by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Sep 2, 2015 | Freedom, Sustainability, The Future
Many folks ask if our self sustainable dome project is to prepare for coming doom and gloom. There is a growing fear of what many call a societal breakdown which necessitates armed protection. Online and all around social media there is evidence of a growing interest in owning and learning to use firearms. Many call this a necessary evil, and proclaim we should get armed, be realistic – and quit living in La La Land. We believe the term ‘necessary evil’ is a pervasive oxymoron that in due time will no longer be an acceptable excuse for perpetuating violence. In the spirit of sustainability we choose peace as our protection rather than arms. Here is why.
Everyone remembers learning of the forming of the Union from the original 13 colonies. We memorized the names of generals and dates of the bloody clashes with the natives. Most believe that there was no way to live in peace on the same land. We rarely hear about the peace in Pennsylvania where the non violent Quakers had no incidents of murder or rape living amongst the natives. It was not until the Union formed and the military established itself in Pennsylvania that killings began. Some Quakers then died – but only three that had joined the newly established army.
Similar to the Middle East story… the “powers that be” made sure their financial interests were protected through puppet politicians and armed proxy governments and guerrillas in the last half of the twentieth century. Thus Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras all had civil wars followed by decades of violence and social unrest. This subsequently led to generations of lost boys who now form the deadliest gangs in these countries where more than a dozen murders occur daily in the cities. On August 16-18, 2015 there were 125 murders in just 3 days in El Salvador. This has led to an estimated 66,000 kids fleeing for their life in the last 2 years.
Neighboring Costa Rica also had a civil war, but then officially abolished its military in 1948. What followed was peace ever since and the emergence of a safe haven in Central America. This goodwill seems to have grown as Costa Rica recently decided to close public zoos in the spirit of honoring an animal’s right to freedom. They have adopted a no cage policy for animals in a time where humans are being caged at unprecedented rates around the world – ironically mostly in America – the land of the free.
On the road to Indian independence many of Gandhi’s followers were met with armed forces bent on stopping their quest. When peace was persistent the armed forces were stopped in shame – some even fled scared. Martin Luther King and many others showed similar success. For a time John Lennon was considered an enemy of the United States. Peace proclaimers are considered dangerous and are commonly killed by bullets – but they are hardly silenced. This is why our project has nothing to do with acting from fear. Rather, we are preparing for a future that is sustainable. Building and living in humane communities in peace is the only sustainable path. We choose to live in La La land. Light easily illuminates and cuts through darkness, yet no amount of darkness can ever dim the light.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Jul 23, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Dome Homes, Education, Freedom, Geodesic Domes, The Future
With the rapid changes in technological advancements, we are seeing disruptive changes in many industries. The new way of providing solutions and services is in flux for nearly every area of production and social interaction. With the driverless car, graphene, and nano technology on the horizon – it seems many more areas of life are about to change. We are paddling to the waves with the innovation of the portable self sustainable dome home – which is now forming it’s final features. We are taking full advantage of the advancements in computing, cameras, solar, sensors, and widespread internet connections to create a smart dome home.
Our plan is to disrupt the current notion of housing and communities by abandoning perspectives that make our current system seem reasonable. We see it as being a similar situation as the introduction of the telegraph, airplane, automobile or the birth of the internet. At a social level it could be seen as the advent of the idea of equal rights for all people. There was a time when this seemed absurd, but now commonly accepted as a moral standard. We hope to witness an expansion of this standard by showing the changes in lifestyle and relationships as people are no longer forced to give their life energy and focus to the basic needs of life. Energy will shift to true engagement with ones family and community instead of being used to further entrench a system that is destroying earth’s natural systems and robbing our children’s future.
Before many innovations became widespread, they were viewed as novelties that could never take hold and really change the world. We feel the same is about to happen today in the very near future. It will not just be housing that gets new discernment, but perhaps all features of life that surround home and family. Emerging ideas spread instantly now, which brings the real possibility of quick and meaningful change. Education is forming many new branches that are very different than past methods of memorizing and regurgitating information. Great possibilities abound when design thinking is coupled with the new tools and technologies of our time. The technology and environment are fertile for a new breed of humans who truly realize their freedom and abilities to control the future.
Our dome design is being developed at the Fremont MakerSpace in Northern California. Here we are refining the magnetic triangle dome panels to incorporate functionality that will allow for real time monitoring and control of light, sound, water, moisture, ventilation, camera views, and automated aquaponic gardens. We are preparing beta projects that will launch this year. We believe that as folks witness the possibilities, many more will join in this real life manifestation of change.
We no longer use bloodletting as a medical procedure or carriages for transportation. In words we no longer accept slavery and usury. We believe our actions will soon coincide with our intuition and instinct. The grid system that pits humans in competition with each other will eventually be discredited. Truth always wins. We are preparing for that day with a smart dome home and community solution that will fit nicely into the future we foresee.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Jun 24, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Dome Homes, Freedom, Geodesic Domes, The Future
What is the real world? Those that don’t understand how to navigate through it are very vulnerable, which is why most people ultimately conform to fit into the framework of society. It was recently discovered that humans have been making fire for about 400,000 years. So civilization is really quite new and hardly the whole of human history. We are in a state of metamorphosis with the rapid rise and unprecedented power to communicate and share ideas. We believe that an incredible opportunity has arisen that will allow us to rewrite our own definition of what constitutes civilization. Food, water, shelter, security, and the innate need to be together are at the root of what creates community. When we handle these needs in a more reasonable and responsible way, the form and function of civilization will start to transform as well. How can this happen if those with dissenting ideas are the yet un-molded young and those considered too stubborn or stupid to be of any real use in today’s economic end all, number-centric paradigm?
We have always and will always be at war. History repeats itself right? It’s a dog eat dog world, survival of the fittest, individual empowerment, you deserve it all and will get it if you work hard and don’t give up. Those that don’t understand or accept this reality are children, radical, crazy, or lazy. They have no worth to civilization and fall into the category of idiots. Indeed this word comes from the Greek word diōtēs – meaning one who did not understand their role as part of community, “a person lacking professional skill”, “a private citizen”… self-centeredness and concerned almost exclusively with private—as opposed to public—affairs. Wikipedia
The United Nations just announced that the number of refugees worldwide indicates a world in an unprecedented state of chaos. This seems to point to a world unaware or not concerned with the global community. This seems to be the height of idiotic. Borders and budgets mean much more than health and happiness. Private property rights stump everything else – even human life and liberty. With proposed laws to ban protests popping up across the U.S.A, now even constitutional rights are outlawed to protect private property. Instead of addressing the obvious unrest, pass a law to sweep it under the rug. This affront to freedom is easily imposed with citizens “educated” from birth to count, categorize, define, and assign a number and value to everything except one’s own sacred birth rights.
Most respectable folk believe they are part of world progress and are contributing to their community with their daily work. At a close glance this seems so. But If one stands back and observes the whole world situation it becomes apparent that the result of private concerns has raped the earth, clouded the concerns of community, and openly detests humane perspectives emerging from a discerning and maturing civilization. If you are either unable or unwilling to live within the currently prescribed path, then you are a child, crazy, a hippie, or a hobo. Our mission is to blaze a new trail and reconcile reality for those willing to travel a new direction. If you fall into this category, then our developments in disrupting housing with an affordable, portable, solar, self sustainable geo dome home may interest you.
We just partnered up with the Fremont MakerSpace in Fremont, CA as a home base for the final development of our project. Check it out at fremontmakerspace.com
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | May 27, 2015 | Freedom, Geodesic Domes, Sustainability, The Future
A few days ago at lunch my friend asked me what science experiment I would perform if I could choose anything at all. My response was this: What would happen if everyone on Earth was focused on the exact same thought and feeling – at the same exact time. Would the physical world change – even if for a moment? We laughed, but realized this may very well be possible really soon. Everyone on Earth will have a smartphone in the coming years, so a simultaneously experienced video broadcast could really happen – and achieve this experiment. The next day we happened to watch Disney’s newest movie Tomorrowland. This scenario doesn’t happen in the movie, but the premise of a reality created by our imagination is certainly nothing new to Disney. No spoilers ahead.
Tomorrowland, like many other science fiction futuristic films, shows our current day as the end of times. It was good to see the topic of the future approached in such an entertaining way, while still broaching the big issues of our time. The emphasis on a future filled with incredible technology is not so far fetched considering the incredible changes upon us. The latest special effects are spectacular and fresh, but the storyline of “believing” is in the bones of Disney. Most of their movies seem to have very similar premises: the archetypical bad guys or world threatening crisis beat by the underdog powered by truth, heart, and courage.
The big take away from Tomorrowland is that the future is in our hands. This may seem like hot air, and not seem like anything profound or special at all. We all know this. We are independent, self willed and in control of our destiny. We are free and at the pinnacle of progress. Our technology will come to the rescue and science will be our savior. But if this is the case, then why are conditions getting increasingly worse for earth’s health, and seriously threatening life for future generations. All the while there appears to be many well funded organizations and powerful governments tackling the problems. yet the headlines keep getting more disturbing with each passing day.
What will the land of tomorrow really be like? Will some fantastical story unfold like we see in Disney’s latest sci-fi adventure. Is the world of a better tomorrow just a fantasy – or to be molded by our own hands? This is the important question this latest movie poses. It is nothing new to ponder these macro matters, but perhaps the time has come to dream up solutions. Walt Disney famously said, “If you can dream it you can do it.” He also said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Disney has done what it does best, and has framed the solution in fantasy. It is up to us to remove it from the realm of fantasy and truly “believe”.
by Aaron Rene Carvajal | Apr 26, 2015 | Design & Innovation, Dome Homes, Geodesic Domes, Sustainability, The Future
It seems everything is getting disrupted these days with clever apps and new business models that harness the new digital landscape. Cheaper taxis and multitudes of ways to communicate are nice, but the status quo has yet to be shaken to it’s core. Bitcoin offers a monetary disruption, and a significant second is housing. Buying and maintaining our boxes seems to be a lifelong endeavor. We don’t believe it has to be. A little scratch of the head reveals there are lots of alternatives emerging that could end the 30 year mortgage, a paper chain commitment most folks still consider the American dream.
We’ve been pursuing a new way to build a solid inexpensive home now for nearly 2 years. At the dawn of our first prototype we got a wonderful surprise. Power is one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced on our road to a new self sustainable housing model. You’ll see our current power cell design uses old lead battery technology packed in recycling bins. Multiple units with heavy batteries are needed in our first power source plan. Everything just changed now that the new and exciting home battery was just announced by none other than Tesla.
Jeff Evanson, Tesla’s investor relations director notably revealed that CEO Elon Musk believes rivals’ batteries “suck”. So starting last year testing began with SolarCity customers in 230 houses in California, and 100 out of the state. Early reports said the battery will cost $13,000 and would be installed 1.5 feet off the ground and need about a foot of space around the perimeter. The April 30th announcement revealed a 6 inch thick wall mounted battery that is a real good looker that comes in different colors too! The cost is an affordable $3,500 for a 10kWh unit and a cheaper $3,000 version with a 7kWh capacity. Solar power is ideally stored in this beautiful clean and quiet milestone to the future.
The new battery will be available for home and large scale needs, and is capable of being controlled via smartphone or web applications, Charging happens via solar, the grid, or generators, and can feed power back to the grid. Initial beta users are reporting making $10 – $12 a month selling power back to the utility company. Now that is a nice reversal of roles. This wonderful new Tesla home battery is a perfect companion to power our portable and completely self sustainable dome homes.
The future is certainly upon us, and it is looking pretty good right about now. With changes happening so quickly, it seems our initial dreams of disrupting housing are getting closer to reality with each passing month. It seems the world is ready for the big solutions and we are excited to offer our contributions. We look forward to building our first prototype dome home powered with Tesla batteries. Soon a truly free and independent dome home community will sprout and show a clear path off the grid. The solutions are already here, we just have to reach out and grab them.
Dome Home with Tesla Battery
BEFORE: Lead Acid Batteries
