Atom Dari

Dave Turpin wrote: Any power produced in a water main would first have to be powered from the pumps that pressurize said water main (or fill the water tower); a net loss of energy.

Well I'd imagine that the biggest issues to consider would be how many of these you could chain down the piping, as well as how much they would suppress the initial pressurized flow. As I understand it, fluid dynamics would keep the water flowing regardless of interference. After all, it isn't like we can stop the flow of a river by putting enough of these in a line.

these might not be the cost effective method for that either way though. It might be a better plan to use a different device with similar properties.

is it just me, or does this look like a great thing to set up one after another through a municipal water supply system? I mean even a mid-sized subdivision would have a large enough water main that you could string a ton of these together and power the neighborhood.

Either way, really interesting design, and I'd like to see how much could be done with it and other micro-hydro generator designs for a basic suburban life (not that i would wish it on anyone.)

i think you're right about the future of tech, in a sense.as the sustainability movement and the tech world start to dovetail together, its going to be increasingly common that we reach out to nature for inspiration and answers. this is a terrible example, but I can see "the last mimzy" being a sort of example, where we reach design and creation on a particle scale, and can fuse organic methods into our production stream.

I don't know how dune-y we'll be, or what other sci-fi things we'll create in time, but I'd imagine that we'd be hard pressed to want to just give up nature, since most can agree that it is still so important to some part inside of us.

I'll definitely post photos of the process as it go along.

I am going toward an eames style in what ways I can, and I do really love tech. My feelings are that tech and designers are going to play a huge part in curbing us back from disaster as a world. I want to do my part in that, but I still care a lot about environment and production ethics. My goal is to have as sustainable, cheap, long lasting, and good looking product as possible, that is made in the US, and somebody could be proud to own.

If I can do all that, and still compete well enough with Ikea or Walmart enough to get by, then I'm happy. I don't intend to make millions of these in mass production, as much as a one off for every request. Like an etsy for sweet modernist furniture. My time will be devoted to writing my book, making more art, designing other products, and doing interior designs and remodel plans for houses to make them much more sustainable and functional.

the money i get put in this is going to go to getting more equipment, and building a fab lab, probably in either lakeland florida, or savannah georgia. Whichever place it is, i hope to do as much as i can to really foster community, as well as use the land for forest gardening as well as whatever else i can do with it, probably even some beehives. Any extra money after that goes directly into helping others start up local businesses with similar ethos.

I have felt for a while that the permaculture community has had some serious problems in the abrasive, "all or nothing" attitude when it comes to tech and non permie lifestyles. Many people I meet are very enthusiastic about doing what little bit they can, and I do as much as possible to support that.

..alright I'm getting away from myself.

Style wise, I see that hand carved movement rise and fall every few years for people with money, but also a lot of other really interesting sea changes. Versatility and nomad design have been on the rise for the past five to ten years, and we're reaching a point where the minimalist movement is getting really strong. I'm just hoping to make something that can support all those ideals while being viable as a product for people.

Its only a roughed model in sketchup right now. I based it off a design that I used for my bed for 2 years. I'd have to beta test this design to make sure that its safe and sturdy. I can share the design in a pm or an email if you'd like.

In the end I'd like to do is to make this with a laser cutter or automated mill, but I'm hoping that the laser cutter would work out, so I can do etching of my own designs across the pieces of wood.

it's a simple platform bed design. really minimal, but made as a jigsaw puzzle style, where the parts fit together and don't require any tools or adhesives. the parts just interlock and hold it all together until you need to move or store it away, and then you just pull it all apart and toss it into a closet or a moving truck.

i'm really interested in woods that will be able to hold up to a good bed jumping (after all, who wants a bed that collapses when you're wildly porking on it?), as well as things that should be able to last a generation or two in a family.

if it works out, my goal is to build up a fabrication business for more furniture, as well as other products. I'd really like to use something that i know wills tand up, but i cant afford much at all, at least for my first run.

Hey all.

I'm a designer and artist, and I'm working out the details of starting a furniture business in the southeast, probably central florida. I need to work with plank boards at least 7' x 4' x 3/4". I'm trying to find the most sustainable thing that can hold up to weight and still be affordable and not ugly as sin.

my first place i called was quoting boards of carbonized bamboo plywood at $ 175 a sheet, which is just too high to be cost effective, regardless of how much i like it.

If anyone has any ideas or contact they know, please give me a heads up, because i'm really hoping to start this project soon, and i havent found much through research yet.

i'm going to have to research this one, i'd like to know a good list of the best plants to use for architectural forms like that and more.

i acctually got my undergraduate degree in historic preservation with a focus in adaptive rehab, and i've been studying green retrofit technologies for the past 4 years, i'm working to incorporate it all into a book about revitalizing suburbia right now. if anyone would like to ever ask me for info on any specific style of building i'd be happy to do what i can.

you wont be able to read this most likely, but godspeed.