"Biomimicry - Innovation Inspired by Nature." The Potential Application of Beehives on Capsule Hotels. Date completed: December 2013. Brief: Economics & Ethics in Sustainable Design - Final Project. For our final project, we were asked to select a chapter from Janine N. Benyus's book "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature", summarize it, then relate it to a separate but related research study of our choosing. The chapter: "How Will We Harness Energy?" The study: "Study of Beehive and its potential 'biomimicry' application on Capsule Hotels in Tokyo, Japan" by Despoina Fragkou and Dr. Vicki Stevenson.

1. Biomimicry
Innovation Inspired by Nature
The Potential Application
of Beehives on Capsule
Hotels

2. The Book
What is “biomimicry”?
• adapt the genius of nature for human use
What are its advantages?
• more sustainable designs
• proven, cost-effective, and resilient
solutions
• less consumption, extraction, destruction
6 Areas of Focus:
• How Will We Feed Ourselves?
• How Will We Harness Energy?
• How Will We Make Things?
• How Will We Heal Ourselves?
• How Will We Store What We Learn?
• How Will We Conduct Business?

3. Wes Jackson of The Land Institute uses the prairie has a model for farming – “farm
the way nature farms”. Perennials, for instance are self-fertilizing and self-weeding,
and also absorb a lot of rain. The diversity of plant-life within a prairie also
provides effective pest-control.
Peter Steinberg of Biosignal turned to the
red algae, which releases compounds to
prevent colonies of bacteria from growing
on it, when he invented a resistant anti-
bacterial used in medical tools, cleaning
supplies, pipes, etc.
David L. Kaplan has used how spiders spin
their webs and release liquid protein in
designing a fiber which is strong and
protective but very light, as well as
environmentally-friendly to manufacture.
Chimpanzees utilize the antiparasitic qualities of the Vernonia plant and also
engage in leaf-swallowing behavior to treat aching stomachs – Richard
Wrangham models human medicinal compounds after such strategies.

4. Chapter 3:
How Will We
Harness Energy?
Light into Life: Gathering
Energy Like a Leaf

5. What is Photosynthesis?
Plants’ Efficient Power Supply
• conversion of sunlight,
carbon dioxide and water
into usable fuel
• emission of oxygen
Biomimetic Potential
• Plants: fuel = carbohydrates,
proteins, fats
• Humans: fuel = power
automobiles / run electricity

6. Artificial Photosynthesis
A New Energy Conversion System
Artificial Photosynthesis
System’s Purpose
• harvest energy, split water
molecules
System’s Goal
• change the output from
oxygen to liquid hydrogen
(world’s cleanest, storable
fuel)
The Challenge
• splitting water to get the
required electrons to produce
hydrogen requires energy – a
catalyst
Plants’ Energy System
1. Chlorophyll and proteins
capture sunlight and use
it to break down water
molecules into
hydrogen, electrons,
and oxygen
2. Electrons and hydrogen
are used to convert CO2
into carbohydrates
3. Oxygen is released in the
process

7. Potential Applications
● replace wasteful, harmful fossil fuels
as our chief source of energy
● a storable, rather than time- and
weather-dependent, fuel
● alternative fuel types
Limitations
● not ready for mass consumption
● stability and efficiency issues
● still not as powerful as fossil fuels

8. How Will We Harness Energy?
Bees & Thermal Energy

9. Japan’s Capsule Hotels
“The capsule hotel first appeared
during the 1980s – the inebriated
salaryman’s dream come true: a
cheap (under $40) alternative to the
expense formerly incurred by missing
the last train home. Reached by a
ladder, the capsule is no larger than a
shipboard berth (3 x 3 x 6 ft), though
extremely comfortable and endowed
with all kinds of amenities, including
TV. The overall design is tellingly like a
beehive. Some capsule hotels also
feature saunas and public baths with
spa pools.”
- National Geographic Traveler:
Japan, 4th Ed.(p. 359)

10. Japan Russia

11. Despoina Fragkou & Dr. Vicki Stevenson
Can capsule hotels be modelled after honey beehives to provide more
efficient and cheaper ventilation as well as cooling and warmth?
Comb pattern satisfies:
Ventilation Requirements
- ventilation rate of 50.601/min
- relative humidity levels of
45-55%
Thermal Requirements
- 34°C when raising brood, 17°C
otherwise
How:
Structure & Interior Design
- hexagonal shape is more stable in
vibrations
Envelope & Spacing
- distance between two frames is
two bee-spaces (12-16 mm)
Services
- evaporative cooling: collect water
and fan wings to pass drop’s air to
lower temperatures

12. Methodology
3 Methods
2 to illustrate ventilation potential
1 to illustrate thermal potential
2 models: control and biomimetic
Ventilation Method: Physical Modelling and Laboratory Testing
“The aim was to illustrate the airflow inside the hive in order to conclude the
pattern of flow which success in serving the required ventilation rate.” (p. 2)
Thermal Method: Computer
Simulation
“The analysis was carried out to
evaluate the energy
requirements and thermal
comfort results for each
scenario.” (p. 3)
3 Capsule Types
1. TV and alarm clock
2. Radio and alarm clock
3. Light and alarm clock
Both Models
- same occupant schedules
- same infiltration / internal
gain parts
- carried out over a year

13. Results
Tracking Air Flow
There are two main flows of air – the first set enters from the bottom left (air entrance) of the right edge, then flows upwards
and curves towards the left side; the second set (circled) enters from the same corner, but, after reaching the hive’s right side,
flows upward and rises until it exits the covering in the upper right.

14. What Benyus Would Ask
What is the potential to use the beehive model on a more massive scale – i.e.
housing in general? Few households can survive on such a limited number of
appliances, for instance.
Bee activities certainly differ from human ones - moreover, there is usually only
one individual staying within a capsule at once, vs. the numerous bees in a colony.
How can we make sure the capsule stays warm efficiently then when the human is
not in the capsule?
People expect to feel warm (or cool) immediately – they may not be patient
enough to wait for temperature change. Can biomimicry still satisfy consumers’
tendency to demand services (as well as products) now?

15. Questions?