Great news from Kateryna Zemskova of Good Earth Nepal.org: “We are proud to announce the completion of our first hyperadobe toilet in Madurai, India. [For new readers: hyperadobe uses raschel mesh earthbags. See this hyperadobe step-by-step article with photos and building directions. Also, you can search our blog for further details.]
The toilet will be used by homeless people rescued from the streets, orphans, mentally ill and elderly who live in “Hands of Compassion Home”, run by Emmanuvel Charitable Trust. Currently 50 residents live in the home and the organization provides them with food, clothes, rehabilitation and medical services.”
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Related article: Earthbag Method is Ideal for Constructing Community Toilets in India We feel that earthbag/hyperadobe is ideal for constructing toilets under the Central government’s Swachh Bharat scheme. Government funding has already been appropriated. If this prototype proves to be less expensive and practical to build (which it appears to be) then other NGOs may start using this method. Building eco toilets is a good way to introduce earthbag in India because toilets are much simpler and lower cost than building houses and schools. The next step might be building earthbag water tanks. Then maybe introduce shelters and/or small houses.
Every new home innovation has to start somewhere. If Hyperadobe and earthbags can prove themselves as a commode, mayhap they can refine and adapt the technique to use it elsewhere as well. Thank you for sharing!
I always like to visit your site about this information, it very useful to us and amazing. You made a good site it very help us.Thank you so much for sharing the best information and instructions they amazing.
Very nice !
Just a thought …. add one extra wall and move the metal roof bars flush to the edge
You have now 2 toilets next to each other for less cost ;-)
Regards
Dion
Good idea. This could also be done later if they wanted to expand.
I was half expecting to see an actual toilet made out of earthbags! Was sorta relieved to just see an outhouse! Looks great.
Very funny. That made me laugh.
We’re busy now thinking of ways to cut costs and speed construction. What we learn on these little projects will help us on larger projects, plus more workers get trained. This is why Kelly and I always recommend building a small structure for a first project. It gives builders a chance to learn and practice each step without taking any big risk.
Small projects obviously make the most sense, and these “toilets” are great advertising for the building method. Lots of people will spend time examining those walls with undivided attention.
I, on the other hand, chose a 700sqft home with an original design (we spoke over email several months ago) as my first EB project. But so far, so good. I have both your and Kelly’s ebooks, so I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. But I am finding my own methods of efficiency along the way, as I work alone.
A few off the top of my head, an old tire rim makes an excellent spool for measured lengths of barbed wire. You can roll it on and off and the hole where the stem valve was makes a perfect spot to hole the end of the wire. Another revelation was to use old carpet (which is always free) as sunblock for the bags. It’s free, opaque and too heavy to blow away. Also, I found a quick efficient way to close bags quickly with one nail. When full, grab the top corners with one finger per corner, spin each finger in a forward circle twice, the pull those corners to the middle, overlapping, drive 3″ nail, done.
All of these tips may be old news, but they are new to me!
Thanks for the feedback. It’s fun coming up with new time and labor saving tips. The carpet idea sounds especially useful.