The devastating impact of the COVID pandemic and the associated lock down has given many of us a renewed appreciation of our natural surroundings and our fragile ecosystem. The focus on climate change and the general health of our plant has to date been focused on our carbon footprint but there is now a growing […]
Author: Ollan Herr
ECO Houses with nutrient recovery and composting system to recycle Nitrates and Phosphates
The HANAPAK human urine treatment system is a new nature based method to treat a large part of the waste water nutrients in new Eco Houses. The separation of human urine and toilet solids from domestic waste water will prevent most of the nitrates and almost half of the phosphates from polluting ground water. The […]
United Nations Sustainability Goal 6 Water A Challenge for New House Building
United Nations Sustainability Goal 6 Water A Challenge for New House Building To end the wasting and dumping of phosphates, nitrates and potash from septic tanks into the ground To protect the water quality in nearby rivers from these nutrient pollutants To play a part in returning streams and rivers to their former pristine unpolluted condition and […]
Should new buildings in Ireland be required to have Rainwater Harvesting Systems?
With the latest water shortages in Skerries, County Dublin, should new buildings in Ireland be required to have Rainwater Harvesting Systems? Gravity based systems would cost less to install and operate. Every so often some community in Ireland has to manage without a reliable mains water supply. It’s the turn now of the people of […]
Grey water recycling is the only option for domestic houses during a prolonged drought
Avoid hose bans and protect your home from water shortages by treating and recycling your own Grey Water. The summer of 2018 will be remembered for the intense heat and the extended long dry period. Indeed likewise most of North America and Europe has been suffering from the same extended heat wave and drought. . https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-independent/20180711/281706910445471 The report from […]
Waterless Toilets could be part of our response to Water Shortages
The national hose ban looks like it will be with us for months. With this present national and international heat wave being linked to climate change and with the increasing probability of more long term droughts; all new house buildings should install at least one waterless toilet in response to future water crisis situations. […]
Brexit is not the only threat to the cost of living
“Brexit price increases could affect poorer households most” – but the projected shortages of fertilizer as a result of phosphate depletion will have a much more serious long term impact on world food prices and food security The ESRI Economic and Social Research Institute is Ireland’s independent source of evidence for policy. Their latest report […]
The Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Human Urine is too valuable to be “Wasted” by adding it into septic tanks
Will your septic tank and the waste water pipes in your house require to be changed completely in about 30 years time? This is a new domestic treatment system that recycles phosphorus from urine to provide sustainable fertilizer for kitchen gardens The need to separate and recycle phosphorus will become the most urgent waste water treatment […]
The population of the world depends on having enough phosphorus. Unless we recycle it there will be food price inflation, eventually food shortages and probably famine.
What is Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a natural resource used as a fertiliser in the production of food. Almost all phosphorus rock is mined in countries outside of Europe, making the EU potentially vulnerable to a future phosphorous and therefore a food shortage. What is the phosphorus problem?: Phosphorus is key element in fertilizer for the production […]
Want a simple rain water harvesting system with less moving parts and less potential maintenance issues? Architects need to design with this in mind.
The talk about probable future rising oil prices and the recent debate about water charges in Ireland might give reason for some to plan for long term sustainability issues; such as reducing energy use and water use. But there is another reason to be interested in a simple pump free systems – there are less […]