Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
Green Building | Ecuador
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Brief Description of Project | Trip Reports | Contact Information
Brief Description of Project: The overall project goal is to create a model green building that can serve as an educational tool and a starting point for spreading green building practices in Ecuador. An existing house on the Hacienda Picalqui owned and operated by the Fundación Brethren y Unidas (FBU) will be remodeled into a “green” house to be used as a model for further “green building” in Ecuador, and an instrument for teaching Ecuadorian school children the principals of resource efficiency in building practices. Progress: A prelimenary evaluation trip was completed at the end of May(2006). This visit served as an “assessment trip” to provide 1) the information necessary to implement a “green building” conversion in a future trip, 2) gather additional information on the communities served by FBU on what their needs may be, and 3) establish a partnership with FBU, the Ecuadorian NGO. An additional component of the trip was to construct a bio-gas unit, which converts pig waste into methane gas that can be used for cooking. Trip Results: The travel team arrived in Quito, Ecuador (the capital) on Tuesday, May 30th. On Thursday, June 1st, the team traveled 90 minutes north by bus to the Hacienda Picalqui, near the town of Tabacundo. The majority of the stay was at the Hacienda, save for the weekend of June 3rd and 4th which was spent in the Intag region of Ecuador (another 3 hours north of Tabacundo). The team traveled back to Quito on Tuesday, June 13th with half of the team returning on to the US on Wednesday, June 14th and the other half staying for a few more days to enjoy what Ecuador has to offer. Accomplishments/Events While in Ecuador:
- Made measurements of an existing residence on the Hacienda (the volunteer house) for future conversions/additions for a “green building” that would showcase simple, appropriate technologies that were more environmentally sound and promoted more sustainable housing.
- Participated in construction of the bio-gas unit at the Hacienda. The Hacienda’s unit will have 5 stalls to house the pigs and will produce enough gas to supply two to three residences. More information of the bio-gas unit can be found here
- Conducted public health surveys of community members and leaders in the Intag area and at the Hacienda. The survey covered items from personal health and hygiene practices to local and regional issues of water quality and environmental and eco-agricultural education.
- Observed the eco-agricultural efforts that have been espoused by FBU over the last few years. These efforts include educational tours for local and regional farmers as well as educational field trips for Quito-based schools (US elementary level).
- Initiated a dialogue with FBU volunteers and workers about their work and what they see as the future of FBU and their efforts. They welcome a long term commitment with EWB and Tufts on items that are deemed mutually beneficial. Such items include the green building conversions, better potable water supply, environmental education for adults and their children, and continuing their eco-agricultural efforts.
- BONUS – Established contact with Escuela Politecnica Nacional in Quito (http://www.epn.edu.ec/). They would like to establish student and research exchange projects and programs with Tufts. Areas of interest – climate change effects on mountain glaciers (15% of Quito’s water supply), water quality, water and waste water treatment and analysis, water policy.
Trip Documentation: For more detailed information about each of our trips, please feel free to download any of our trip documents.
Summer 2010 - Post Assessment Report