WASTE AS A RESOURCE
Waste Stream Material as a Valuable Resource
About AZUR | Discovery | Climate | Biomimicry | Cultural | Sun | Less-Than-Zero | Water | Food | Waste | PlaceMaking | BIM | Arcology | Who We Are | Contact

About AZUR | Discovery | Climate | Biomimicry | Cultural | Sun | Less-Than-Zero | Water | Food | Waste | PlaceMaking | BIM | Arcology | Who We Are | Contact

[1] BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA
1.2M sq.ft. Mixed-Use
Colorado Riverffront
Development & BioMachine



[2] NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
Public Plaza Design
Over Waste-Water Treated
& Irrigated Commons



[3] THEORETICAL DESIGN
Arcology (2.4M Residents)
Novanoah II

A building is like a living organism. Energy is consumed to keep it warm or cool. Electrical and communications system act as its "neural network". The structural system is its "skeletal" support.  

Similarly, waste products must be conducted from the building each day. Many of these products can be utilized as precious resources; including sewage, gray water, paper, plastics, metals, glass and excess heat,

 

if the proper forethought and planning are incorporated into the design process.

Sewage can be treated and used to fertilize windbreaks, shade trees, and ornamental gardens.   Similarly, properly treated gray water can be used to irrigate plants, including food crops.   The leftover plant materials from the crops can be used to create compost, further supporting the growth of this life sustaining vegetation.

Paper, plastics, metal, and glass can be collected for recycling.   Even waste heat, which is typically exhausted, can be recovered to temper water, or to create comfortable living space.   When waste products are viewed as a resource, rather than a liability, then the entire development can truly be conceived as an integrated, holistically sustainable "organism."