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Enviro Bathroom Project

Last year, Walter Daniel Trusoni, IARCOS Vice-President, visited a monastry in South India. There, electricity and drinking water supply are very limited. Based on his observation, Walter started the project “Proyecto Enviro Bathroom” (EBP). The objective is to raise awareness about the urgent need to save energy, through invidual commitments and an ‘environmental conscience’ present in each household.

The Project’s proposal consits of promoting the rational use of energy, including so electricity as well as water, in private as well as public buildings, in order to raise awareness on the importance of reducing the consumption of water and electricity.

Walter carried out a similar project in India in 2008: "Two years ago, I was invited in India to see the construction of an orphanage and assess the needs in terms energy savings.”

Walter recently started studying the implementation of the EBP, encouraged by new energy saving methods such as energy saving light bulbs similar to dichroic lamps which are improrted from China. Energy saving light bulbs cost around $30 Argentean pesos as in September 2010.

School children’s collaboration is fundamental in order to promote new habits of energy consumption to their parents. Additionally, they will play an important at the State, economic, media and other institutions’ level.

Walter is confident that the principles of EBP will be largely accepted.

Water saving tips:

Electricty saving ideas:

Turn off tap while cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face. You can waste up to 9 litres a minute by just letting the water pour down the sink. Take a short shower rather than a bath could save you up to 400 litres a week. If you do have baths, just half fill them. Don't overfill the kettle when making a cup of tea. Only fill and boil what you need, this will save you money on your energy costs too. Place reminder of EBP in the bathroom and in the kitchen.

Install energy saving light bulbs Electric water pumping systems consumes more electricity when constantly in use Reduce the utilisation of hairdyers and shavers

Carpentry School

Part of the Sustainable Communities program, IARCOS, has launched, in March 2009 a carpentry school in the neighborhood of San Cayetano, in La Matanza, province of Buenos Aires.

In this neighborhood, the rate of youth unemployment is very high and access to vocational training poor. Poverty is a major issue for most households. IARCOS initiated this project both to solve these problems and provide professional skills to young people.

The whole community is supporting and participating in these carpentry workshops, which take place on the property offered to IARCOS by Rene Mendoza in the neighborhood of San Cayetano. The inhabitants themselves are organizing the program, involving young people who, therefore, get free training. At the same time, IARCOS started fundraising from building companies and private donors to sponsor the project and future ones. These building companies mainly give construction or recycled materials to IARCOS and its Environmental Social Responsibility Program. This program also receives help from the Rotary Club of Villa Don Bosco.

Additionally, the Argentine Council for Sustainable Construction, member of the US Green Building Council, collaborates by sharing its expertise on Sustainable Construction, providing precious advice. It is important to highlight the fact that sustainable building includes nearly 90% of recycled materials and/or materials coming from natural resources and energy.

Finally, it is important to mention that these workshops in San Cayetano aim at building improvements to the neighbourhood to prevent the winter floods by elevating the floors on high stilts.

More information on San Cayetano

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IARCOS to build a civic and health center for Nuestro Futuro

The health and well being of the population is at the Heart of the concept of sustainable communities. The population must be healthy in order to apply the ideals set by IARCOS. Our vision is for the population of Nuestro Futuro to become aware of key public health issues and to adopt positive health behaviours in order to become and remain a "healthy community".

The areas to be focused on are:

a) Awareness of infection control and prevention of infection spread (including personal hygiene, clean water, clean food)
b) Nutrition, particularly in the context of child development
c) Maternal and child health
d) Sexual health and family planning
e) Alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse
f) Awareness of the importance of vaccination and adherence to the national vaccination program
g) Awareness of risk factors for chronic conditions such as diabetes and ischemic heart disease

One of the key roles of the future health centre to be built by IARCOS, as described earlier, will be health education and promotion, based around the mentioned themes. The health centre will also provide primary care services and will be a vaccination centre. It will work in partnership with larger health centres and the hospital when referrals are necessary.

More information on Nuestro Futuro

60 native trees to be planted in Nuestro Futuro

In the next few weeks, 60 trees will be planted in Nuestro Futuro by the residents. These trees have been donated by the Harbor Authority of Buenos Aires, which 2 Ingineers have visised the neighbourhood the first week of spring.

According to our objective, we asked for indigenous and native trees.

Andrea Giardini, from the NGO "Semillas al Viento", organization close to IARCOS, sent us a note here he says why planting native trees:

"They are those which can be found in their region of origin. They grow and reproduce moderately. In general they need neither irrigation, nor fertilizers nor protection against the cold. The autochthonous species attract native birds, because they have the fruits and seeds that they need to eat and the conditions to build their shelter. The autochthonous species are eaten by native animals (insects and birds). They are attacked by diseases of present in their area. However, they show a certain resistance to this. A natural pruning is realized. That is to say, it is that kind that was present in the place before 12/10/1492 (before the settling of America)..."

Pictures of the plantation

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