○Electricity Generation and Storage [1]

     Methods for generating and storing electricity that are both sustainable and have a simple structure, utilizing resources available in various regions for immediate construction, are favorable. In this sense, households should first consider the combination of the following power facilities:

    Firstly, utilizing vacuum tube solar water heaters to produce hot water from solar energy for use in baths and kitchens. These units consist of a collector for gathering solar heat and a storage unit for storing hot water, reaching temperatures around 60-90°C in summers and around 40°C in winters, specifically in Japan.

    Simultaneously, incorporating solar thermal collectors is recommended. These panels, heated by solar energy, circulate air at temperatures around 50°C through ducts, warming the entire house. However, sudden temperature increases or nighttime cooling due to heat dissipation can occur, so it's crucial to store this heat.

    While one method for heat storage involves using concrete floors below, this would contribute to increased global concrete usage. Therefore, the initial consideration is to employ a technique called "Hanchiku" for heat storage. Hanchiku involves compacting soil within wooden frames, originally designed for use as walls. The materials include soil, hydrated lime, and water, mixed together. Concrete possesses high heat retention properties, with soil being about half as effective. By densely compacting the soil and achieving higher density, the heat retention of Hanchiku approaches that of concrete. The warmed air beneath the floor circulates throughout the house, providing heating for the entire dwelling and even facilitating underfloor heating.

    For the utilization of solar heat, the orientation and angle during the installation of water heaters and solar panels are crucial. In Japan, true south is most effective, providing about 100% efficiency, while even true east and true west can secure about 80%. An ideal angle for roofs is between 20 to 30 degrees. These installations can be placed on the roof or on the ground, with the roof shape adjusted accordingly to enlarge the collection surface. Solar water heaters and thermal collectors operate on a simple structure since they utilize heat directly.

    Regarding electricity generation and storage, household electricity is initially generated from microbial activity in the soil and stored in carbon batteries.