Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Eco-Villages: The Challenges of Sustainability
Shannon DoratoMarissa ForbesJessica Rivas
Overview• What is an Eco-village?• The Six Challenges• Case Studies• What can we apply to large scale?• Boulder, Colorado• Conclusion
What is an Eco-village?• A modern sustainable way of living• Defined by Robert Gilman• Small – less than 150 people• Three Aspects of Community Life
– Ecological– Social– Spiritual
• Six Challenges of Sustainability
Six Challenges
• Study existing eco-villages in order to…– Better understand the challenges – Gather potential solutions and practices – Find solutions applicable to larger populations
Case Study 1Findhorn Ecovillage
• Findhorn, Scotland• Established in 1985• Benchmark Eco-village• Well-Established
Case Study 2Dancing Rabbit
• Northeastern Missouri• Founded circa 1996• Famous in America• Still Growing
Case Study 3EarthArt Village
• Moffat, Colorado• Founded in 2000• Local• Still in recruitment
phase
Bio System Challenge• Local Food & Community Agriculture• The Living Machine • Humanure Co-op
Built Environment Challenge• Vehicle Co-op• Strawbale Construction • Community Interaction• Wind Turbines
Economic Challenge• Alternative/Local Currency• Low Cost of Living• Local Jobs• Community Businesses
Governance Challenge• Consensus Decision Making• Committee System• Various Democratic Processes
Glue Challenge• Sustainable Vision• Group Projects/Activities• Culture
Whole System Challenge
The Ecological Aspect
The Social AspectThe Spiritual Aspect
6Challenges
The Ecological Aspect
The Social AspectThe Spiritual Aspect
Bio System ChallengeBuilt Environment Challenge
Economic ChallengeGovernance Challenge
Glue ChallengeWhole System Challenge
“all of the more specific challenge areas depend on successfully dealing with the whole-system challenge. It encompasses, rather than underlies, all the others. It is not a building block, but a living wholeness.”
Summary“Given these challenges, it should be no surprise that as far as we have been able to discover, there are as yet no communities that fully express the eco-village ideal. This is the bad news. The good news is that there are many communities and other groups that have made considerable progress on every one of these challenges.”
-Robert Gilman
Addressing the Challenges in Larger Cities
• The Natural Step– Awareness
• CSA and Baseline Map– Backcasting– Clear Vision for the Future– Down to Action
• Lessons learned
Where is Boulder at Now?• Green Building and Planning• Energy and Climate Conservation• Transportation• Zero Waste• Pollution Prevention
Vision for the Future• Sustainability
– ECO-CITY
Backcasting• Food availability, production and
distribution• Restoration and preservation of nature• Consumption patterns and solid waste
management• Energy sources and uses • A sustainable, local and healthy
economy • Peace and global consciousness
Down to Action• Surrounding local agriculture• Conservation of land• Communal laundries, kitchens, and
lounges• Community-wide composting • Local currency
Education• A 4th aspect!
– The fourth leg of the sustainable community stool could be education about sustainable living
• education within the community • community educating
others
EducationEducation
Conclusions• Eco-villages - pioneers of sustainable
living• Challenges of sustainable living• All aspects affect each challenge• Lessons learned• Applications for large cities• Boulder: Eco-City• Education!
Thank You!
What questions do you have???