With more than 200 members and 180 institutional and technical partners, Pierre & Terre is an association based in the southwest of France, which exists since 1997 and to promote the development of ecological alternatives. Our missions are to inform, organize workshops and support individual eco-projects in 3 areas of concern : water, nature and garden (to concerve and learn about water resources, natural habitats and biodiversity, to encourage organic gardening, to share experiences…), ecoconstruction (to promote ecological techniques and materials which guarantee low ecological impact and good air quality in the house…) and responsible consumerism (to promote local and organic food, green products, to reduce and recycle our waste…).
Association Pierre & Terre meets about 10000 people every year, through visits to the “écocentre” and by being involved in more than 50 micro-projects led by individuals, associations, schools, companies, town councils… all in favour of positive alternatives for our planet.
The “écocentre” permits us to inform visitors using different exhibit spaces, a library and a small ecological shop as well as the building being an example of ecological construction.
The building and the materials used have a low ecological footprint and a low carbon footprint, and all these materials, which are local and natural, are characterised by a high level of recycling capacity. We can find in the building straw bales, hemp fibre, sheep’s wool, local timber (such as plane wood, cedar, oak, chestnut, pine and Douglas fir) cellulose wadding, natural pigment, lime, adobe, terracotta floor tiles… The choice of these « healthy » materials guarantee a good air quality inside the building and also better work conditions for the builders.
Energy efficientcy is achieved by compactness and a good orientation, that takes into account local climate, permits the building to be a passive house. The insulation potential is based on the structure made with 60 cm thick straw bales, sheep-wool and cellulose wadding for roof insulation, double and triple glazed windows, wooden rolling shutters, a roof overhang that protects against excess sun, a green roof to maintain freshness. There is no air conditioning, but a double flux CMV allows the renewal of the air. Furthermore, the “écocentre” produces more energy than it consumes with an array of equipment such as solar thermal panels, photovoltaic solar energy panels, a wind turbine and a wood burner with automatic pellet feeder, which is only needed a few days in the year. In addition to that, the building is self sufficient for water using tanks for rain water collection. The water used in the ecocentre is totally recycled by a reed bed system with filters planted with reeds and iris, aswell as using compost toilets…
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Resource center about sustainable and alternative development:
Areas of concern :
- Water and environment: to know, to promote and to protect local water resources (Adour river), local ecosystem and biodiversity, to design management scheme for areas of interest…
- Eco-Friendly Homes and garden: to extend eco-friendly housing, to promote appropriate skills and materials (with low ecological footprint), to encourage organic vegetable garden, orchards and to share experiences…
- Ethical consumerism: to expand food base on quality and proximity specification, to support circular economy, short circuit, to improve management of solid and liquid garbage by extending recycling…
Axes of intervention:
- Informing: 738 visitors to the ecocentre, 1130 by phone, 610 visiting our stand during eco-forum, eco-fair… Tools: Internet site (actuality and downloading), library, exhibition…
- Training: 110 activities on sustainable development, 4468 children and youth (biodiversity, aquifer quality, climate changes, food, film projections and debates)
- Advising: 112 households (HH) met in ecocentre, 98 for eco-friendly homes, 47 benefited from home-visiting and a specific study, including 11 vulnerable households supported by social welfare to fight energy vulnerability. 62 for waste water management, 42 HH benefited from home-visiting for waste water management and 14 were supported for construction of waste water management system. 39 private companies and local skill professional (dig machine owners, mason, carpenter…). 35 collective’s structures (municipalities, association and institution) for eco-friendly homes and waste water management (school construction, eco-friendly green house), eco-friendly specification for party (manifestation, concert and exhibition)…
- 3 key ideas:
- Exemplarity – Duplicability
- Performance – Efficacy
- Pedagogy – Exhibition
Our statement is based on: to understand, to take part, to be responsible, and to be actor of our own development; to promote innovation while strengthening technological re-appropriation…