While not necessarily conclusive, this list of requirements should round out the bulk of overall top-level for the Peak Oil Homestead Project. From here we can move on to designing specific elements of the homestead and begin the process of developing trade studies. We’ll get there yet!
I updated the project page to include the relevant blog posts for each update. This should make the entire project a bit easier to follow and give people an easier time of tracing its development.
As always, feel free to post any questions about the project in general in the Community Design Forum.
Input requirements:
The homestead shall withstand greater than or equal to 140 Watts/square meter per year of solar input without depletion of reserve resources.
The homestead shall withstand greater than or equal to 21 consecutive days of minimal solar input (less than 60 Watts/square meter per year rate) without depletion of reserve resources.
These requirements capture the limits of typical solar input to our homestead. This helps us consider periods of low input to our solar panels (if part of the design) or passive solar and how best to meet our needs given these values. The numbers were estimated using some of the information here.
The homestead shall withstand greater than or equal to 10 miles/hour per year of wind without depletion of reserve resources.
The homestead shall withstand greater than or equal to 21 consecutive days of minimal wind (less than 5 miles per hour per year rate) without depletion of reserve resources.
These capture the same limits for wind power availability. The numbers were estimated using some of the information here.
The homestead shall withstand variations in solar input of +/- 30%.
This requirement is motivated by global dimming, which is the observed effect of increasingly diminishing amounts of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. The primary suspect for this is aerosol pollutants in the atmosphere. If Peak Oil hits hard, the levels of these pollutants could drastically decrease, allowing greater amounts of light (and warmth!) onto our homestead. On the other hand, if Peak Oil doesn’t hit in quite the way we expect, increased use of fuels like coal could continue the steady decrease of solar irradiance. Specifying 30% either way should cover all contingencies.
The homestead shall withstand 21 consecutive days without precipitation with a minimum of damage.
The homestead shall withstand 21 consecutive days without precipitation without depletion of reserve resources.
Considerations for drought are very important.
The homestead shall withstand wildlife intrusions with a minimum of damage.
This requirement might motivate us to carefully fence our chickens or include a llama with our sheep.
The homestead shall withstand human intrusions with a minimum of damage.
This might drive us to ensure our design includes locking doors or keep a weapon accessible (but balanced by safety requirements).
The homestead shall accept provisions and supplies from outside sources.
This reminds us that we should be open to trading with others.
Output requirements
The homestead shall allow transfer of provisions and supplies to outside recipients.
This is the other half of the trade equation.
Interface requirements
The homestead shall allow entry of automobiles.
The homestead shall allow entry of heavy trucks.
The homestead shall allow entry of livestock.
The homestead shall allow entry of pedestrians.
These requirements make sure we (and our friends) can access the homestead with any equipment or animals we require.
Sustainability requirements
The homestead shall control soil erosion during construction.
The homestead shall increase average topsoil thickness every year.
The homestead shall increase average topsoil health every year.
These requirements make sure we sustain and enhance our topsoil for future generations (and ourselves). The third one may be difficult to quantify, but it is perhaps measurable by examining crop production.
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