The Nature of Power

Ernie and Erica WisnerPermaculture Voices, 2015

Ernie's Ocean

Erica's Academy of Physical Arts

In physics, power is the ability to do work. l(Lift weights, overcome friction.)l2nd law of thermodynamics/arrow of time: lThings proceed toward increasing disorder.lLaw of life (and death): Sunlight fuels self-organization.

l Direct, local options: (Minimize distance, transfers, losses, secrets) l Solve 2 problems (Solutions beget new problems)l Prepare for the unexpected

Erica's Law:

A permanent solution to a temporary problem l is a permanent problem.

Power in Permaculture

lUsing what's abundant (surplus/waste/problems)lto generate what's scarce (wants/needs/solutions).

Primitive Technology, two types:l First attempts / prototypes

lFirst choice / locally-evolved and proven

So why don't we stick to ancestral ways?

lTimes change. We adapt.lFossil fuel boom: like “free” whale oillOther resources:

l Radiant gain/loss: solar gain, night-sky cooling, line-of-sight, conduction l Convection & wind: chimney, scoop, State change: evaporate, condensel Local biomass food, wood, biogas, biofuels*l Nesting strategies l zone, insulate, mass/bank, shade, expose

Let's examine some alternatives:

lOff-grid, locally-powered or solid-state.

Experimental Mid-stage Ancient

Passive solar Hoop houseGlass/trombe

Sears catalog homes, sunrooms, shade porches

Courtyards, caves, solar bowls, terraced cities

Cooling / refrigeration

Ground tubesSwamp coolersPits/streams

Root cellarsShade trellisesSwamp coolers

Yakhchal/ice pits, wind catchers, fountains, qanat

Heating Pocket rocket, woodstove, cave hearth

Rocket mass heaters, geothermal

Hot rocks:Ondol, k'ang, kachelofen, tawakhenah, hypocaust

Passive Solar Iterations

l1: Hoop houses, tanks, trombe wallsl2: Sears / Custom passive solar homesl“for dummies,” “for smarties” - abstract designs

Image credit: http://www.greenenergytimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/passiveSolarDiagram.jpg

Passive Solar Iterations

l3: Courtyard cities

Image credits: Wikipedia, via MisfitsArchitecture.com

Image credit: Fathy, Hassan, Natural Energy and Vernacular Architecture: Principles and Examples with Reference to Hot Arid Climates (1986) via http://www.nzdl.org

Cooling (off-grid)

l1: Ground tubes, pits, (hand) fansl2: Solar chimneys, vents, shade trellises, swamp coolers, fountains, (heat-powered refrigerators)

Image credit: Wikipedia via MisfitsArchitecture.com

Cooling (off-grid)

l3: Root-cellars, ice-houses, yakhchal, qanat

Image credit: from Misfitsarchitecture.com, https://betterarchitecture.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/dome.jpg

Heating

1: Food, fire, hot rocks, lpocket rocket, woodstovel2: Rocket mass heater, geothermal, radiant floors

Heating

l 3: Fox stove, k'ang, ondol, kachelofen, hypocaust

Photo Credit: Jessica Steinhauser / MHA.org

Review

lAlternative methods

Experimental Mid-stage Ancient

Passive solar Hoop houseGlass/trombe

Sears catalog homes, sunrooms, shade porches

Courtyards, caves, solar bowls, terraced cities

Cooling / refrigeration

Ground tubesSwamp coolersPits/streams

Root cellarsShade trellisesSwamp coolers

Yakhchal/ice pits, wind catchers, fountains, qanat

Heating Pocket rocket, woodstove, cave hearth

Rocket mass heaters, geothermal

Hot rocks:Ondol, k'ang, kachelofen, tawakhenah, hypocaust

lTime frames day/season / 5yrs / generationslPersonal resources skills, affinities, toleranceslCommon traps / errors:

l Fads/symbolic gestures: biofuel mandates, tilapia, RMH in a tipi l “Other Guy Knows Best:” l under-estimating unknowns l outside your skillset or experiencel Community tolerancesl “Shoulds” vs. satisfactory solutionsl Too-small circles (self-consumption) l Delusion of “independence”l Illusion that leaving it = saving it.

The most powerful choices reflect knowledge of - the situation - your own nature.

Image credit: http://xkcd.com/1338/

Thank you

Erica and Ernie Wisnerlhttp://www.ErnieAndErica.info

lPhoto Credits & Recommendations:l MisfitsArchitecture.com, “It's Not Rocket Science”l MHA-net.orgl Wikipedia.org