[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I’m going to start this talk today by
I’m going to start this talk today by
I’m going to start this talk today by doing the one thing that you should
doing the one thing that you should
doing the one thing that you should absolutely never do in starting a talk
absolutely never do in starting a talk
absolutely never do in starting a talk I’m going to make an assumption I’m
I’m going to make an assumption I’m
I’m going to make an assumption I’m going to make the bold leap of faith
going to make the bold leap of faith
going to make the bold leap of faith assumption that everybody in this room
assumption that everybody in this room
assumption that everybody in this room is familiar with one specific thing
is familiar with one specific thing
is familiar with one specific thing houses houses many of us live in them
houses houses many of us live in them
houses houses many of us live in them and if we don’t we see them every day
and if we don’t we see them every day
and if we don’t we see them every day we’re very familiar with them but what
we’re very familiar with them but what
we’re very familiar with them but what if we weren’t imagine for a second that
if we weren’t imagine for a second that
if we weren’t imagine for a second that you’re an alien and you arrive on an
you’re an alien and you arrive on an
you’re an alien and you arrive on an alien planet
alien planet
alien planet that’s exactly like Earth except on this
that’s exactly like Earth except on this
that’s exactly like Earth except on this planet there’s one big difference
planet there’s one big difference
planet there’s one big difference there’s no buildings no houses and
there’s no buildings no houses and
there’s no buildings no houses and certainly no blueprints for creating
certainly no blueprints for creating
certainly no blueprints for creating them on this planet you would have to
them on this planet you would have to
them on this planet you would have to start from absolutely nothing and simply
start from absolutely nothing and simply
start from absolutely nothing and simply ask yourself what should a place that
ask yourself what should a place that
ask yourself what should a place that someone lives in B you’d have to totally
someone lives in B you’d have to totally
someone lives in B you’d have to totally invent the concept of a house believe it
invent the concept of a house believe it
invent the concept of a house believe it or not that’s the exact position I was
or not that’s the exact position I was
or not that’s the exact position I was in a little bit over a year ago now I
in a little bit over a year ago now I
in a little bit over a year ago now I know what you’re thinking no I’m not an
know what you’re thinking no I’m not an
know what you’re thinking no I’m not an alien as far as I know but I was using
alien as far as I know but I was using
alien as far as I know but I was using an alien way of thinking a way of
an alien way of thinking a way of
an alien way of thinking a way of thinking that led me to ask that exact
thinking that led me to ask that exact
thinking that led me to ask that exact question what should a place that
question what should a place that
question what should a place that someone lives in B and when I tell this
someone lives in B and when I tell this
someone lives in B and when I tell this story and I mentioned that question to
story and I mentioned that question to
story and I mentioned that question to people they often give me a weird look
people they often give me a weird look
people they often give me a weird look kind of like the look some of your
kind of like the look some of your
kind of like the look some of your giving me right now
giving me right now
giving me right now and they’ll inevitably ask why don’t you
and they’ll inevitably ask why don’t you
and they’ll inevitably ask why don’t you just use the word house
just use the word house
just use the word house why not ask what should a house be well
why not ask what should a house be well
why not ask what should a house be well the problem with using the word house is
the problem with using the word house is
the problem with using the word house is that if my assumption is correct and we
that if my assumption is correct and we
that if my assumption is correct and we all are familiar with what a house is
all are familiar with what a house is
all are familiar with what a house is then naturally there’s certain
then naturally there’s certain
then naturally there’s certain assumptions will all make about what a
assumptions will all make about what a
assumptions will all make about what a house should be so you might think of
house should be so you might think of
house should be so you might think of how it should be a place that has a roof
how it should be a place that has a roof
how it should be a place that has a roof or windows or walls and those seem like
or windows or walls and those seem like
or windows or walls and those seem like safe assumptions most of the houses I’ve
safe assumptions most of the houses I’ve
safe assumptions most of the houses I’ve seen have those things but other people
seen have those things but other people
seen have those things but other people would make other
would make other
would make other functions like how should be a certain
functions like how should be a certain
functions like how should be a certain number of square feet or how should be
number of square feet or how should be
number of square feet or how should be built on a concrete slab on great
built on a concrete slab on great
built on a concrete slab on great foundation and those assumptions I think
foundation and those assumptions I think
foundation and those assumptions I think are a little bit more problematic so
are a little bit more problematic so
are a little bit more problematic so that’s why I don’t use the word house
that’s why I don’t use the word house
that’s why I don’t use the word house and rather than starting with any
and rather than starting with any
and rather than starting with any assumptions I decided to start with four
assumptions I decided to start with four
assumptions I decided to start with four principle words for building block words
principle words for building block words
principle words for building block words that comprise the foundation of my
that comprise the foundation of my
that comprise the foundation of my answer to the question what should a
answer to the question what should a
answer to the question what should a place that someone lives in P alright so
place that someone lives in P alright so
place that someone lives in P alright so what should it be that’s that’s the big
what should it be that’s that’s the big
what should it be that’s that’s the big question right first it should be
question right first it should be
question right first it should be affordable it doesn’t matter how amazing
affordable it doesn’t matter how amazing
affordable it doesn’t matter how amazing or luxurious a place we live is if we
or luxurious a place we live is if we
or luxurious a place we live is if we can’t afford to build it or live in it
can’t afford to build it or live in it
can’t afford to build it or live in it what’s the point
what’s the point
what’s the point no point second it should be comfortable
no point second it should be comfortable
no point second it should be comfortable the place we live is by definition the
the place we live is by definition the
the place we live is by definition the place that we live because we’re going
place that we live because we’re going
place that we live because we’re going to spend a lot of time there so it
to spend a lot of time there so it
to spend a lot of time there so it should be somewhere that makes us feel
should be somewhere that makes us feel
should be somewhere that makes us feel good somewhere we’re happy third it
good somewhere we’re happy third it
good somewhere we’re happy third it should be efficient the materials we use
should be efficient the materials we use
should be efficient the materials we use to build the place we live should work
to build the place we live should work
to build the place we live should work together as a well-oiled machine that
together as a well-oiled machine that
together as a well-oiled machine that operates as greater than the sum of its
operates as greater than the sum of its
operates as greater than the sum of its parts
parts
parts and finally the place we live should be
and finally the place we live should be
and finally the place we live should be sustainable it should be somewhere that
sustainable it should be somewhere that
sustainable it should be somewhere that lasts not decades but centuries and it
lasts not decades but centuries and it
lasts not decades but centuries and it should have as little as possible in
should have as little as possible in
should have as little as possible in effect on its surrounding environment so
effect on its surrounding environment so
effect on its surrounding environment so I started with those four principle
I started with those four principle
I started with those four principle words and then I had to build up to the
words and then I had to build up to the
words and then I had to build up to the more specific I had to figure out what
more specific I had to figure out what
more specific I had to figure out what am I actually going to build and so I
am I actually going to build and so I
am I actually going to build and so I started doing some research and the way
started doing some research and the way
started doing some research and the way I did my research was I went to the
I did my research was I went to the
I did my research was I went to the amazing venerable website google.com and
amazing venerable website google.com and
amazing venerable website google.com and I typed in affordable housing and a
I typed in affordable housing and a
I typed in affordable housing and a bunch of stuff came up and I started
bunch of stuff came up and I started
bunch of stuff came up and I started reading all about affordable housing and
reading all about affordable housing and
reading all about affordable housing and then I typed in comfortable housing and
then I typed in comfortable housing and
then I typed in comfortable housing and efficient housing and sustainable
efficient housing and sustainable
efficient housing and sustainable housing and I started reading about all
housing and I started reading about all
housing and I started reading about all these alternative housing ideas and I
these alternative housing ideas and I
these alternative housing ideas and I was looking for something that fit my
was looking for something that fit my
was looking for something that fit my core principles of what a place someone
core principles of what a place someone
core principles of what a place someone lives in should be and there was one
lives in should be and there was one
lives in should be and there was one thing I found in particular that I
thing I found in particular that I
thing I found in particular that I thought fit very well with those
thought fit very well with those
thought fit very well with those principles it was called natural
principles it was called natural
principles it was called natural building natural building is using
building natural building is using
building natural building is using materials you can find in your local
materials you can find in your local
materials you can find in your local environment to create extremely
environment to create extremely
environment to create extremely affordable environmentally friend
affordable environmentally friend
affordable environmentally friend and personal buildings when I first
and personal buildings when I first
and personal buildings when I first found natural building I was reading
found natural building I was reading
found natural building I was reading about people living off the grid who
about people living off the grid who
about people living off the grid who were creating their own houses out of
were creating their own houses out of
were creating their own houses out of essentially materials they found in
essentially materials they found in
essentially materials they found in their back yard for crazy ridiculously
their back yard for crazy ridiculously
their back yard for crazy ridiculously low amounts of money like $50,000 and I
low amounts of money like $50,000 and I
low amounts of money like $50,000 and I thought to myself this is too good to be
thought to myself this is too good to be
thought to myself this is too good to be true there’s gotta be some sort of catch
true there’s gotta be some sort of catch
true there’s gotta be some sort of catch here these houses not only are they
here these houses not only are they
here these houses not only are they better for the environment but they cost
better for the environment but they cost
better for the environment but they cost less why why aren’t all of us doing this
less why why aren’t all of us doing this
less why why aren’t all of us doing this why aren’t we all living in these houses
why aren’t we all living in these houses
why aren’t we all living in these houses and so I took a deep dive into natural
and so I took a deep dive into natural
and so I took a deep dive into natural building I read everything I could find
building I read everything I could find
building I read everything I could find about it I spent two months just
about it I spent two months just
about it I spent two months just learning as much as I could about
learning as much as I could about
learning as much as I could about natural building just looking for what I
natural building just looking for what I
natural building just looking for what I was missing and eventually I started
was missing and eventually I started
was missing and eventually I started reaching out to professional natural
reaching out to professional natural
reaching out to professional natural builders and just asking them what am I
builders and just asking them what am I
builders and just asking them what am I missing what’s the catch here and after
missing what’s the catch here and after
missing what’s the catch here and after all of that I determined that there was
all of that I determined that there was
all of that I determined that there was no catch there was no catch there were
no catch there was no catch there were
no catch there was no catch there were specific reasons why natural building
specific reasons why natural building
specific reasons why natural building had not reached widespread adoption but
had not reached widespread adoption but
had not reached widespread adoption but I understood what those were and I had a
I understood what those were and I had a
I understood what those were and I had a plan for addressing them and so in April
plan for addressing them and so in April
plan for addressing them and so in April 2016 my friend Steve and I started why
2016 my friend Steve and I started why
2016 my friend Steve and I started why innovations a nonprofit organization
innovations a nonprofit organization
innovations a nonprofit organization with the goal of using natural building
with the goal of using natural building
with the goal of using natural building techniques to create affordable and
techniques to create affordable and
techniques to create affordable and environmentally friendly housing for
environmentally friendly housing for
environmentally friendly housing for those in need around the world so the
those in need around the world so the
those in need around the world so the first project we did as an organization
first project we did as an organization
first project we did as an organization was this past summer it was with a
was this past summer it was with a
was this past summer it was with a natural building technique called cob
natural building technique called cob
natural building technique called cob construction Cobb’s essentially it’s
construction Cobb’s essentially it’s
construction Cobb’s essentially it’s clay sand and straw it’s the same
clay sand and straw it’s the same
clay sand and straw it’s the same material that adobe bricks are made out
material that adobe bricks are made out
material that adobe bricks are made out of it’s used in parts of the
of it’s used in parts of the
of it’s used in parts of the southwestern United States and parts of
southwestern United States and parts of
southwestern United States and parts of Africa and we used cob to build this 200
Africa and we used cob to build this 200
Africa and we used cob to build this 200 square foot storage facility it was an
square foot storage facility it was an
square foot storage facility it was an amazing first project we learned a lot
amazing first project we learned a lot
amazing first project we learned a lot we had 40 or so student volunteers come
we had 40 or so student volunteers come
we had 40 or so student volunteers come out and work on it with us but it was
out and work on it with us but it was
out and work on it with us but it was just a start and now we’re seeking to do
just a start and now we’re seeking to do
just a start and now we’re seeking to do what we originally set out to do and
what we originally set out to do and
what we originally set out to do and build our first naturally built home for
build our first naturally built home for
build our first naturally built home for a homeless family and so for the past
a homeless family and so for the past
a homeless family and so for the past six months or so we’ve been engaged as
six months or so we’ve been engaged as
six months or so we’ve been engaged as an organization in the planning process
an organization in the planning process
an organization in the planning process for this home we’re working with a local
for this home we’re working with a local
for this home we’re working with a local architect and structural engineer
architect and structural engineer
architect and structural engineer and they’re doing the amazing incredible
and they’re doing the amazing incredible
and they’re doing the amazing incredible job of taking our crazy idealistic
job of taking our crazy idealistic
job of taking our crazy idealistic vision for what this place someone lives
vision for what this place someone lives
vision for what this place someone lives it should be and turning them into
it should be and turning them into
it should be and turning them into actual decipherable building plants it’s
actual decipherable building plants it’s
actual decipherable building plants it’s essentially magic we’ve also partnered
essentially magic we’ve also partnered
essentially magic we’ve also partnered with an organization called Family
with an organization called Family
with an organization called Family Promise who works with families
Promise who works with families
Promise who works with families experiencing homelessness to help
experiencing homelessness to help
experiencing homelessness to help identify and address some of the
identify and address some of the
identify and address some of the underlying problems that so often
underlying problems that so often
underlying problems that so often contribute to homelessness we’ve also
contribute to homelessness we’ve also
contribute to homelessness we’ve also had the privilege of working with
had the privilege of working with
had the privilege of working with several professional natural builders in
several professional natural builders in
several professional natural builders in consulting with them in the design
consulting with them in the design
consulting with them in the design process of this home it’s been an
process of this home it’s been an
process of this home it’s been an absolutely incredible inspiring process
absolutely incredible inspiring process
absolutely incredible inspiring process for me to see our vision start to come
for me to see our vision start to come
for me to see our vision start to come to reality and I’m proud and excited to
to reality and I’m proud and excited to
to reality and I’m proud and excited to be able to say that after presenting a
be able to say that after presenting a
be able to say that after presenting a rough draft of our building plans to my
rough draft of our building plans to my
rough draft of our building plans to my local building permit officials we are
local building permit officials we are
local building permit officials we are on track in 2018 to receive a building
on track in 2018 to receive a building
on track in 2018 to receive a building permit to build the first-ever naturally
permit to build the first-ever naturally
permit to build the first-ever naturally built home in Delaware also and so now
built home in Delaware also and so now
built home in Delaware also and so now what I want to do is share with you my
what I want to do is share with you my
what I want to do is share with you my vision my image for what this house is
vision my image for what this house is
vision my image for what this house is going to be and I want to show you that
going to be and I want to show you that
going to be and I want to show you that this isn’t just a feel-good story sure I
this isn’t just a feel-good story sure I
this isn’t just a feel-good story sure I want you to leave this event leave this
want you to leave this event leave this
want you to leave this event leave this talk feeling good about yourself feeling
talk feeling good about yourself feeling
talk feeling good about yourself feeling good about the world like we can all go
good about the world like we can all go
good about the world like we can all go out and make a difference but beyond
out and make a difference but beyond
out and make a difference but beyond that I want you to leave thinking that
that I want you to leave thinking that
that I want you to leave thinking that natural building is a more effective way
natural building is a more effective way
natural building is a more effective way of building than a lot of the
of building than a lot of the
of building than a lot of the traditional methods that we use today
traditional methods that we use today
traditional methods that we use today and the way that I want to attempt to
and the way that I want to attempt to
and the way that I want to attempt to convince you of that is by going through
convince you of that is by going through
convince you of that is by going through our four principles we laid out for what
our four principles we laid out for what
our four principles we laid out for what a place someone lives and should be and
a place someone lives and should be and
a place someone lives and should be and comparing them to more traditional
comparing them to more traditional
comparing them to more traditional methods in order to hopefully show you
methods in order to hopefully show you
methods in order to hopefully show you just how affordable just how comfortable
just how affordable just how comfortable
just how affordable just how comfortable just how efficient and just how
just how efficient and just how
just how efficient and just how sustainable what we’re building is and
sustainable what we’re building is and
sustainable what we’re building is and so the way that I’m going to do that is
so the way that I’m going to do that is
so the way that I’m going to do that is by starting with a brief overview of
by starting with a brief overview of
by starting with a brief overview of what the house is it’s a six hundred
what the house is it’s a six hundred
what the house is it’s a six hundred square foot one-story ranch style
square foot one-story ranch style
square foot one-story ranch style building the main exterior walls are
building the main exterior walls are
building the main exterior walls are built with something called straw bale
built with something called straw bale
built with something called straw bale construction straw bale construction
construction straw bale construction
construction straw bale construction it’s basically stacking straw bales one
it’s basically stacking straw bales one
it’s basically stacking straw bales one on top of each other I’m sure you can
on top of each other I’m sure you can
on top of each other I’m sure you can imagine there’s a couple little details
imagine there’s a couple little details
imagine there’s a couple little details that go
that go
that go into it but that’s the short version the
into it but that’s the short version the
into it but that’s the short version the interior walls and the floors will all
interior walls and the floors will all
interior walls and the floors will all be built with Cobb as far as our first
be built with Cobb as far as our first
be built with Cobb as far as our first principle affordability the total cost
principle affordability the total cost
principle affordability the total cost to build this home is under $25,000 that
to build this home is under $25,000 that
to build this home is under $25,000 that includes all appliances all furnishings
includes all appliances all furnishings
includes all appliances all furnishings everything $25,000 you don’t find single
everything $25,000 you don’t find single
everything $25,000 you don’t find single family homes on the market for $25,000
family homes on the market for $25,000
family homes on the market for $25,000 very often there’s two principal reasons
very often there’s two principal reasons
very often there’s two principal reasons why we were able to create such an
why we were able to create such an
why we were able to create such an affordable home first our homes much
affordable home first our homes much
affordable home first our homes much smaller than the traditional home at 600
smaller than the traditional home at 600
smaller than the traditional home at 600 square feet it’s 2,000 square feet less
square feet it’s 2,000 square feet less
square feet it’s 2,000 square feet less in size than the average newly
in size than the average newly
in size than the average newly constructed single-family home in the
constructed single-family home in the
constructed single-family home in the past 40 years average housing sizes in
past 40 years average housing sizes in
past 40 years average housing sizes in the United States have increased by a
the United States have increased by a
the United States have increased by a thousand square feet think about that
thousand square feet think about that
thousand square feet think about that our our houses are getting bigger and
our our houses are getting bigger and
our our houses are getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger at why
bigger and bigger and bigger at why
bigger and bigger and bigger at why innovations were challenging that trend
innovations were challenging that trend
innovations were challenging that trend for the simple reason that the smaller
for the simple reason that the smaller
for the simple reason that the smaller your home is the less material used to
your home is the less material used to
your home is the less material used to build it the less expensive your home is
build it the less expensive your home is
build it the less expensive your home is so that’s the first reason why we able
so that’s the first reason why we able
so that’s the first reason why we able to create a such an affordable home the
to create a such an affordable home the
to create a such an affordable home the second reason is that not only are we
second reason is that not only are we
second reason is that not only are we using less material but that material in
using less material but that material in
using less material but that material in and of itself is actually less expensive
and of itself is actually less expensive
and of itself is actually less expensive than traditional building materials
than traditional building materials
than traditional building materials that’s one of the main advantages of
that’s one of the main advantages of
that’s one of the main advantages of natural building the raw material cost
natural building the raw material cost
natural building the raw material cost to build this home just the materials
to build this home just the materials
to build this home just the materials that actually go into building it is ten
that actually go into building it is ten
that actually go into building it is ten thousand dollars that comes up to $19
thousand dollars that comes up to $19
thousand dollars that comes up to $19 per square foot for some perspective the
per square foot for some perspective the
per square foot for some perspective the average in the United States is a
average in the United States is a
average in the United States is a hundred and thirty dollars per square
hundred and thirty dollars per square
hundred and thirty dollars per square foot so not only are we using less
foot so not only are we using less
foot so not only are we using less material but that material is almost
material but that material is almost
material but that material is almost seven times seven times less expensive
seven times seven times less expensive
seven times seven times less expensive as traditional building materials that’s
as traditional building materials that’s
as traditional building materials that’s how you get a super affordable home for
how you get a super affordable home for
how you get a super affordable home for our second principle comfort this home
our second principle comfort this home
our second principle comfort this home is going to have all the modern
is going to have all the modern
is going to have all the modern amenities of a traditional home heat
amenities of a traditional home heat
amenities of a traditional home heat running water electricity toaster ovens
running water electricity toaster ovens
running water electricity toaster ovens for your pop-tarts in the morning you’re
for your pop-tarts in the morning you’re
for your pop-tarts in the morning you’re into that kind of thing
into that kind of thing
into that kind of thing my brother loved
my brother loved
my brother loved pop-tarts we’re not creating substandard
pop-tarts we’re not creating substandard
pop-tarts we’re not creating substandard housing that’s a very important point
housing that’s a very important point
housing that’s a very important point but beyond that basic level of human
but beyond that basic level of human
but beyond that basic level of human comfort there’s something very personal
comfort there’s something very personal
comfort there’s something very personal very homey about naturally built
very homey about naturally built
very homey about naturally built buildings this photos here is from a
buildings this photos here is from a
buildings this photos here is from a building that a man by the name of Chris
building that a man by the name of Chris
building that a man by the name of Chris McClelland built
McClelland built
McClelland built Chris is a professional natural builder
Chris is a professional natural builder
Chris is a professional natural builder from Ohio and what he did here is he
from Ohio and what he did here is he
from Ohio and what he did here is he took glass bottles and sculpted them in
took glass bottles and sculpted them in
took glass bottles and sculpted them in a cob wall in the shape of a sunflower
a cob wall in the shape of a sunflower
a cob wall in the shape of a sunflower to create a sunflower bottle glass
to create a sunflower bottle glass
to create a sunflower bottle glass window how cool is that you don’t see
window how cool is that you don’t see
window how cool is that you don’t see that in most homes or at least I don’t
that in most homes or at least I don’t
that in most homes or at least I don’t maybe you do and maybe maybe this isn’t
maybe you do and maybe maybe this isn’t
maybe you do and maybe maybe this isn’t the particular thing you like for your
the particular thing you like for your
the particular thing you like for your home maybe you don’t like sunflowers
home maybe you don’t like sunflowers
home maybe you don’t like sunflowers maybe there’s a different flower you
maybe there’s a different flower you
maybe there’s a different flower you like like daffodils or something I don’t
like like daffodils or something I don’t
like like daffodils or something I don’t know the point is natural building is
know the point is natural building is
know the point is natural building is something you can personalize customized
something you can personalize customized
something you can personalize customized to you so that your home can reflect who
to you so that your home can reflect who
to you so that your home can reflect who you are I think that’s very cool for our
you are I think that’s very cool for our
you are I think that’s very cool for our third principle efficiency our main
third principle efficiency our main
third principle efficiency our main objective here is a home that is
objective here is a home that is
objective here is a home that is sustainably affordable in the long run
sustainably affordable in the long run
sustainably affordable in the long run in the way we achieve that is with
in the way we achieve that is with
in the way we achieve that is with energy efficiency and with those straw
energy efficiency and with those straw
energy efficiency and with those straw bale exterior walls the really nice
bale exterior walls the really nice
bale exterior walls the really nice thing about straw bale walls is that
thing about straw bale walls is that
thing about straw bale walls is that they’re really good insulators
they’re really good insulators
they’re really good insulators insulation properties in construction
insulation properties in construction
insulation properties in construction are measured in something called our
are measured in something called our
are measured in something called our values with higher our values
values with higher our values
values with higher our values correlating to walls that do a better
correlating to walls that do a better
correlating to walls that do a better job insulating in a home in this climate
job insulating in a home in this climate
job insulating in a home in this climate traditionally a wall r-value of round R
traditionally a wall r-value of round R
traditionally a wall r-value of round R 20 is considered really good meets all
20 is considered really good meets all
20 is considered really good meets all code requirements the walls we’re
code requirements the walls we’re
code requirements the walls we’re building have our values in excess of
building have our values in excess of
building have our values in excess of our 40 what that means is less money
our 40 what that means is less money
our 40 what that means is less money spent on heating and cooling every
spent on heating and cooling every
spent on heating and cooling every single month who doesn’t like that
single month who doesn’t like that
single month who doesn’t like that and beyond that the heating and cooling
and beyond that the heating and cooling
and beyond that the heating and cooling system we’re using is a heat pump and
system we’re using is a heat pump and
system we’re using is a heat pump and the really nice thing about heat pumps
the really nice thing about heat pumps
the really nice thing about heat pumps is that they use electricity to transfer
is that they use electricity to transfer
is that they use electricity to transfer heat energy that already exists in the
heat energy that already exists in the
heat energy that already exists in the air outside the home and then they pump
air outside the home and then they pump
air outside the home and then they pump it back into the home this natural
it back into the home this natural
it back into the home this natural convection process is both more
convection process is both more
convection process is both more affordable and environmentally friendly
affordable and environmentally friendly
affordable and environmentally friendly than some traditional processes that
than some traditional processes that
than some traditional processes that rely on burning fuels for our final
rely on burning fuels for our final
rely on burning fuels for our final principle sustainability
principle sustainability
principle sustainability biggest problem that I see with
biggest problem that I see with
biggest problem that I see with sustainability in traditional housing
sustainability in traditional housing
sustainability in traditional housing construction is the use of concrete
construction is the use of concrete
construction is the use of concrete concrete is made of cement and cement is
concrete is made of cement and cement is
concrete is made of cement and cement is created through a process of heating
created through a process of heating
created through a process of heating shale and limestone at temperatures in
shale and limestone at temperatures in
shale and limestone at temperatures in excess of a thousand degrees Fahrenheit
excess of a thousand degrees Fahrenheit
excess of a thousand degrees Fahrenheit that’s a process that releases 1.8
that’s a process that releases 1.8
that’s a process that releases 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide
billion metric tons of carbon dioxide
billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every single year we
into our atmosphere every single year we
into our atmosphere every single year we know the effect the excess carbon
know the effect the excess carbon
know the effect the excess carbon dioxide emissions are having on our
dioxide emissions are having on our
dioxide emissions are having on our environment we have scientists telling
environment we have scientists telling
environment we have scientists telling us that once we reach a certain level of
us that once we reach a certain level of
us that once we reach a certain level of global warming we can’t go back so it’s
global warming we can’t go back so it’s
global warming we can’t go back so it’s time for us to take personal
time for us to take personal
time for us to take personal responsibility for the effect that what
responsibility for the effect that what
responsibility for the effect that what we’re building has on the environment
we’re building has on the environment
we’re building has on the environment that’s why this building uses no
that’s why this building uses no
that’s why this building uses no concrete not in the foundation not
concrete not in the foundation not
concrete not in the foundation not anywhere instead we borrow a concept
anywhere instead we borrow a concept
anywhere instead we borrow a concept from pole barn construction called
from pole barn construction called
from pole barn construction called natural rubble trench foundations they
natural rubble trench foundations they
natural rubble trench foundations they use no concrete and it actually turns
use no concrete and it actually turns
use no concrete and it actually turns out to be more cost-effective once you
out to be more cost-effective once you
out to be more cost-effective once you factor in the price of cement mixing so
factor in the price of cement mixing so
factor in the price of cement mixing so that’s my story that’s what I’m doing
that’s my story that’s what I’m doing
that’s my story that’s what I’m doing but I don’t want to fool you a little
but I don’t want to fool you a little
but I don’t want to fool you a little over a year ago I wasn’t doing any of
over a year ago I wasn’t doing any of
over a year ago I wasn’t doing any of this kind of stuff no you can ask my
this kind of stuff no you can ask my
this kind of stuff no you can ask my parents they’re right over there
parents they’re right over there
parents they’re right over there ask him doing an admission I I wasn’t
ask him doing an admission I I wasn’t
ask him doing an admission I I wasn’t doing this stuff I was just doing your
doing this stuff I was just doing your
doing this stuff I was just doing your normal teenage stuff I just asked the
normal teenage stuff I just asked the
normal teenage stuff I just asked the question and I relentlessly pursued the
question and I relentlessly pursued the
question and I relentlessly pursued the answer to that question I still do
answer to that question I still do
answer to that question I still do because I truly believe the answers can
because I truly believe the answers can
because I truly believe the answers can help people so I would challenge you
help people so I would challenge you
help people so I would challenge you today no matter how old you are no
today no matter how old you are no
today no matter how old you are no matter what stage of life you’re in if
matter what stage of life you’re in if
matter what stage of life you’re in if you’re here it’s because you believe you
you’re here it’s because you believe you
you’re here it’s because you believe you can make a difference so I would
can make a difference so I would
can make a difference so I would challenge you to let your natural
challenge you to let your natural
challenge you to let your natural curiosity guide you in asking questions
curiosity guide you in asking questions
curiosity guide you in asking questions that truly fascinate you seek out the
that truly fascinate you seek out the
that truly fascinate you seek out the answers to those questions relentlessly
answers to those questions relentlessly
answers to those questions relentlessly and always remember to ask yourself how
and always remember to ask yourself how
and always remember to ask yourself how can what I’m learning be used to help
can what I’m learning be used to help
can what I’m learning be used to help either society at large or my community
either society at large or my community
either society at large or my community move forward and then finally don’t make
move forward and then finally don’t make
move forward and then finally don’t make the mistake I made at the beginning of
the mistake I made at the beginning of
the mistake I made at the beginning of this talk don’t make assumptions if you
this talk don’t make assumptions if you
this talk don’t make assumptions if you do those things not only will you change
do those things not only will you change
do those things not only will you change your mindset but you just might change
your mindset but you just might change
your mindset but you just might change the world
the world
the world you
you
you [Applause]
”
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