On Thursday morning we headed for a nearby eco village Hostetin where we learnt about eco houses made of straw and different ways of ecological solutions used in them. We learnt about the effectiveness of the heat recovery ventilation, the importance of thick insulation, the position of windows etc.
The whole village is heated with wood chips as eco fuel from the neighbouring area. We were introduced to the term of passive houses that are ultra low energy buildings requiring a lot less cooling and heating energy than conversational buildings.
In the eco village we were also able to see an example of a composting toilet and a green roof that is not only able to lower the temperature inside the building, but is also a home to numerous insects, helping to preserve biodiversity.
In the afternoon we went to Slavičín where we were involved in an orienteering activity in the forest. We were supposed to get to 11 points using a map and collect the codes hidden there. It was a challenge as it required not only good orientation but also speed. Each of us set out 2 minutes apart from each other so in the meantime the others produced a beautiful piece of natural art using pines, sticks, flowers and whatever could be found in the forest. Congrats to Kacper from Poland – the winner of the orienteering game!
In the evening we attended a wonderful farewell party. The hosts treated us to delicious food, Czech DJs provided great music and made participants of each country perform their favorite dance. The party was a great success.
