Incorporating Bitcoin into Architecture – Bitcoin Magazine
This is an opinion editorial by Makoto Shibuya, a licensed architect with an accomplished portfolio of personal and professional projects.
Image source: Author
Introduction
I tend to believe that every challenge is also an opportunity. Cities developed over centuries, but the world is changing rapidly. Although there is a healthy debate about what a future city might look like, if we were to design a city with the knowledge of what we know now, we can assume that they would look quite different.
Architecture is difficult, complicated and rooted in a lot of history and tradition. Yet it is one of our oldest practices – we needed a roof over our heads before we could sit and think about anything else. Unfortunately, this combination of complexity, tradition and permanence has historically kept the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry at the mercy of changing technology rather than its cutting edge. Change is difficult, especially for something built on centuries of precedent.
Whether we like it or not, that will have to change as the world recognizes what some have been warning about for decades. Although the numbers are evolving, we know that buildings together contribute approximately 40% of global CO2 emissions.
Thesis
Bitcoin introduces a market-based financial incentive for net-positive energy projects, which, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions, can help offset carbon in our infrastructure over time.
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A case study
In 1945, the “Case Study House Program“ was commissioned to help recreate housing after World War II. While some of the projects were never built, it was an important and influential contribution to the modern architecture movement. Today we face another challenge – we know that buildings together contribute approximately 40% of global CO2 emissions.
Zero is a case study to explore new opportunities around renewable energy infrastructure and Bitcoin. The ultimate goal is to accelerate net-zero carbon projects through renewable energy technology, material selection and carbon removal strategies. I understand that there are many nuances around environmental considerations, and I’m just using some design ideas to see where I land.
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On the face of it, the energy consumption of a proof-of-work system like Bitcoin may seem like an inherent problem, but complex problems require looking at the whole system. When thinking about this, it is important to decouple energy from carbon emissions. Energy use is not in itself a bad thing. Everything requires energy – it’s part of the first law of thermodynamics.
In summary, the problem of energy has never been about scarcity, but rather intermittency, storage and distribution. For the first time in history, energy has a buyer of last resort – bitcoin miners – who can take stranded or surplus energy from anywhere and convert it into a global digital asset. Bitcoin mining introduces a perpetual appetite for stranded or surplus energy that can augment traditional net metering and energy storage. Mining makes it possible to make money building and operating a solar system from day one instead of waiting for permits to sell back to the grid, which can often take months. It is another valuable tool that is geographically independent. This new demand acts as a continuous inducement for renewable energy and further innovation in energy infrastructure.
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By combining renewable energy sources with batteries, people can be their own tools. Mining can add another tool to balance their renewable energy economy. This add-on tool allows households, campuses and cities to design a renewable energy system that will meet all their power needs without the risk of overbuilding. Traditionally, this has been uneconomical because the system had to be designed for peak loads. This new ability to economically design for these expanded loads, in turn, continues to improve the economics of renewable energy infrastructure.
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Energy management
Below is a diagram showing how bitcoin mining can complement energy storage and net metering. The heat generated by the mining hardware is then used to preheat domestic water used around the house.
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Waste heat
The waste heat (a by-product of bitcoin mining) is used to preheat domestic water around the house. In winter, it is also used as radiant heating for the floor.
Solar energy
“Capturing just one hour of the sunshine that hits our planet would enable us to meet the world’s food and energy needs for an entire year, and each year the sun shines more energy on Earth than has been used in all of human history. “— The solar revolution
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Sun angle
The roof can be designed to cut off the sun’s angle in the summer and allow it to seep in in the winter. In summer, this helps control the temperature from overheating. In winter, the sun heats the floor and radiates heat throughout the room during the night. Adjustable sliding shades provide another level of local solar control.
Rain
Rainwater is collected in a water element and stored in an underground water cistern. In summer, when this water evaporates, it pre-cools the air before it enters the building. By combining this with strategically placed operable windows, cool air can be cross-ventilated through the home, which saves energy on air conditioning.
The power of an image
After World War II, the original “Case Study Houses” appeared in “Arts & Architecture” magazine in iconic black and white photographs. These photographs spread California’s mid-century architecture around the world and were influential to the modern architecture movement. In a similar spirit, I’ve created several images that capture Project Zero to help paint a vision. It’s not yet a complete picture – it’s just a case study to test ideas. Admittedly, there are details that need to be worked out and improvements that need to be made. But the intention is to have an ongoing process to test ideas in the hope of a sustainable future.
This is a guest post by Makoto Shibuya. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc Bitcoin Magazine.
