Day 3 May 5th

Today began with a bus journey to a tulip farm, where we learned about sustainable farming practices. Because much of the Netherlands lies below sea level, farmers can conserve thousands of liters of water by utilizing seawater and managing irrigation through artificial canal systems.

We then visited a floating housing community, where each home costs approximately $1.5 million. This relatively new, entirely artificial community—less than 30 years old—has yet to fully incorporate hydroelectric or wind energy. Currently, the residents rely primarily on solar power, which fully supports their needs in the summer and provides approximately 60–80% of their energy overall. A notable feature of these homes is the use of sustainable building materials, such as pressed grass panels that resemble wood and have a lifespan of 30 to 50 years. The culture in their community felt a little different because of such a tight but community. Although they were also welcoming so the appeal was their but they were forced to fight law to build their own community

Our next activity involved learning about a company called Edge, known for its focus on sustainable building innovation. On the way, we passed what was recognized as the most sustainable building in 2014, along with several uniquely designed structures that also belong to the company. Edge aims to advance environmentally friendly architecture, including techniques such as storing cold water for summer cooling and using heat retained from water for winter heating. The visit concluded in a calm and inspiring environment.