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HEALTH AND SANITATION
ModZe consortium launches transportable , affordable option for housing the homeless
David Viola , IAPMO CEO
In the spirit of the sharing of unique experiences that shape the plumbing industries in our respective nations , the following article looks at a new Plumbing Champions initiative that IAPMO ’ s non-profit organisation is spearheading in Australia . Written by IAPMO staff writer Mike Flenniken , it is the next in a regular series of similar articles that will run in this magazine .
Dave Viola IAPMO CEO
Written by
Mike Flenniken
When considering Earth — a planet with 70 % of its surface made up of water — the accessibility of safe water is surprisingly and disproportionately low .
Modular pop-up shelters can be deployed in hours and function on or off the grid .
Homelessness is a societal issue with numerous causes , but one consortium of California-based companies is attempting to provide an affordable and quickly deployable solution for housing those most in need of help .
Through “ Project Aurora : Empowering the Unhoused ,” ModZe Dwellings , LLC ’ s goal is to collaborate with Ameresco , Schneider Electric , the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ( LADWP ) to initially build 10 net-zero villages for the unhoused in the city with 100 homes in each village . renewable energy systems to create an autonomous portable shelter that can be easily transported and – in most cases – set up in only a few hours .
With channel partners Ameresco , Schneider Electric and the LADWP , ModZe recently held an open house at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ’ s La Kretz Innovation Campus ( LKIC )/ Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator ( LACI ) — where the new company is now headquartered — to showcase two prototype dwelling structures . The larger one includes a kitchenette , bathroom and small shower and is geared toward the unhoused , while the other unit is for disaster relief and instances in which people just need a safe place to sleep .
ModZe is a new joint venture between NetZero Energy Systems , Inc . ( NZE ), Foldum Corp . and Advanced Building Systems , Inc . ( ABS ) that combines ABS ’ modular steel frame accessory dwelling unit ( ADU ) process technology , Foldum ’ s pop-up retrofitted shelters and NZE ’ s advanced
“ I can remember walking through this building when it was dirt on the floor and I had a hard hat on ,” ModZe CEO Phillip Roberts said at the March 15 LKIC / LACI event . “ Over the years we ’ ve been able to build up our relationship with the team , and now we have – we think – a practical and affordable solution for the city of L . A ., and working with the LADWP , we try to provide not only advanced best-inclass renewable energy microgrid systems or components and products , but actually an immediate solution now for semi-permanent homeless shelters , and in the near future modular housing for ultra-low-income residents in L . A .”
All photos by Geoff Bilau IAPMO
ModZe home .
A HUBe solar and battery energy storage system , which NZE developed over the years with Ameresco and Schneider Electric , provides enough power to run multiple shelter / ADU units . Because they will initially be solar and battery-powered , the MODZe units can be set up and operational very quickly and will not have to go through a lengthy city permitting process to install .
“ The idea is eventually you ’ d want to connect the entire Project Aurora village to the grid , but that ’ s not always possible , so depending on the circumstances , with us you now have an option , on or off grid ,” Roberts said . “ Initially we can power up these dwellings ‘ islanded ’ off grid so the
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2023 Volume 29 I Number 9