
Geoconditioning - The Underground Pyramid
Date: Friday, March 03, 2006 @ 21:03:06 UTC Topic: General
Scientist are now predicting based on computer models, an extreme change in the earth’s temperature due to methane emissions from melting arctic permafrost. Dealing with this change on a massive scale might become necessary within fifty years for our ultimate survival. One solution might be Geoconditioning. Here is a proposal to geocondition the earth.
What is geoconditioning? Geo means earth. Geoconditioning means earth
conditioning. To be more specific, geoconditioning is an attempt to
utilize passive and active solar energy techniques in order to cool
areas of the lower atmosphere close to the ground within an
increasingly hot climate, and provide comfort zones for humans and
animals alike.
Air conditioning moves cold air to one location while
moving hot air to another location. There is no net loss of heat, but a
transfer of heat to another location. With passive air conditioning,
natural air flows are given assistance by the design of the building to
relocate hot air farther away from the building or above the building
leaving the building and the surrounding area cooler.
Some day we might
have an economy based on solar energy and an economy of manufacturing
with heavy use of glass. The Underground Pyramid utilizes the unique
properties of glass, natural air flows, the cooling effects of moist
breezes, and earth sheltering to achieve a comfort zone of large
proportions.
The Underground Pyramid uses hollow glass box beams as
building material and passive heat gain from the sun. The structure is
shaped like a stepped pyramid with soil on top of each level. Water is
sprayed upward by way of solar powered water pumps within the structure
in order to provide a cooling effect. Also, evaporative cooling is
utilized inside the structure due to a gentle warming of the interior
due to the entry of low angle sunlight passing through the glass walls.
Spaces are left between each level to provide natural ventilation and
stratification of air levels.
Warm moist air will rise within the
structure and exit an open top, and cool moist air will descend inside
and near the structure. This will create a comfort zone nearby, and a
pleasant experience within the structure. Since passive air
conditioning works best on a large scale, our structure needs to be
quite large.
Earth sheltering via the 24 inches of earthen material on
top of each level will provide a heat sink moderating the effects of
heat gain from sunlight. Only low angle sunlight will enter the
structure. Evaporative cooling can be incorporated into the design by
building our structure over a hollow in the ground about thirty feet
deep that would collect rainwater. This water can be used in the
cooling process. We have all experienced the cooling effect of moist
breezes, and the cool moist air near fountains, and this is the effect
intended.
Since passive air conditioning works best on a large scale,
our structure needs to be quite large. Although this structure sounds
simply like an air conditioner, or cooling tower, it can be much more.
This can be a place of great beauty and a sanctuary for nature. All
kinds of flora and fauna would find the environment quite pleasant in
and near such a structure.
A separate but similar system could be used
to convert waste- water to nutrients, and could convert nutrients to
soil and grow trees. Water would be continuously pumped via solar
powered water pumps to the highest level and allowed to flow back into
channels and streams. Air as well as water would also be pumped into
our system from below, helping to filter and aerate our system.
A
gentle misting of water would be provided inside of the structure and
water would condense and drip from the bottom of each level, providing
a gentle rainforest effect.
Presented by Ralph Randolph Sawyer from
Houston, Texas.
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