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Who
Who
KoKo NYC
KoKo NYC
Dilly Dally Projects
Dilly Dally Projects
We are Dilly Dally Projects; a group of architects/designers who are creating a living learning lab focused on education and experimentation with biochar and its usefulness to urban communities. Our lab will establish a generative environment where youth, community, scientists, makers, and creatives can exchange ideas, explore, and experiment to develop carbon negative practices tailored to the urban environment.
In collaboration with KoKo NYC - an art-based science and engineering program for kids - our project focuses on biochar - the carbon-sequestering byproduct of pyrolysis - as a means of connecting waste management, climate change mitigation, water- and soil remediation, at a localized urban level. The goal is to have kids (and adults!) see “trash” as an opportunity to enrich the environment and to better understand what happens to the things that go in the bin. more
What
What
The focus of TINKER THINK TANK is to lessen the footprint of humanity on the natural world through education about and experimentation with biochar. Whether from emissions from the cars we drive, the buildings we construct, the food we eat, or the byproducts of nearly everything we do - humans are a carbon producing species. With increased infrastructure and public buy-in, the availability and scalability of biochar has the potential to reduce future emissions and sequester the carbon which is already troubling our atmosphere.
Although scalable to industrial agriculture, we at TINKER THINK TANK are focused on small-scale, localized approaches to reducing carbon emissions and we see an excellent opportunity to redirect the waste stream through the low-tech filter of biochar.
ABOUT BIOCHAR
ABOUT BIOCHAR
Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis. Although it looks a lot like charcoal, biochar is produced using a specific process to reduce contamination and safely store carbon.1 During pyrolysis, organic materials such as wood chips, leaf litter or dead plants, are burned with very little oxygen.
As the materials burn, they release little to no fumes. The pyrolysis process converts the organic material into biochar, a stable form of carbon that can be safely stored in the ground, rather than harmfully escaping into the atmosphere. The energy or heat created during pyrolysis can also be captured and used as a form of clean energy.
HISTORICAL PRECEDENT
The use of biochar, or black carbon, as a soil amendment has received increased attention since the discovery of the Terra Preta de Indio soils (approximately 7000 year old anthropogenic influenced soils) in the Amazon. It is proposed that these soils have received historical applications of charcoal, which provide a number of beneficial properties to the soil today. Studies on the Terra Preta de Indio soils have shown that they have greater cation exchange capacity, fertility, and nutrient
retention, and stable stored carbon compared to nearby pedogenically similar soils. (2)
Scales of Time
Scales of Time
Both compost and biochar production are methods that utilize and recycle organic wastes to enrich soil.
However, biochar functions on a longer time scale than compost; the sequestered carbon biodegrades in hundreds of years rather than days, and provides a porous substrate that better retains healthy soil nutrients and water. The fertilizing properties remain active on a more permanent basis and the carbon sequestration is long term.
WHEN
WHEN
The Green New Deal Superstudio (Superstudio) is a historic year- long, national event open to all design schools and professional practices or other design and planning organizations who will work to translate the core goals of the Green New Deal— decarbonization, justice, and jobs—into design and planning projects for their respective regions.
The Superstudio connects policy to spatial planning and design with regional and local specificity. The ideas and discussions that emerge from the Superstudio will inform a national conversation on policy and design at a Summit convened by the Landscape Architecture Foundation in September 2021.
Excerpt from the Green New Deal:
Goals and Projects
J: removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and reducing pollution by restoring natural ecosystems through proven low-tech solutions that increase soil carbon storage, such as land preservation and afforestation;
K: restoring and protecting threatened, endangered, and fragile ecosystems through locally appropriate and science-based projects that enhance biodiversity and support climate resiliency;
WHERE
WHERE
In collaboration with Governor’s Island’s Hub for Green Businesses and Non-Profits at Building 301, we plan to create a center for biochar education, research and experimentation.
How!?
How!?
TINKER THINK TANK will focus on local and small scale applications for biochar with particular attention to opportunities in the urban environment.
The goal is to produce diversified programming to explore the various parts of the biochar energy cycle, and how it can be harnessed for carbon sequestration, energy production, soil remediation and waste management.
Education
Education
Generate educational documentation on what biochar is, how it’s made, and its multifaceted benefits.
Provide the community with approachable information
Areas to be explored:
- What is biochar?
- How and why is biochar crucial to lowering potential carbon emissions?
- How is biochar scalable? (urban, suburban, rural, industrial agricultural)
- How one can implement lifestyle choices to promote biochar friendly cycles?
LIVING LABORATORY!
LIVING LABORATORY!
Develop partnerships with organizations on Governors Island and local NYC communities to organize and create the systems for compost collection, test efficacy and understand carbon effects of localized biochar creation and utilization.
Governors Island Grown Loop
Governors Island Grown Loop
-compost bins from Governors Island (kitchens & visitors & greenery clippings) -use Governors Island home base to create biochar
-use biochar to fertilize GrownNYC garden and The Hills
Governors Island Gray Water Loop
Governors Island Gray Water Loop
-gray water collection
-filter and clean water with biochar
-use cleaned gray water to water The Hills & GrowNYC garden
‘Research suggests biochar derived from biomass is effective for the removal of heavy metals, toxic elements, and contaminants from water and wastewater.’3
‘Research suggests biochar derived from biomass is effective for the removal of heavy metals, toxic elements, and contaminants from water and wastewater.’3
More loops
More loops
Gowanus Canal Loop
Gowanus Canal Loop
-compost collection from Gowanus residents -use home base to create biochar ma
-utilize biochar as first step for water remediation
Local Foodie Loop
Local Foodie Loop
-compost collection from a group of local NYC restaurants who are
already passionate about sustainability (ex: Rhodora and CraveFishbar) -use home base to create biochar made through education courses -give back to local community gardens for the soil
Single Family Loop
Single Family Loop
-compost collection from a family unit- food scraps, yard clippings etc -partially heat house during creating of biochar
-use biochar in back yard garden
Construction Loop
Construction Loop
-paid compost collection
-creation of biochar at large-scale facility
-use biochar as aggregate in new concrete and cement
TINKER THINK TANK GOALS & METRICS
TINKER THINK TANK GOALS & METRICS
- Initiate broad conversion of alternate options for NYC waste management - Propagate interest in local scale energy production through pyrolysis of
organic waste
- Establish a site for local biochar production
- Develop educational programming to demonstrate benefits and uses of
biochar for NYC
- Foster connections between a spectrum of professionals to advance the
body of knowledge of biochar
- Explore novel uses for biochar which are particularly relevant to the urban
environment - (green roof, green walls, water remediation) - Participate in GND summit in September 2021
“It traps carbon in the ground for centuries, boosts plant growth, provides a sustainable heat source and could even reduce methane emissions from cows. Biochar may not be a silver bullet to combating the climate emergency, but it certainly ticks a lot of boxes.” 4
“It traps carbon in the ground for centuries, boosts plant growth, provides a sustainable heat source and could even reduce methane emissions from cows. Biochar may not be a silver bullet to combating the climate emergency, but it certainly ticks a lot of boxes.” 4
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. https://regenerationinternational.org/2018/05/16/what-is-biochar/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/terra-preta
3. Spriner Nature Applied Sciences, “Comprehensive Review on Production and Utilization of Biochar” N.L.Panwar, Ashish Panwar, B.L. Salvi, Section 9.2
4. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/29/this-dark-material-the-black-alchemy-that-can-arrest-carbon-emissions
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