Several previous posts have already covered the basics of the Eternally Solar’s earthbag system. Today Dr. Johnny Anderton of Eternally Solar / EarthBagBuild explains how mesh bags can be sewn to work like their bags.
Owen: What about sewing mesh bags or tubes (Hyperadobe) to create a product similar to yours? Can owner builders do this on their own homes without conflicting with your patent rights? (This could be done on a heavy duty sewing machine.)
Johnny: My feeling is that this sort of technology should be available to all who need it. Having said that, I am sure that more innovations are made/discovered if the originator can be reasonably sure that costs of developing the idea, which can in some cases be very high, are covered. In this case we still have not been able to raise enough funds to put the system through the official Agrement International building code tests. This will cost in the region of USD $ 70 000. So my response to the issue of patent rights is that we would appreciate a donation towards a fund that will allow us to further develop the system, have a complete rational design compiled by a structural engineer and then have it officially tested and certified. Once this is done it will set a standard for other building code authorities in other countries to follow. So I would just ask that anyone who uses and benefits from the system considers helping towards it benefiting others by supporting its official development. Rather like open source software with a voluntary donation ‘honesty’ system.
I will be starting a hyperadobe roundhouse in July/August in PA. After reading this I am thinking of sewing a separation in the mesh tubing I am using to fill with lightweight insulation. This won’t be the same as the Eternally Solar system because there would only be two tubes and the main one would be filled with soil as normal. The tube would go from 18 inches to a 6 inch/ 12 inch split. I am wondering how thin the wall can be though and still be load bearing. The 12 inches will not stretch in width.
The basic concept is good. Read this Instructable on insulated earthbags: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-an-Insulated-Earthbag-House/
I tried to sew a mesh bag the other without much success. It bunches up (maybe because it was stuffed in a bag) and is hard to hold flat.
Total wall width should be around 15″-16″ plus plaster. Two inches of insulation should be plenty and still provide a stable wall.
Hi,
I have met Dr Johnny Anderton in Cape Town, South Africa and what an inspiration.
Here you can see some of the projects he has been involved with – built an earthbag house for his domestic in a squatter camp amongst others.
http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/eternallysolar.htm
He is the right guy to develope and take the earthbag message forward.
Our donations will go a far way
Not to step on anyone’s toes here, or even to disregard the need for donations, but private homeowners can certainly use this system without violating any patent rights.
For one thing, in what countries is the patent valid? Am I wrong to assume that this system was developed outside of the USA?
The second point is that patent protects against COMMERCIAL PROPAGATION, not private, personal use. Patents don’t protect against use, they protect against commercialization.
The third point is that by using a completely different bag material, a person would be developing something that is different enough to not even threaten the original patent.
Again, I think we should all donate to Dr. Anderton. But, not because of a fear of patent violation because we are building a house for ourselves. Instead, we should donate because we believe in his work and developments.
Another way to develop this similar to open source software is to build with the system, make changes, modifications, and publish how you overcame your individual obstacles. Publishing information on how the system can be used, in many different situations, will be invaluable to the development.
How outstanding!
It sounds like this earthbag system isn’t the only superior part of that mix.
Kudos to Dr. Anderton.
You don’t see generosity like that often.
People like him (and even rascals like Owen) make this world a better place for all of us…