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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Working with the energies of life

Figure 8. Microbial electronics providing access to the commons of energies is shown as an ecosystem of potential configurations in (A) natural electroactive
microbial communities in “electric mud” that (B) are “gardened” on bioscaffolding as an electroactive component actuated by interdependent electroactive
microbial communities. Fine white lines represent microbial electron paths as nanowires, cables and shuttles. A transection through cable bacteria is
shown center-top (C) and semiconductive organic scaffoldings designed to channel the growth of microbes and transfer the electrons they generate are
connected to a conventional electronics circuit (D). Source: Diagram drawn by and courtesy of Rachel Armstrong

concepts of energy use through microbial electronics energy through various metabolic processes. Forged by
(Garrett et al., 2020). Existing electrogenic “living” the whole community of life’s metabolisms, the commons
technologies like MFCs can produce sufficient bioelectricity of energies are, thus, a shared resource that is essential to
to become a material and epistemic agent for a circular the survival and flourishing of all living beings, which can
economy of exchange within the household (an oikonomy). potentially be designed, engineered, and even negotiated,
With the advent of microbial electronics, such “living” by living communities of electrogenic microbes working
systems could ultimately replace modern utilities systems in concert with human-readable information systems
by transforming the kinds of housework performed within like artificial intelligence. The sustainable management of
a living space. While enabling direct real-time exchanges this resource requires a holistic approach that recognizes
with microbes, “living” technologies can represent data in the interdependence of all living organisms and the
appealing and direct ways, whereby it is possible to become need to maintain the health and integrity of ecosystems.
aware of the important contribution that electrogenic Since bioelectricity is a critical and tangible system
organisms like microbes make to our life world through of transactions generated by living systems, which is
their active metabolisms. Setting such natural limits to our manifested as life in flow, a specific ethics and appropriate
daily routines through how much waste we generate and value systems are also needed to ensure the appropriate
the amount that can be metabolized by microbes is not responses and rituals of (mutual) care in their handling
about reducing our quality of engagement with the world are upheld through the relationships forged within their
but establishes creative limits on our usage, which catalyzes ecosystemic contexts. Ultimately, being able to experience
new rituals of care. For example, more creative use of the energy flows through our living spaces through our
materials may be used in heating (insulation) and cooling daily rituals and interactions has the potential to bring
(materials with high thermal mass like stone) specific about a transition in our environmental impacts through
spaces in our home, embracing microclimates rather than collective actions, and shared ecological responsibilities
maintaining a uniformly constant milieu. In this way, we where a new kind of electronics communicates with
do not just consume our surroundings but, through design, human-design and machines to establish mutual
can ensure that every action can give something priceless exchanges that are in conversation with the living world,
back to our incredible, vibrant world through the commons rather than consuming its resources (Figure 9). In this way,
of energies that is founded on the regenerative energies of a new thermoeconomics, based on access to the commons of
life. Forged by the community of life’s metabolisms, the energies, which is enabled and regulated through microbial
commons of energies enable the creation and flow of living electronics, has the potential to transform the impacts of

Volume 5 Issue 4 (2023) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0862