Case Study: Motale Ben Mokheseng, student QwaQwa , South Africa, aug 2009 (fragment of the study)

3.1 Ecolonia, Netherlands 
Initiated in 1991, “Ecolonia was part of an expansion plan in the town of Alphen aan der Rijn, located between the cities of Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, in what is known as Netherland's 'green heart'”. The project was supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Economic Affairs, Environment and Spatial Planning (Blundell, 1992; Hans, 1995). “It consists of 101 semi-detached and terrace homes within a development of 280 units within an urban extension of Kerk en Zanen numbering 6000 dwellings, south of Alphen”.1 The Ecolonia project aimed to demonstrate and promote sustainable energy technologies, sustainable building practices, and more sustainable living practices (Blundell, 1992; Hans, 1995). 
In 1989, the Netherlands government introduced the National Environmental Policy Plan that was very instrumental in the development of Ecolonia. The Plan, aimed at building industry, targeting mainly housing development, identified three major themes where significant steps needed to be made towards a sustainable and qualitative improvement for the citizens of the Netherlands by the year 2000. The three policy themes of that Plan were Energy Conservation, Life-Cycle Management and Quality Improvement. These themes and their further detailing provided programmatic considerations for the architects involved in the development of Ecolonia, and are referred to later on. Now let us look at the Ecolonia community design informed by the three themes. 
The concept plan for Ecolonia was developed by Lucien Kroll, well known for his advocacy of an urban development form that fosters a relationship between people and their environment. His ideas are based on principles of natural expansion where a [development accommodates the needs of its community through building resilient ecosystems]. The following are the three themes within which housing schemes were considered in the development of Ecolonia. 
Energy Conservation 
Integral Life Cycle Management 
Quality Improvement 

All the ecological design concepts incorporated under the three themes aimed at reducing energy consumption (by at least 25%), reducing water consumption, reducing land use, reducing the rate of raw material extraction, and reducing fossil-fuel use. Also the development of Ecolonia aimed to expand public space and increase amenity. Integral Life Cycle Management and Quality Improvement are discussed with special reference to organic design, water and sanitation, organic agriculture and land use, transportation and economic viability, whilst energy conservation, discussed next, ultimately becomes integral part of the other two themes. All three themes are parts of a whole – sustainability as envisaged by Ecolonia developers. 

3.1.1 Energy conservation 
Design Features: 
High thermal insulation 

Ecolonia community development walls, roofs and floors were insulated using material with Rc = 4 m2 K/W for walls and roofs, and Rc > 3 m2 K/W for floors. Here “high insulation or R value refers to the insulative properties of materials, the higher the R value, the better the insulation. The practice of using higher R value insulation, in conjunction with tight building practices yields good results providing an environment that is efficient and comfortable. High insulation may mean increased short-term cost, but this will be offset over time by reduced fuel costs and a more comfortable living environments”, (www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/.../ecolonia/ecoindx.htm). 
Windows with a high thermal resistance 

Double-glazing with external shading (roller-blinds) was used in Ecolonia. Windows (single or double glazing) are available in differing states of emissivity. Emissivity “relates to the amount of heat loss allowed by a window. The greater the number of panes in a window, the less emissivity it has. The creation of dead air spaces or air buffers between the panes further 
decreases the emissivity of the window”. Ecolonia designers also used Low-E glass that reflects up to 90% of long-wave radiation (heat), but allows short-wave radiation (light) in. “Low-E glass will tend to keep heat energy inside the building during the winter, and keep heat energy outside the building during the summer”, (www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/.../ecolonia/ecoindx.htm). 
Compact building style 

Smaller single family dwelling unit sizes designed for Ecolonia development was a major driver of social transformation and were replicated in other developments in the Netherlands “as the social and demographic profile of family and other household arrangements changes. Smaller unit sizes are designed to make more efficient use of interior spaces while retaining solar and ground access”. Higher density buildings create a “more compact, efficient and affordable residential development. Net densities for smaller unit sizes in Ecolonia range from 7 to 14 units per acre” (about 4050 square meters). The benefits of compact building style include: “lower impact on the natural environment, more compact and accessible neighbourhoods which promote community, potential for public transit integration, reduced infrastructure expenditures, reduced costs for materials and construction, and reduced servicing, maintenance and energy expenditures (life-cycle costs)”, (www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/.../ecolonia/ecoindx.htm) 
Solar energy for passive and active heating and hot water 

The buildings should be designed in a way that maximises solar access and minimises wind exposure. The buildings in Ecolonia achieved correct orientation that was well aligned with the streets. In so doing Ecolonia increased human comfort through maximising passive solar energy and the demand for external energy was reduced. Buildings in Ecolonia were designed to collect solar energy with windows acting as the main collection source. This was done using passive designs: proper orientation building with 50 - 60% of the building glazing oriented to the sun (south exposure in northern hemisphere and north exposure in southern hemisphere) and active designs: solar collectors to warm an interior space of the building, but solar collectors collect solar heat mechanically by using additional external electrical energy to operate pumps, motors etc. Solar Water Heaters were used for water heating as well.
 
3.1.2 Organic design that considers the natural cycle (durability and maintenance) 
Design Features: 
Raw materials from the natural carbon cycle, such as wood cellulose, natural paints, resins were used in the development of Ecolonia, and cement was used only for later recycling 
Recycled material, such as rubble and concrete granulate were used in the ground floor and plaster board derived from flue gas desulphurisation 
Windows and frames made of local softwood, with hardwood lintels and sills and other easily replaceable materials and reusable components were used in Ecolonia. 
“Recycling is seen as the third stage of energy and material conservation in the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle `trilogy'”. Materials to be recycled are timber and lumber, cabinetry, doors, and other wood items. Also precast and pre-stressed concrete slabs, steel structures and cladding, glazing, and other modular construction elements.

3.1.3 Water and sanitation 
Design features 
Reducing water consumption 

In Ecolonia rainwater is harvested and used for irrigation, toilet flushing and car washing. Retention pond has been constructed at the centre of the Ecolonia community site. Mole drains are used to conduct water to the pond where “it is cleansed by a variety of wetland species, such as reeds and cattails. These vegetative filters help in breaking down the pollutants in water collected from road surfaces and chemical residues, in some cases leached from lawns and gardens”. 
Constructed wetlands 

This is sewage treatment that is different from the conventional sewage system where the sludge sinks to the bottom of the pit for anaerobic decomposition to take place. In Ecolonia, “shallow ponds are populated with water hyacinths and bull rushes that aid the natural processes of the sun rays, oxygen supplied by wind moving the water, and bacteria and algae are present in the pond. The plant material can remove large quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as sucking up toxins such as heavy metals and phenols into their plant biomass”. Furthermore, this plant material can be harvested and incinerated to dispose of the toxins and provide heat. “The effluent is free enough of any pathogens that it can be sprayed on the land to irrigate crops, thus returning water to the ground that has been cleansed in a distinctly more natural way”, (www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/.../ecolonia/ecoindx.htm). 
Precipitation 

Precipitation can be a great source of water for garden and greenhouse irrigation. When channelled inside a building, it can be used for many purposes: flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering indoor plants. “During temperate seasons, rainwater barrels can supply necessary moisture for a garden or herb plot, free of civic water consumption or sewerage charges. Eaves troughs can be emptied into purposefully designed barrels that have bottom mounted hose fittings allowing the gravity forced water to supplement natural precipitation when necessary”. 
Water-saving showers, taps and toilets 

Most of water-saving devices used in Ecolonia include faucet aerators with a discharge rate as low as 2 litres/minute, low flow shower heads with flow rates between 6 and 10 litres/minute, high efficiency toilets with flow rates between 2 to 6 litres/flush. 
Other water-saving concepts and devices are front loading clothes washing machines using up to one third less the amount of water as conventional top loading models. Considerable water savings can be generated by not using the dish unless it is absolutely necessary and only when it is full. “Other water savings can be achieved by leaving a jug of water for drinking in the refrigerator so that it will remain cold, and the use of soaker or neoprene osmosis hoses on the lawn or in the garden”. 

3.1.4 Organic agriculture and land use 
Design features 
food cycle 

Organic techniques, such as composting, mulching, and using liquid and solid waste as fertilizer are used in Ecolonia. “It is an alternative to releasing toxic contaminants from herbicides and chemical fertilizers into the soil, surface and ground water. Organic techniques are important in long term use of the land for food production and the sustainability of soil because it recycles energy, nutrients and minerals with minimal damage to the local water supply and wildlife”, (www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/.../ecolonia/ecoindx.htm). 

3.1.5 Transportation 
Design features 
Traffic reconfiguration 

Ecolonia is bounded on the west by a slow-traffic route from the city centre to the educational park, Archeon. An objective in designing Ecolonia was to reduce the amount of car-based transportation. Winkel centrum, is the local centre to the north of Ecolonia that provides a range of shops within a ten-minute walk to the regional rail station. The town-centre of Alphen aan den Rijn is about fifteen-minute walk from the station. 
Within Ecolonia, walking and cycling are the main modes of transport resulting in low levels of noise, and improved safety. Car-based routes that are found in Ecolonia are designed for slow speed. The weakness of the traffic system in Ecolonia is that it does not make clear the separation between the different types of traffic. There are no marked parking bays or separate areas for cyclists and pedestrians. Areas designed for play and common areas are also often parked on. 

3.1.6 Economic viability 
Local employment opportunities created by the development of Ecolonia included two hairdressers and one doctor. Since Ecolonia was designed in such a way that there is good access to employment centres in the region, many of its residents already had stable jobs before moving to it. Moving to Ecolonia, among other reasons was precisely to be closer to the places of work. 
There were housing “subsidies of 6,000,000 Dutch guilders that were contributed by the Ministries of Economic Affairs, Building Construction, Regional Planning and Environmental Protection”, all aimed at achieving the objectives of the Environment Policy Plan (NMP). 
Modern energy and resource efficient community designs such as Ecolonia may appear to be more expensive at the outset, when compared to the cost of traditional community designs, “but the short term costs are offset by the long term benefits resulting from thoughtful planning and innovative design. The operating costs of these homes are significantly lower than those built in the surrounding community following normal practices” – business as usual (BAU) scenario. 

3.1.7 Closing remarks 
The community development project of Ecolonia was not aimed at 'green' residents but to demonstrate that environmental considerations in housing design can be attractive to all. According to Blundell (1992) & Hans (1995) environmental aspects of Ecolonia were found to be attractive and relevant to the home buyers and many of them stated that their environmental awareness has increased since moving to Ecolonia. 
Ecolonia showed that more sustainable housing is possible in the Netherlands residential building sector. The initial step has been taken and those involved have learned a great deal and indicate they have developed their capacity to go further in future projects. 
According to Van Der Ryn & Cowan (1996), positive design offers three strategies for addressing unsustainability: conservation, regeneration, and stewardship as mentioned in Part A. Conservation simply slows down the rate at which resources and energy are consumed, and unfortunately assumes that the damage must be done and the only recourse is to minimise this damage for the development (Van Der Ryn & Cowan, 1996). According to me, Ecolonia community development project achieved more of conservation and stewardship than regeneration for addressing unsustainability, though there were areas where positive design based on positive thinking was achieved, such as constructed wetlands, use of natural paints, passive solar harvesting, composting, and rainwater harvesting. But most design measures in Ecolonia, such as recycling, denser communities to preserve agricultural land, adding insulation, installing water-saving devices, and transportation were employed to reduce damage, than contributing to a net social and environmental gain. According to both Van Der Ryn & Cowan (1996) and Birkeland (2002) conservation alone cannot lead to sustainability since it implies a net loss in resource and energy use. 

5. Bibliography 
Blundell, J.P. undated. Ecolonia, Community planning, Alphen-aan-den-Rijn, the Netherlands. Architecture Review, London, March. 1992. London. Nr. 1141.[Online].http://www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/cases/ecolonia/eco024.htm. Accessed 5 August 2009 
Hans, O. 1995. Technology and Performance Aspects of the Ecolonia Demonstration Project. Delft: TNO-Bouw. in RCan. Innovative Housing Proceedings. Volume 3: Applications and Demonstrations. Ottawa. p 33-41. [Online]. http://www.arch.umanitoba.ca/sustainable/cases/ecolonia/eco024.htm. Accessed 5 August 2009 

Student Name: Motale Ben Mokheseng: source:  Ben Mokheseng - Auroville, Ecolonia, Lynedoch - Sustainability ...
Student Number: 15553019 
Course: MPhil Sustainable Development Planning and 
Management (Renewable and Sustainable Energy) 
Module Name: Ecological Design for Community Building 
Lecture Name: Prof. Mark Swilling 
Date: 11 August 2009 
Title of Assignment: Ecological Design for Community Building 
Declaration: I hereby confirm that the assignment is the product of my own work and research and has been written by me and further that all sources used therein have been acknowledged.