Explore - Low-tech Lab

Poelito - Mass stove, semi-dismountable

A mass stove or accumulation stove is a household heating device. Its mass, composed of heavy materials (rock, brick or concrete), stores the energy of a daily unique and intense fire (1 to 3 hours). It spreads back the heat during 24 hours, once the fire is out. Its mass confers a thermic inertia, favourable to reduce inside temperature curve of a building (that's why these stoves can be called "inertial stoves"). All the wood necessary to heat the household is burnt in one time, which induces high temperatures in the fireplace and allows a complete, low-pollutive burning. The accumulator is conceived to absorb the majority of the energy issued from the burning and smokes. So when leaving the firpace, the smokes are considerably cooled down. The heat accumulated is mainly diffused by irradiation and a littlebit by convection. Irradiation heating implies the stove to be placed in the center of the household. Most of actual mass stoves are placed in the main room, opened on the living room, dining room and kitchen. With a yeld superior to 80% for most of them, these stoves are parts of the best performers of wood heating devices.

You can find here the tutorial video : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO7M41Ud78A]

Medium
5 day(s)

Black Soldier Fly breeding

This tutorial aims to facilitate the understanding of the life cycle of the black soldier fly and to learn how to grow it for domestic use. This technology was documented during the stopover of the Nomade des Mers expedition in Malaysia. The company EntoFood, which we visited, has been doing research on these flies for nearly 8 years and is preparing to launch its large-scale production unit. It will allow the treatment of 300 tonnes of organic waste per day!

Easy
1 day(s)

Ram pump

The purpose of this tutorial is to facilitate the understanding, design, manufacture and installation of a water elevation system called "Ram pump". This technology was documented during a stopover of the Sea Nomad in the Philippines, on the island of Negros. The NGO "Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation (AIFDI)", based in the city of Bacolod since 1991, helps more than 160 rural communities meet their water needs by installing hydraulic rams throughout the archipelago. The ram pump presented in this tutorial is a different version from the one used by the AIFDI because it is more accessible.

Easy
2 day(s)

Solar water heater

This low-tech solar heating system was discovered in Mongolia. Place the heater against a window, and it will circulate air to warm up it by 10 to 15°C!

Easy
1 day(s)

The Solar Funnel Cooker

Construction of the solar funnel cooker, safe, efficient, easy to build and to use.

Easy
2 hour(s)

Tawashi

This tutorial aims to provide another life to your old cloth or pieces of cloth by doing an eco-friendly sponge.

Very easy
15 minute(s)

Have this chilling water bottle at hand when moving in hot climates

If you know the feeling of beeing thirsty during exercising in a hot environment, creeping for this cold, chilling refreshment during your workout, this "tutorial" is for you.

It's actually so simple it's more a hack than a tutorial.

Very easy
5 minute(s)

Solar lamp with reused lithium cells

This tutorial allows you to make a solar lamp equipped with a USB charger. It uses lithium cells that are reused from a old or damaged laptop. This system, with a day of sunlight, can fully charge a smartphone and have 4 hours of light. This technology have been documented during a stopover of the " Nomade des Mers " expedition on the island of Luzong in the northern part of Philippines. The association Liter of Light has already installed this system since 6 years in remote villages which don't have access to electricity. They also organize training for the villagers in order to teach them how to fix the solar lamp ( already 500 000 lamps installed).

Very easy
2 hour(s)