Sustainable Building Program and Courses at The Endeavour Centre

Clivus Multrum composting toilet tank

The Clivus Multrum composting toilet is one of the most important systems in Canada’s Greenest Home, and company representative Don Mills came up to Peterborough recently to help us with the fine points of the installation.

As mentioned in a previous post, treating human “waste” as a valuable and important resource instead of allowing it to become a sewage problem is an important step in the move toward more sustainable housing.

Now that our composting toilets are ready to be commissioned, it’s a good time to look at how this particular system works, and why we chose this type of toilet system over others.

There are three basic categories of indoor composting toilets. The first – and by far most simple and affordable – is the bucket toilet. We at Endeavour love the bucket toilet, and recommend it highly for its low cost and effectiveness, but it was not a choice for a spec home! A step up from the bucket toilet (in price and acceptability, if not performance) is the self-contained composter. These toilets feature toilet and compost tray together in one unit. These can be effective in situations where usage is light, but do not have the capacity to handle the daily use of a whole household. In order to try to “speed up” the composting process in these systems, heat is often used to evaporate urine and accelerate the decomposition of the solids. But by getting rid of the urine and making the solids dry and warm, a great deal of the valuable nutrients are wasted.

The final type of composter is the remote chamber style. These toilets have a large storage bin able to accept input from multiple toilets. The Clivus Multrum system is designed to make sure that composting takes place in the best possible environment, resulting in the recycling of the maximum amount of nutrient value.

Illustration of the Clivus Multrum composting system

The main tank for the Clivus Multrum system features a sloped base, with fresh deposits entering at the rear end of the tank and pushing older material forward. Once the system is established, there is a large bed of material in the tank. It is a mixture of solids, toilet paper and wood shavings. In this way, the Clivus system is like many others.

Two aspects really set the Clivus Multrum apart. First, the system captures all of the liquid and makes it accessible as a fertilizer. The urine that is collected has percolated through the composting bed, providing benefits to the solid compost as it passes through and changing in chemistry (to nitrites and nitrates) to become an excellent fertilizer with none of the potentially damaging effects of straight urine. This liquid is collected at the front of the tank and pumped into a separate holding tank. From here, it can be applied directly to gardens and lawns.

The vast majority of valuable nutrients that can be retrieved from human waste are found here, according to Don Mills. Simply diverting and/or evaporating urine is to waste a valuable resource.

The second unique feature of the Clivus toilet is the moistening system. The tank includes a sprayer and controls that mist the compost pile regularly with a small amount of water. This provides the ideal conditions for effective composting: not wet, not dry, but consistently moist. Having provided sufficient nutrients, aeration and moisture, the rich colonies of bacteria, protozoa, rotifers, actinomycetes, fungi, mold, yeast and earthworms can best go to work converting solid waste to useful compost. Dry compost material needs to be removed from the tank about once a year.

When fully functional, the toilet will require monthly attention, to mix in wood shavings. The liquid fertilizer can be pumped directly to gardens or transferred to containers to take it elsewhere.

In an upcoming post, we’ll look at the unique foam flush toilets that are the other unique feature of this system.

February 16, 2013

Workshop Instructor(s):
Mike Henry — Natural Plasterer

Workshop Description

Tadelakt is a natural plaster method that originates in Morocco and is the only type of natural plaster that is inherently waterproof, making it ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, showers, tubs and sinks. It is a beautiful plaster with an unequalled shiny finish and variegated colouring that is pleasing to the eye and to the touch.

This one-day introduction to tadelakt plastering will help beginners understand the materials and the techniques for making and applying tadelakt plaster. The workshop will show you how to source the materials required to make your own tadelakt mix, and how to make the mix and tint it.

The secret to tadelakt plastering is in the application. Applying tadelakt is a multi-stage process that requires patience and understanding of the material. Working on a small scale, this workshop will introduce you to the tadelakt process and give you the chance to take a small tadelakt project from start to shining finish.

Entry Requirements

Open to all

Fee

$125

Maximum class size: 12

March 18-22, 2013

Workshop Instructor(s): Jacob Deva Racusin
New Frameworks Natural Building

Workshop Description

Building Science is relatively new field of study, but the issues it addresses are age-old: How do buildings work and how can we design them to work better?

Jacob Deva Racusin is a leader among the new breed of building scientists who blend theory with natural building practice to revolutionize how we approach making the best buildings possible. He draws equally from the worlds of lab-based science and that of healthy, sustainable and natural building materials to create designs that combine the best of the past with the best of the future.

This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of building science, and will involve participants in the understanding of thermal and moisture dynamics through lecture, case study, hands-on testing, demonstration, design exercises, and design review. The course is focused on applying building science principles to inform best design and construction practices, and is suitable for both designers and builders.

The lessons learned in this workshop will help participants to design and build better buildings, providing a toolbox for understanding how to achieve high performance in a wide range of building scenarios.

CHECK OUT THE COURSE OUTLINE HERE

Entry Requirements

Open to all

Fee

$550

Maximum class size: 12

March 11-15, 2013

Workshop Instructor(s): George Nez

Workshop Description

Hypar is a shortened version of hyperparabolic, and hypar roofs are one of the most exciting and fascinating architectural developments of the past half-century. This workshop is being taught by George Nez, who developed this system of lightweight roofing, and a rare opportunity to learn from the originator!

Whether used in developing countries as emergency shelter or village homes or used in North American locations with high snow loads, these roof systems use a minimum of structural members and rely on hyperparabolic geometry and fabric with a latex-modified concrete to provide strong, durable and very lightweight roofs for buildings small and large.

George will lead the participants in the design requirements for hypar roofs and the construction of an entire hypar roof. Among the classroom topics covered will be an overview of forms, purposes, calculations,  blackboard geometry, and roof characteristics for various climates and loads. Participants will then frame, stretch fabric and pour the latex cement on a full-sized roof in the workshop.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about a form of construction that defies most conventional thinking about roof structures and could revolutionize your outlook on building design!

Entry Requirements

Open to those with some construction experience

Fee

$550

Maximum class size: 12

January 20, 2013 **Workshop Cancelled**

We will attempt to reschedule this workshop in March

Workshop Instructor(s): Anna Wolfson
Anna Wolfson Design

Workshop Description

Beautiful accent walls can be created using natural materials like clay, sand, pigment and mica, and Anna Wolfson is a master of teasing out the best possible results from the natural finishes palette.

In this workshop, Anna will show participants how to use a number of widely available, natural and healthy materials to create a wealth of different finishes. Whether you are remodelling a room or building a whole new house, you will be able to apply Anna’s techniques to your home with amazing results.

If you have ever wanted to bring the warmth, beauty and unmatched feel of natural materials into your home, this is the workshop for you!

Entry Requirements

Open to all

Fee

$125

Maximum class size: 12

January 16, 2013

Workshop Instructor(s): Don Mills
Clivus Multrum

Workshop Description

If you have ever been curious about how a composting toilet works and whether it might work for you, this is the workshop for you!

Clivus Multrum has been manufacturing composting toilet systems for over 30 years, and the company is widely regarded as a world leader in the field. Instructor Brian Barry works for Clivus Multrum and has many years of experience in the field.

This workshop will give an overview of how a composting toilet system works and how to size a system. The main focus of the workshop will be the installation and commissioning of a large M10 Clivus system in a residential setting at Canada’s Greenest Home in Peterborough. Participants will see how the tank is located and installed, how the system is vented and plumbed, and how the liquid pumping and spraying systems are set up. This system uses unique foam-flush toilets, and participants will see how they function and work within the system. Maintenance and upkeep will also be covered.

This workshop will get you familiar with the concept of composting toilets and give you an excellent insight into how a composting toilet can be integrated into a home

Entry Requirements

Open to all

Fee

$55

Maximum class size: 12