Busch and a slew of other green minded professionals started ecoTech Design Studio, a green product and architectural design/building firm, in order to start their dream project. ecoPark will consist of an eco-education discussion center and activity room, a solar heated pool, an energy generating gym, sustainable landscaping and trails, and demonstration eco homes. The entire 20 acre complex will be powered with renewable energy, use water efficiently, and grow produce organically.
Already built on the site are Busch’s home, design studio and pool, along with some of the infrastructure needed for the development. The design team received permission to begin construction at the end of August. Beyond the structures to be built, the ecoPark will feature a number of sustainable technologies in order to educate visitors to the park. When visitors arrive at the park, they will park in a lower lot and be transported via electric vehicles that are charged on site with renewable energy and also generate energy when they travel on speed bumps around the park.
Wind art sculptures around the property generate power to provide landscape lighting. A Koi and turtle rescue pond will serve as wildlife restoration and bio fertilizer, saltwater ponds will grow algae for biofuel and organic gardens will grow produce. The gym will generate energy from the exercise machines and the nearby pool is heated with solar power.
The buildings will be constructed according to Passive House standards and feature living walls, green roofs, native landscaping, solar power, solar hot water and rainwater collection systems. Solar ovens will be used to demonstrate alternative cooking near the pool and organic waste will be composted on site. A demonstration prefab house called the safeHAUS will also be constructed on site from reused shipping containers. Besides learning about the green buildings and technologies, visitors can also hike on the trails around the park.
If this project receives funding and the support it needs, the ecoPark will be an incredibly impressive project and definitely worth a visit.
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An ambitious project in Malibu, CA has recently received approval to build an incredible park that will also serve as an eco think-tank and a learning and demonstration center. This green dream was thought up by well-known photographer and inventor who
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Located above Malibu, Douglas Busch’s 20 acre parcel is slated to be turned into a public eco themed park and learning center. Busch wants to use his land to demonstrate sustainable building and technologies to the masses.
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Some of the ecoPark has already been constructed, including the roads, Busch’s home, studio and the pool. Eventually the park will also include a learning center, activity room, solar kitchen, a gym, and a demonstration eco house.
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All of the buildings will be constructed using eco-friendly materials and utilize Cradle to Cradle design as well as Passive House energy efficiency standards.
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The pool is already heated using solar thermal collector tubes and the gym is planned to harvest energy from the exercise machines as well as the aerobic bouncing floor.
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Saltwater ponds will be used to grow algae for biofuel as well as for aquaculture to grow food.
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Busch’s home, pool and studio have already been constructed and sit on the property as a demo.
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Near the pool a solar kitchen will be installed that will utilize a solar oven to demonstrate energy efficient and healthy ways of cooking.
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Douglas Busch joined up with other green minded professionals to start ecoTech Design, which is an architectural design and building firm responsible for all the plans of the ecoPark.
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The firm received permission to go ahead with construction of the ecoPark at the end of August and they are currently seeking funding to advance the dream project.
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All of the buildings will feature solar power, solar hot water, green roofs, living walls, eco-friendly materials, and recycling and composting.
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The project will also feature a demonstration eco home called the safeHAUS, which will be built from reused shipping containers.
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Surrounding the park is 20 acres of native land that backs up to forest land, which will be available to visitors to hike in.
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Visitors will arrive at the education center, park their cars and then ride in the park on electric vehicles charged on site. Speed bumps along the roads will generate power as the vehicles drive over them.
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