The BIO.tech HUT is a prototype of future dwelling; it explores the anthropological relationship between man and the natural environment in the age of the Anthropocene.

The BIO.tech HUT is an instrument to probe the future, test scenarios and promote the emergence of a new narrative in future energy.

On oxygenation

The average adult inhales 550L O2/day and it takes 8 large trees to produce that. The average adult also exhales 1kg CO2/day, and it takes approximately 16 large trees to adsorb that. The BIO.tech HUT hosts a total of 1600L of living cultures; in optimal conditions they absorb 2kg of CO2/day and produce 1.5kg of O2. BIO.tech HUT ability to absorb CO2 is equivalent to that of 32 large trees.

On biofuels and energetic self-sufficiency

On average the BIO.tech HUT produces 1.12kg of dry algae per day. Green microalgae like Schiochytrium or diatomee like Phaeodactylum Tricornutum can contain up to 60% oil in dry weight. Hence BIO.tech HUT can produce 672g of oil per day from which approximately 1kg of biofuel can be produced, releasing up to 37 MJ of energy or 10.3 KWh. That is enough to power an average UK home.

On embodied energy and new urban metabolism

A microalgae like Chlorella contains up to 60% proteins, so every day the BIO.tech HUT could produce 672g of proteins, enough to supply the recommended daily intake of 12 adults. An average cow provides 52kg of meat based proteins and it takes 660 days to breed it. Therefore the BIO.tech HUT produces the equivalent meat based proteins of 8 cows. The breeding process consumes on average 2.682 MJ per day to do that, equivalent to the energy consumption of 70 average UK households.

On global warming

Every cow also produces methane equivalent to 4 tons of CO2 per year; for 8 cows that is 87kg per day. If we would switch to an algae proteins diet, the overall net contribution to carbon sequestration of the BIO.tech HUT would be of approx. 90kg per day. It takes 500 square meters of forest to do that.