Meyersdal Eco-Estate - Grid-Tied PV

A large solar electric installation in the Meyersdal Eco-Estate using Sanyo Photovoltaic (PV) panels and Outback Solar Regulation and Inverting equipment..


More Photos and project information to follow.............................





PS: The project is complete and up and running smoothly!!

Installation done by AM Solar, design by InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd.

RAMMED EARTH - Pavillion Dalrymple (Westcliff, JHB)

Breathtaking Project..!!

Architects Silvio Rech and Leslie Carstens designers of this outdoor entertainment building called "Pavillion Dalrymple"

Two storeys of Rammed Earth wall... full of colour and natural beauty.... in a breathtaking setting in the wonderful upmarket suburb of Westcliff, Johannesburg.

This is just the basement floor... that you see in the photo's.

Wait till you see the Ground Floor wall.... 3 times the size!!!

Note: All soils, soil colours and pigments are 100% natural, either from the blending of the available soil deposits or sourcing soil/agrement rock from site to generate a pigment (e.g. the black lines are a combination of the local dark red soil which is clay rich and soot/charcoal from onsite fires all mixed together, and allowing them to ferment, etc.).

David Rattray Foundation - Pilot Project

InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd, appointed green building consultants and trainers to the David Rattray Foundation to assist with up-scaling Rammed Earth technology to roll-out many community built school and community building in the Rorkes Drift area in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Once again, Rammed Earth was the construction technology of choice for these low-cost and locally built buildings.

Grey & Black Water - Constructed Wetlands

Using the power of nature..

This is and many other constructed wetlands have been designed and some installed by InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd.

Solar Hot Water ..... InSynch on the Boil.

Thank you to Eskom, we have been constantly busy with a miriad of small to large scale solar hot water installations.

These days, all InSynch Solar installation work is done by our solar partners, AM Solar - Professional Solar Solutions.

AM Solar is the coming together of InSynch's solar division SunSync Solar and Natural Energy Energy Systems (NES Solar).

AM Solar - Professional Solar Solutions

InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd's solar installation partners.

Queens High School - JHB 2007/2008

Large scale Solar Hot Water, Queens High School.

InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd, worked with the design and implementation team on the design of this project.

Natural Plaster - House Britz (Raslouw, Pta)

Forget about fake texture out of a tin of synthetic origins... lets give it a true Earth Cote!!

Mix in some horse manure, the right balance of local soil with clay and precisley enough lime to make it beautiful, glow with natural energy and to make it endure the harsh weather conditions of Raslouw, Pretoria

Lime as a building material, is again an almost forgotten practice that was state of the art of master plasterers of 'old'.

It is easier to apply, it floats better, it can be re-floated for a few days after application, it has a lower carbon footprint in production than cement, it has an infinite life span (unlike cement)....... and most importantly of all..... It Is Carbon Negetive.

Lime continually absorbs carbon during it's life-span.

House Bali - A Job Well Done!!

The combination of rammed earth with its rough texture and warm natural colour contrasts with the clean and modern design of the kitchen and interior. The contrast forms and element of interest and intrigue.

The corner window with sliding doors connect inside and outside and the relatively small kitchen/dining room area borrows space from its outdoor environment.

The floors are a cemcrete finish with a mixture of different colour pigments. The concrete stairs are finished with a white washed ply wood. The walls are painted plaster without rhinolite and window are powder coated Aluminium due to low maintenance and to contrast the earthy feel of the rammed earth.

"I moved into my home the beginning of August 2009 and enjoyed and appreciated every day of staying in a special home, in an even more special environment which deserves to be preserved and taken care of". Eva Bali 2010

Architecture by: Eva Bali - eva@ebarchitect.co.za 082 456 0896

House Bali - Something to Admire..

The house takes shape, Eva Bali - owner and architect, admires the Rammed Earth walls.

Architecture by: Eva Bali Architect - eva@ebarchitect.co.za 082 456 0896

RAMMED EARTH - House Bali - Northriding (JHB)

THIS IS IT................................!!!!!!!

Finally a client (which has now become a very good friend of ours... in fact we have partnered in business see: www.2bgreen.co.za) with vision and the ideal project to practice many of our skills, technologies and ideas of "green grandeur" on...!

This is Eva Bali from eva bali architect (email: eva@ebarchitect.co.za -082 456 0896).

Eva Bali, from eva bali achitect (eva@ebarchitect.co.za), hesitant at first when we suggested we build rammed earth walls in her new home, which she was designing.

We half convinced her by the natural beauty and awesome thermal properties of Rammed Earth and all the other stunning benefits of this ancient technology making a come back in our modern times.

The final convincing she did herself, after I believe, the research she did in her own time.

Having trained in Germany as an architect, Eva was exposed to natural building as a student... and had now come full circle, back to reality and into her own home.

InSynch assisted her with some of the alternate technology we would want to incorporate into this self sustaining home, such as solar hot water, solar PV power, grey water recycling and black water recycling though a constructed wetland.

InSynch's construction crews were assembled, some had to be trained from scratch... but soon knitted into a hard working, highly skilled and motivated team.

See: The 2bGreen Blog for more on Eva's project

Eva says; "Due to its thermal properties, the Rammed Earth wall wraps around the house to form part of the eastern face along the north elevation and around the western side. Large windows not only allow the low wintersun to shine deep into the living spaces and generate heat, but also open up the rooms to enjoy beautiful views".

Architecture by: Eva Bali - eva@ebarchitect.co.za 082 456 0896

On TV - Hybrid Living

InSynch was featured on the popular TV program 'Hybrid Living' while busy on a building project: constructing a strawbale bedroom as an addition to an existing home.

Alastair was interviewed by Irvin.

Solar Electric (PV & Wind) Installations (2007 - 2009)

Rammed Earth - Flemming House

This home in the beautiful Randburg suburb of Kensington B, designed by Paul Marias from Paul Marais & Associates Architects is probably the first completed Rammed Earth constructed home or building in South Africa.

InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd, project managed and constructed the house from the ground up.

The home included the Rammed Earth walls, the recycled wooden window and door frames on the northern facade (2nd hand frames sourced by InSynch), a greywater system using a Constructed Wetland and a Solar Hot Water system (also installed by InSynch).

Riverbend Cob House

The origins of InSynch Sustainable Technologies are to be found in this project.
The Armstrong family designed and built a natural home for the family in Lanseria, Jhb in the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy.

The design being derived from the family needs neatly married with the design principles of Passive Design (natural heating & Cooling).

Most materials (75%) were sourced on site and incorporated into a number of Natural Construction methodologies including: Cob (clay, mud & straw), Adobe, Straw Bale, Rammed Earth, natural floors and paint & plaster.

The home is designed to operate completely Off-Grid by using various sources of renewable energy including: Solar PV panels, Wind Turbine and a Bio-Gas Digester.

Other technologies incorporated include: Branched Drain Grey Water, Constructed Wetlands for grey and black water recycling, Rain Water Harvesting and permaculture gardens.