Annwn Foundation, Inc.

Promoting New Designs for Sustainable, Affordable Housing

29 Buffam Road
Pelham, MA 01002

Phone: 413/256-3013

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The Annwn Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization with the primary purpose of educating the public regarding sustainability and particularly sustainable, affordable housing. Ultimately, the Foundation hopes to be involved in developing sustainable, affordable housing for low-income persons.

Annwn’s initial activity will be a building project to demonstrate the green, sustainable, healthy, affordable building methods known as the Annwn Design. This building will then be used as a research and teaching facility for the organization.

The project will be built in the western Massachusetts area. The building’s key element is the use of a aquaponic* plenum heat-sink surround which protects the inhabitants from the ambient temperature as well as providing a grow area for aquaponic farming. The aquaponic grow area provides a significant income which in most cases covers the mortgage payment. In addition, the building will integrate photovoltaic electricity, solar hot water heaters, and Trombe walls. The building will be less expensive because it will incorporate hollow-core concrete planks and bio-polymer modular self-adhesive bricks. Another key element will be a “dash-board” which gives the resident comprehensive information about energy usage in the building.

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*Aquaponics is a method of growing fish and vegetables at the same time (Aquaponics = Aquaculture + Hydroponics). Essentially, the system uses the waste products from the fish to provide nutrients for the vegetables. These system use very little energy and can produce a significant amount of fish and vegetables.

The Annwn design uses the water tank(s) in the greenhouse and integrated hydroponic growing tables for growing more than enough fish and vegetables for its residents and provides the residents with a year-round income source from selling the excess fish and vegetables. It is possible that between the lowered cost of heating and the income provided by aquaponics, the Annwn design home could bring the resident’s out-of-pocket housing expenses to zero.

Posting # 2124 Expires: May 7, 2050