reACT Living Systems Learning Module Narration Script Written by Zack Bishop and Matt Lagomarsino Title Slide Welcome to the living systems and waste learning module for the reACT Solar Decathlon house. Slide 2 We acknowledge that the University of Maryland is built upon the ancestral and unceded lands of the Piscataway. As students and scholars at the University of Maryland, we recognize that we have historically, personally and collectively benefited from the occupation of Piscataway lands. We recognize that it is our responsibility to acknowledge this occupation and the negative impacts that our occupation of Piscataway lands has had on the Piscataway people, their lands, and the ecosystems which are vital to their way of life. Slide 3 What is reACT? reACT stands for resilient adaptive climate technology. It is the University of Maryland competition house for the 2017 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is an international competition that challenges universities to build a sustainable solar powered house. It is judged in 10 different interdisciplinary categories such as architecture, engineering, water efficiency, and energy efficiency, to name a few. reACT is unique among the competition houses because it integrates Native American knowledge systems and sustainability concepts with innovative technologies. reACT contains many different interconnected subsystems within the house. This learning module focuses on it’s living systems and waste. Slide 4 By the end of this learning module, you will understand the origins of reACT’s living systems and the design and benefit of each core component of the living systems. Throughout the entire module you will realize the core themes of reACT and be able to relate these to Native American cultural principles. As you will see, reACT places emphasis on the importance of native plants. We will illustrate an example use of the living systems by describing how the Piscataway use native plants. Finally, we will describe some ways you can get involved in the sustainability field. Slide 5 These are the core themes of reACT. They apply both to the living systems and to the entire house as a whole. These themes are very important to the design philosophy of reACT so try to keep them in mind throughout the learning module. The core themes are Protection of Ecological Integrity. Local Food Production. Modular Systems. Conservation of Resources. Interconnectedness of All Systems. Collaboration of academic disciplines. Slide 6 One of the very unique things about reACT is that the design philosophy draws heavily upon the cultural principles of Native American people. This diagram shows how the core themes of reACT relate to cultural principles of Native American tribes such as the Piscataway and Nanticoke. We turn to the guidance of Native people because they were able to manage local natural resources for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. As a whole, these principles feature resilience, adaptability and a respect for the earth and its natural resources. Slide 7 Most American homes do not have living systems, so why does reACT have them? The first reason is that reACT aims to reduce the occupants’ ecological footprint. In other words, the house aims to reduce resource consumption and waste generation as much as possible. Throughout this module we will explore how living systems help to reduce inhabitants’ ecological footprints through a variety of methods such as local plant production, limiting outside inputs, and using waste as a resource. When designing the living systems of reACT, we took a systems ecology approach. This means reACT can be thought of as a whole house ecosystem with inputs, interactions, and outputs of energy, information, and material that is deeply connected to all living and nonliving things.. reACT is designed with the premise that the human and nonhuman systems are interconnected, just like in an ecosystem! Now that we have reviewed the origins of reACT, we will take a closer look at the design and importance of each of the components in the living systems. Slide 8 The first innovative component of the living systems is the hydroponics garden. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in enriched water, without the use of soil. In this hydroponics garden, nutrients that support plant growth are added to the water in the 10 gallon reservoir located at the bottom of the system. This water is then pumped up to the top row of ceramic planters and flows down into the reservoir again, forming a closed loop system. The hydroponics garden can support small plants such as herbs and lettuce and is located indoors at a south facing window so it receives plenty of sun-year round Slide 9 The Hydroponics Garden has many benefits to humans and the surrounding environment. First and foremost, the garden allows for the year-round production of nutritious foods, such as edible greens and herbs. This system continuously recirculates water in an efficient manner, and requires considerably less nutrients than conventional soil based growing systems. That being said, this system uses no soil and instead uses a liquid nutrient solution and soilless growing mediums such as clay pebbles or mineral wool to support the plants. Since the system is indoors it is free from pesticides and herbicides. Lastly the Hydroponics Garden makes use of previously unused vertical space, typically in front of windows, and can act as a ‘green-screen’ to separate areas in a living space in a beautiful way. Aside from these benefits listed, the act of caring for a natural garden indoors is a very calming activity and the psychological and physical benefits to humans through the incorporation of plants indoors has been well documented in scientific literature. Air quality benefits and a calming effect through biophilia are just two of the many additional benefits of indoor plants. THEME: Conservation of Resources The hydroponics garden reflects reACTs theme of conservation of resources. The recirculating water flow minimizes water usage, and the location of the garden indoors minimizes evaporation. Now here is a task for you... Can you think of creative ways water can be reused or reduced in your own home? Slide 10 The second innovative component of the living systems are the green walls. One exterior green wall faces South on the deck, and the other two interior green walls face each other in the Green Court. Facing south allows the green walls to get as much sun as possible when the house is located in the northern hemisphere. These green walls consist of small plantable trays that fit on standard wire mesh panels. The planted trays can be arranged for varying aesthetics and functions. The photo shown on the right depicts the exterior green wall during the 2017 Solar Decathlon competition in Denver, Colorado, where native species of flowering herbs were planted and quickly attracted pollinators such as the ‘Painted Lady’ Butterfly. In order to water the plants, drip irrigation nozzles efficiently deliver greywater reclaimed from the household sink, shower, and clothes washer as well as rainwater collected off of the roof. The green walls are connected to reACT’s smart house automation system, which automates irrigation based on data inputs from soil moisture sensors and local weather data. This means that the house determines by itself the best time to water the plants based on the moisture in the soil after taking into consideration whether or not it has rained. Slide 11 The benefits of these green walls are numerous. First off, the exterior walls grow native flowering species which are aesthetically pleasing and useful for humans, all while offering key ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal and habitat for beneficial pollinators which are crucial for native food webs. The interior green walls offer a space to grow medicinal and or ceremonial herbs and botanicals all year round. The simple fact of having these plants in an indoor space helps to promote psychological wellness for human inhabitants as they take care of these plants and enjoy their presence. These interior green walls also help to improve the indoor air quality in the Green Court, by removing key indoor air pollutants such as VOC’s and particulate matter. Both exterior and interior green walls make use of previously unused vertical space, and use water efficiently through the automated irrigation system. These green wall trays developed by Tournesol Siteworks are constructed of 100% recycled plastics. THEME: Modular Systems The green walls reflect reACT’s theme of modular systems because the plants can be rearranged for a seasonal crop rotation. During the winter months exterior green wall trays are brought inside to the interior green wall panels to keep plants alive in the warmer temperatures of the green-court. Here is a question for you... What plants would you grow if you had a green wall inside your house? How about outside? Slide 12 The exterior raised beds are two 12 foot by 12 foot above ground planter beds constructed of water-resistant lumber. These beds are located behind the south facing exterior green wall and their main purpose is to grow edible crops off of the ground. Similar to the exterior green wall, drip irrigation efficiently delivers reclaimed gray water on a fixed interval schedule. The plant palette features native edible crop species that fit the climate wherever reACT is placed. The Three Sisters Garden, a Native American growing technique, is featured in reACT as a method of companion planting that predates colonization in North America. The infographic seen on the right depicts the Three Sisters Garden which consists of corn squash and beans. Corn provides height and structure for the beans to grow on. Squash helps to keep moisture in the soil, and shades out any weeds trying to grow nearby. Lastly, climbing beans help deter wildlife and fix nitrogen in the soil for the corn and squash to use. This growing technique is a prime example of companion planting where plants symbiotically help each other to survive, which can be seen as a metaphor for the cooperation of humans and the environment living in the reACT house. Slide 13 The main benefit of the exterior raised beds is of course the production of healthy local foods including vegetables, legumes, fruits, and herbs. Growing food on site reduces reACTs ecological footprint by reducing food miles, which is the distance food is transported from where it is made to where it is eaten. Aside from these central benefits of raised beds, gardening is a physically and spiritually wholesome activity for humans as they interact with the plants that give them nourishment outside under the sun. Just like the exterior green wall and landscaping around reACT, the exterior raised beds offer habitat and food for native pollinators, which offer countless ecosystem services. Lastly, since the raised beds are off of the ground this garden is protected from burrowing animals that normally disturb in-ground gardens. THEME: Honoring the Sense of Place The exterior raised bed is tailored to the local environment and reflects the reACT’s theme of honoring the sense of place. For the 2017 competition in Colorado, plants were used that can survive in plant hardiness Zone 5B and 6A. Do a web search and see what hardiness zone you live in. What kind of native plants could you grow? Slide 14 The next innovative component of the living systems is the composting toilet. The system works in a simple way, and provides the potential for full time use for 1-4 people with ease. Here’s how it works: Solids and urine are separated into two different compartments of the toilet. Urine is captured in a removable basin while solids are captured in a larger central compartment. Solids are mixed with a carbon source such as peat moss and are aerated after each use via a hand-crank. This carbon source helps prevent smells and starts the “thermophilic composting” process by providing heat for bacteria that begin to break down the solid waste. A fan ventilates the toilet to the exterior of the house to prevent indoor odors. When full, the solid waste compartment is emptied outside into a compost bin and covered with soil. This outdoor compost bin is specifically designated for solely human wastes. When in the outdoor composting bin, this compost is broken down by heat-loving bacteria called ‘Thermophiles’ after a minimum of 6 months. The broken down compost is used as fertilizer for non-edible plants in the landscape. Keeping this fertilizer off of edible crops ensures, though however unlikely, that no bacterial contamination occurs between human wastes and human foods. Lastly, Urine is diluted with water and applied directly on non-edible plants as a nitrogen fertilizer. Some researchers suggest diluting Urine with water at the ratio of 3:1 (Water:urine) for optimal results as a nutrient fertilizer. Slide 15 The composting toilet has many benefits, mostly in regards to it’s low usage of resources, and it’s regeneration of nutrients. First and foremost, the composting toilet conserves water as it does not flush using fresh water like conventional toilets do. Given that in the USA the federal standard for toilets is 1.6 gallons per flush, the water-saving potential of composting toilets are measurable. With no freshwater coming into the system, no waste-water leaves the system at all, reducing the need for septic drain fields or output into sewage treatment plants. That being said, this waterless system requires no plumbing whatsoever. With a small ventilation fan the system is odorless. This system treats human wastes as a valuable resource and restores them to be part of the natural nutrient cycles they were always intended in nature. This composting toilet specifically leads to the creation of fertile soil for non edible plants in the Landscaping through thermophilic composting processes, and also provides liquid fertilizer for higher plants in the form of diluted human urine. This system not only reduces the inputs and outputs of a functioning household toilet, it recycles the nutrients from food grown and eaten on site back into usable forms for plants on site. Treating waste in this way as a closed loop system educates humans in their role in greater ecological systems of our planet, which is an important concept often overlooked in modern westernized societies. Slide 16 The last major innovation of reACT’s living systems is one that helps to bridge the gap between the non-living and living by aiding in the process of nutrient cycling. This is the barrel composter, which is a common off-the-shelf item and can be easily included in your own home. Here are the basics: fresh green wastes like food scraps and grass clippings are termed “green compost”, and Lawn wastes such as brown leaves, twigs, and straw are termed “brown compost”. The barrel composter collects both of these kinds of waste and is ideally placed in the sun to heat up which aids in the composting process. Here's how it works: “Green compost” and “Brown compost” are inserted into the barrel composter at a ratio of 4:1. In other words, four parts brown yard waste to one part green leafy waste. The Barrel composter is ‘tumbled’ about every 3-5 days to mix the compost and aid in the breakdown of materials. This is done simply by turning the hand-crank or the barrel itself by hand. When the bin is about 75% full, the user stops adding to it to allow the bacteria inside to have enough oxygen to thrive. In 1-2 months, the compost is ready for application on garden soils. If more storage is needed to contain all of these organic wastes from a site, more barrel composters can be added to fit demand. Typically, sites have three composting bins, one for new inputs, one that is in the composting process, and one that is finished and contains usable soil. Slide 17 Similar to the composting toilet, the main benefits of a barrel composter are in regards to resource use and regeneration. The system minimizes organic wastes from the kitchen and yard, which means less food going to landfills and septic tanks and less exports of yard wastes to landfills. The system creates nutrient-rich compost high in organic matter that can be used to fortify soils for edible crops. This reduces the need for fertilizers, saving money and fossil fuels used to create fertilizers. Last but not least, using the barrel composter raises human awareness to soil fertility and nutrient cycling, which can have profound impacts on the way humans generate food wastes. Slide 18 Now that we have taken a closer look at each of the components of the living systems, here is one example of how the living systems can be used. The Piscataway people use tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass, and sage for a variety of uses, and they contain special cultural significance. Smaller plants, such as sage, can be grown in the hydroponics garden or the green walls, while larger plants, such as tobacco, cedar, and sweetgrass can be grown in the exterior raised beds. When ready to be harvested, tobacco is traditionally used as a gift, while sweetgrass can be woven together into baskets. All four of these sacred plants can also be used in Piscataway ceremonies, and they symbolize the cardinal directions. As you can see in this image, sweetgrass, cedar, tobacco, and sage represent North, South, East, and West respectively. Slide 19 The energy systems diagram shown here depicts the vast interconnectedness of the living systems in reACT. Any arrow you see on this diagram represents the flow of energy, information, or materials. This technique was developed and popularized by H.T. Odum in the 1950’s and is a useful tool to express and calculate the flow of energy and cycling of matter through biotic and abiotic mediums. First things first, direct your attention to the bottom left hand corner to locate the system being depicted. In this case it is the ‘Living Systems’ of reACT. The large dark rectangular box around this system is used to show what is being studied, and is only figurative for this diagram since in reality all systems are vastly interconnected with all other systems. Next, direct your attention to the ‘KEY’ in the upper right hand corner. The names of the 6 major symbols in this diagram are storage, work gate, function, source, consumer, and producer. The symbols are intuitive... The storage symbol is any stored energy, such as food in a pantry. The work-gate symbol depicts an interaction between two things that leads to a result. The function symbol can depict any miscellaneous purpose; typically a vital subsystem. The source symbol denotes the external energy sources that power a system, such as sunlight or rainwater. The consumer symbol, in its simplest sense, is when resources are consumed by something or a process, such as humans eating food. The (green plant) producer symbol is used for any photosynthetic producer that creates its own energy from the sun and stores it. The Energy Systems Diagram language obeys the laws of thermodynamics. That being said, the loss of heat from This system. is depicted by the three small lines in the very bottom of the center of the diagram, and is known as the heat sink. Each of the major living systems described in this module are shown as individual systems within the larger living systems framework. These systems are the Exterior Greenwalls, Composting Toilet, Hydroponics Garden, Interior Greenwalls, Barrel Composter, Landscaping, and Raised Beds. If you look closely, you will see that there are multiple energy pathways that are recycled throughout the diagram. Start at the ‘sunlight’ source on the left side of the diagram and follow along! Sunlight → Interior Greenwalls: Indoor Plants → Food → Humans → Composting Toilet: Feces → Thermophile Microbes → Work Gate → Compost → Landscaping: Soil → Native Plants → Detritus → Barrel Composter: Organic Wastes → Detritivores → Compost → Raised Beds: Soil → Native Crops (Edible) → Food → Humans This example shows how the same sunlight energy uptaken by the interior green walls makes its way into four other systems and returns to nourish humans twice! This highlights the regenerative design strategy of reACT and shows how waste can be used as a resource. Now it’s your turn. Start at a different source, such as soil, etc. and see where the arrows of energy and material flows take you! Slide 20 The design of reACT draws upon the living principles of Native American tribes in the Maryland region. In particular, the interconnectedness of all things is one principle that reACT embodies, because each system within the house is connected to the others in some way. For example, the living systems are closely connected to the smart house automation and the water system through the use of reclaimed grey water which can automatically irrigate the green walls. It is also an important architectural element, as plants are used to connect and define the space within the house. The living systems serve as key elements of reACT that connect the occupants of the house to the surrounding ecosystems. Slide 21 reACT could not have been built without drawing upon decades of indeginous knowledge and sustainability research. You can help be part of the sustainability movement by applying the innovations of reACT to your own home and community. Sustainability is a rapidly growing field, and the key to maintaining a healthy relationship between humans and the environment. Some ways you can get involved are by joining the Environmental Science and Technology program at the University of Maryland, or by getting involved with the American Ecological Engineering Society. Additionally, you can learn more about the sustainability techniques of Native Americans by volunteering and participating in events hosted by your local tribal organization. Slide 22 If you would like to learn more about the different tribes in the Maryland region, as well as how you can get involved, check out these resources. Slide 23 If you would like to learn more about the Solar Decathlon competition or about reACT and the other systems within the house, you can look at these resources. In addition, all of the competition deliverables are available on the digital repository of the University of Maryland. Slide 24 We would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to this learning module. Slide 25 If you have a question or would like to learn more, feel free to reach out!