FORT COLLINS, Colo., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Two innovative, low-cost
houses designed by Dr. Alan Early of the Indonesia Aid Foundation are being
tested on a seismic shake table at Colorado State University. One house is
made completely of concrete, including the roof. On April 6, this house
successfully held during progressively greater earthquakes, to an ultimate
test of greater than 10.0 on the Richter scale. An earthquake of this
magnitude is only likely to occur every 1500 years. For a structure to
withstand such forces is unprecedented in known shake tests and actual
earthquakes.
A second test of a similar structure with the same concrete base but
with a wood frame and metal roof will be tested in the afternoon of April
10th at CSU's Engineering Research Center, Laporte Avenue, Foothills
Campus, in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Both houses have unique green building features for environmental
friendliness. The house bases have 40% of steel rebar replaced by bamboo of
the same diameter. Bamboo is both lighter and stronger than traditional
materials and its cultivation is environmentally friendly. Both houses are
erected on a layer of discarded automobile tires as a very low-cost and
successful shock absorber/damper mechanism.
These houses were developed for Indonesian families with income of $100
per month. Most families with lesser income already live in very safe
bamboo houses. Extensive coordination and consultation with the Research
Institute for Human Settlements of the Indonesian Ministry of Public Works
have ensured this design conforms to Indonesian cultural tastes and
preferences. Individual families qualifying for government loans will
provide proof of land ownership and work on their own home. The houses will
cost only $995.00.
These concrete houses have a footprint of 270 square feet and are
designed for a family of six. They are designed to be rapidly constructed
in a factory setting for quality control. Finishing the roof and painting
the house will be the responsibility of the new owner, as well as providing
tires, a building lot and a proper foundation.
The Indonesia Aid Foundation anticipates that this design will
ultimately be an important part of the solution to the significant housing
shortage in Indonesia caused by earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic
eruptions.
CONTACT:
Dr. Alan Early
Indonesia Aid Foundation, Inc.
Phone: 970-497-3021
Email address: acearly@colostate.edu
http://www.indonesia-aid-foundations.org
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE Indonesia Aid Foundation, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.indonesia-aid-foundations.org/
CONTACT:
Dr. Alan Early of Indonesia Aid Foundation,
Inc., +1-970-497-3021, acearly@colostate.edu
|
