Unit Information
As the world’s population has continued to increase, so has our impact on the planet. We are generating more pollution, and are using up an ever increasing amount of non-renewable resources. Living off the grid is being able to live in such a way that you do not draw on external sources for your living requirements, this involves generating your own power, sourcing your own water and growing your own food.
This unit will examine the situation in which most people live, an urban setting. In an urban setting living off the grid can be difficult as you do not have as much space and therefore you may need to prioritise how you use that space in order to leave sustainably. It does however have the advantage that any shortfall can be made up by tapping into the grid where needed. In this unit you will take on the role of property developers by examining to what extent you are able to develop a residential house and yard that enables the owners to live off the grid as much as possible. You will be working in groups to populate a housing estate where each block has it’s own specific strengths and weaknesses.
As property developers, you are not designing this property for yourself, but rather for your clients, you need to design it according to their wishes. You will be given some information about the composition and needs of the family you will be designing for. As they are fictitious families, your teacher will take on the role of the family who can answer any questions about the design the family wants as well as being able to say no to any features that go against the aim of trying to live sustainably.
This unit will examine the situation in which most people live, an urban setting. In an urban setting living off the grid can be difficult as you do not have as much space and therefore you may need to prioritise how you use that space in order to leave sustainably. It does however have the advantage that any shortfall can be made up by tapping into the grid where needed. In this unit you will take on the role of property developers by examining to what extent you are able to develop a residential house and yard that enables the owners to live off the grid as much as possible. You will be working in groups to populate a housing estate where each block has it’s own specific strengths and weaknesses.
As property developers, you are not designing this property for yourself, but rather for your clients, you need to design it according to their wishes. You will be given some information about the composition and needs of the family you will be designing for. As they are fictitious families, your teacher will take on the role of the family who can answer any questions about the design the family wants as well as being able to say no to any features that go against the aim of trying to live sustainably.
Expected Products
Over the course of this semester of work there are three products that your group will need to produce. A description of those tasks, and the templates for them, are provided below. As the developer of these blocks, these are possible documents you would need to produce to your client in order to get a green light for the development.
Block Model
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Using the various fabrication tools in the STEM Centre you will need to produce an accurate 1:125 scale model of your block development. This block must include
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Analysis Spreadsheet
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The spreadsheet, which can be accessed opposite, is designed to allow you to keep track of what is been generated from your block of land, and what is being consumed. Although some of this spreadsheet already has some values populated, others, including formulas may need to be added.
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Sustainability Report
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The sustainability report is a document which outlines all of the sustainability features that have been considered in the development of the block of land. It attempts to quantify, through a star system, how sustainable that development is. The template for this report is shown opposite.
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