With the advent of the 21st Century, climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to life. While economies have expanded as well during this time, and one of the highest per capita income is being earned the world over, the biggest challenge facing countries is ensuring sustainable economic growth. From a rapid transition towards sustainable cities to making sustainable housing, the emphasis is on reducing carbon footprint and leaving a world that is healthy for the coming generations. While cities are being revamped under sustainable paradigms, there is an increased emphasis on introducing eco-friendly features in homes, and developments. For this reason, floating homes are believed to be one of the most pertinent solutions that is both sustainable and eco-friendly.
Let’s explore more about these homes.
Floating Homes: Yay Or Nay?
Research on floating homes has been carried out since 2010, and in Scandinavian countries like Finland, the theory is now being practiced. Pilot floating villages are being developed in the Western world as a means of enabling living on water bodies, which the experts believe will be a more sustainable way of living, and also reduce carbon footprint.
However, this is not the first time that the concept of floating homes or villages has been introduced. Countries in the Global South, such as Bangladesh have always had floating farms. Indigenous communities in Bolivia and Peru have been constructing homes on their lakes using reeds for a long time as well.
However, these floating homes are a modern adaptation of these otherwise age-old developments and offer all of the comforts. Let’s explore these homes in detail.
How Are Floating Homes Sustainable?
Floating homes are a wonderful opportunity to provide defense against rising sea levels. Moreover, these kind of houses are sustainable through the employment of three key strategies:
Cooling and heating using water: The water below the house will be used for heating and cooling purposes.
Solar energy and abundant daylight: The roof of the house has solar panels attached which help provide energy to the house, whereas the model of the house is such that its glass walls will allow natural lighting to the house.
Rainwater harvesting: Floating houses also have the technology to repurpose rainwater for consumption and household uses.
High levels of insulation: Floating homes are created from insulated materials which means it significantly reduces the need for added energy to regulate the temperature of the house.
How Are Floating Houses Constructed?
The unit of a floating house can have multiple stories, each of which are built using sustainable materials that emit the least amount of emissions. There are two kinds of floating house foundations:
i. Pontoon Principle: These are created on a solid platform that is lighter than water. This technique is more applicable for floating houses in shallow water.
ii. Hollow Concrete Boxes: A concrete box is created that is hollow at the top and the entire house is built up on this hollow platform. This technique can be used for deeper waters.
Homes with concrete floats are more commonplace. These are further subdivided into kinds:
a. Dome-shaped concrete floats over a Styrofoam base. This base being lighter than water helps the house float.
b. The concrete floats are created in a way that they displace water, kind of like a boat. However, if the water is not removed from the floats, the house runs the risk of being sunk in water.
For any kind of floating house, moorages are required to avoid large-scale disruptions in case of high tides. Experts predict that this can be rented and taxed, engendering a new form of business activity in future.
The size of the construction will also greatly vary. In some of the models prepared, multi-story houses have been created, however, there is no way of knowing exactly whether or not this can be a model that supports longevity. Moreover, research is also underway to find ways of disposing off sewerage and find a way for garbage disposal.
Despite this, floating homes seem like a promising idea for the housing industry as land becomes expensive and in most cities, scarce to sustain the ever-increasing demand for housing solutions. Though more research is required till these models can become a modern reality, the sustainable features of floating homes can be beneficial for our environment.
Researchers are also of the view that living on water, in the abundance of nature, can have a significantly positive impact on the lives of people. However, studies to this effect remain yet to be conducted.
Are you intrigued about floating homes? Tell us what you think by writing to us at blog@zameen.com. Also, keep checking Pakistan’s largest property blog, Zameen Blog for the latest news on Pakistan’s property, and new real estate trends.
