tape because he had the time and the energy to fight against the establishment. In dry places, with low amount of raining, the collection of water would be a problem. Also, you need a high investment in solar panels and battery storage unit. Nevertheless, the message that he gives could be inspiring, thus he demonstrates that you don’t have to be special to make it.