My friend Kneal sent me this fascinating link about the Global Village Construction Set. It’s an open source collaboration which will result in fabrication plans for 50 construction, industrial and farming machines. Focused on cost and energy effectiveness, tools such as tractors with backhoe and loader attachments, compressed earth brick presses and welders can be made in a poor village. These tools will help transform the economy, allowing businesses to build,  grow and create wealth. I love the concept. Watch this short video to get a better understanding.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD1EWGQDUTQ

Just imagine building a compressed earth brick press and helping your neighbors build solid houses and factories. At 16 bricks per minute (5,000 bricks per day), an entire house can be created in one day with one operator using onsite soil materials. The construction cost for this type houses promises to be about $5/sf. Of course, when considering the energy embedded in the construction materials, including manufacturing and transportation, this product looks even better. As an aside, I think the energy embedded in construction will become a much bigger issue in coming years.

With these 50 machines available to Third World locations, the barriers to sustainable human settlements will be substantially lowered. In human terms, less children will die, more will become educated and able to fulfill their God-given potential.

If you’re a tinkerer, consider getting involved to support this Global Village Construction Set initiative. It might just change your life…as well as the lives of lots of children around the world. If you have any interest in this topic, definately watch the following TED video, it’s motivating! If this idea is truly sound, then the implications are significant.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIsHKrP-66s