A Book for Living
Sustainably
There are unending
piles of data creating mountains of information surrounding us nowadays.
These vantage points
should give us a clear view of what to do and where to go from here,
but good advice from
this information can be appallingly difficult to find.
Most of the advice available is buried in impenetrable jargon, interpretative philosophy or
shields of self defensive litigative disclaimers.
Well, here at the peril of disparagement is a collection of advice, mostly tried and true,
from many sources, collected through working in
the practical world towards achieving the goal of sustainable aescetism. The more general and
esoteric notions are collected from the
philosophical treatises of numerous thinkers in environmental
sustainability. The design considerations and personal strategies devolve
from the work and living of many much admired cultural icons. The practical minutae come
from the field and site experiences of many
who struggle to bring the reality of sustainability into being.
This book is designed as a ready reference Guidebook of strategies for minimising our
impact on the natural world.
It attempts to bring together a broad array of researches and understandings of ways in
which each and all of us can
the reduce the impact of our living in this place. From the overall structural
processes, through the mundane and the spiritual,
to some minutae of detail, these Rules of Thumb seek to
present individuals and entire communities with simple and straightforward
strategies and actions they can take to improve the quality of our environment and the
sustainability of our culture.
The idea is ... If a question arises and some
sort of advice is needed, then look up an appropriate
pattern,
read the Rule of
Thumb, have a little think about it all, read a bit of the story if more info is needed and then off you go
..
A Book for Living Sustainably................................................................
i
1. Data … Information … Advice ?.......................................................................
i
2. How Do You Use These Things?.......................................................................
ii
CONTENTS...........................................................................................
iii
SOME FOREWORDS...........................................................................
1
THE BARE ESSENTIALS..................................................................
38
Ideas for some of the structural
changes required of our culture to achieve sustainability
3. Consensus of Vision.........................................................................................
39
4. Create a Sense of Identity and Continuity..................................................... 40
5. Set Sustainable Time Horizons.......................................................................
41
6. Adapting to Change.........................................................................................
42
7. Repair the Damage..........................................................................................
43
8. A Fair Share of the Biomass............................................................................
44
9. Set Viable Population Limits...........................................................................
45
10. Y.I.M.B.Y........................................................................................................
46
11. Successful Practical Projects........................................................................
47
12. Appropriate Technology................................................................................
48
LIVING................................................................................................
49
If you don’t go any further have a look
at these, they give some insights into minimal things you can do to save the world.
13. We Are The Problem.....................................................................................
50
14. Everything in Moderation..............................................................................
51
15. Seek Quality...................................................................................................
52
16. The Evolution of Cooperation.......................................................................
53
17. War.................................................................................................................
54
18. Plant a Tree....................................................................................................
55
19. Waste Not, Want Not....................................................................................
56
20. Get A Bike......................................................................................................
57
21. Walk, Catch a Bus, Train, Ferry, Anything!................................................ 58
22. Power Your Life Yourself..............................................................................
59
23. Sirens, Bells, Whistles & Rings … NOISE!................................................ 60
24. Flashing Lights...............................................................................................
61
25. Plastics Everywhere......................................................................................
62
26. Small Buildings For No Reason.....................................................................
63
27. Covenants.......................................................................................................
64
28. Dying...............................................................................................................
65
CONSUMERS GUIDE........................................................................
66
Some brief guidelines on what to
consume and how to consume it sustainably.
29. Ecological Evaluation Systems......................................................................
67
30. Buy Locally.....................................................................................................
68
31. Buy Quality.....................................................................................................
69
32. Avoid Packaging.............................................................................................
70
33. Minimal Impact Eating...................................................................................
71
34. Natural Clothing.............................................................................................
72
35. Energy Efficient Appliances and Fittings..................................................... 73
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES..................................................... 74
Some strategies for engendering understanding that will be vital to the future of our
children and ourselves.
36. Make Sure Everyone Understands the Issues............................................. 75
37. Network of Advisors and Technicians..........................................................
76
38. Communication...............................................................................................
77
39. Developer Training Systems.........................................................................
78
40. Designer Training Systems............................................................................
79
41. Maker Training Systems...............................................................................
80
42. User Training Systems...................................................................................
81
SOCIETY.............................................................................................
82
Ideas for assisting the evolution of our society into a sustainable, aware, inclusive
culture.
43. Create a Sustainable Society........................................................................
83
44. Social Justice Infrastructure.........................................................................
84
45. To Get A Job, or Not to Get a Job ….......................................................... 85
46. Internet Community Access..........................................................................
86
GOVERNANCE...................................................................................
87
Ideas and principles for achieving long lasting, fair and equitable governance of, for
and by the people.
47. Sustainable Governance................................................................................
88
48. A Green Constitution.....................................................................................
89
49. Rights With Responsibilities..........................................................................
91
50. Glass Bureaucracy.........................................................................................
92
51. Community Participation...............................................................................
93
52. Virtual Community Governance Senates..................................................... 94
ECONOMICS......................................................................................
95
Ideas and strategies for changing the
way we perceive value and our methods for apportioning resources and wealth.
53. Create a Sustainable Economy.....................................................................
96
54. A Fair Division of Wealth..............................................................................
97
55. Remove Economics from Politics..................................................................
98
56. An Absolute Monetary System.....................................................................
99
57. Ecological Balance of Trade........................................................................
100
58. Use Real Indicators......................................................................................
101
59. Ethical Corporations....................................................................................
102
60. Sustainable Personal Financial Strategies.................................................. 103
61. Local Area Business Network.....................................................................
104
62. Sustainable Internet Trade..........................................................................
105
RESOURCES.....................................................................................
106
Some principles for the environmentally
sound procurement and development of resources.
63. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle..............................................................................
107
64. No Supply Lines in or Pipelines Out...........................................................
108
65. Localise, Integrate and Diversify Resourcing............................................ 109
66. Small is Better..............................................................................................
110
67. One Systems Output is Another Systems Input......................................... 111
68. Kerbside Recycling......................................................................................
112
69. Waste Stockpiles for Future 'Mining'......................................................... 113
70. Localise Sewage Treatment and Recycling............................................... 114
71. Integrate and Layer Water Use..................................................................
115
72. Localise Food Production............................................................................
116
73. Eat Endemic Foods.......................................................................................
117
74. Use Renewable Resources..........................................................................
118
75. Timber Supply as Urban Planting................................................................
119
TRANSPORTATION........................................................................
120
Our vehicles are killing us and our
planet, here are some suggestions for beginning to solve this problem.
76. Transport ... The Problem with
Cars is ..................................................... 121
77. Communal Cars............................................................................................
122
78. Smarter Cleaner Cars..................................................................................
123
79. Pedestrian Ways..........................................................................................
124
80. Reduce Traffic Path Distances...................................................................
125
81. Bike Paths.....................................................................................................
126
82. Low Speed Vehicle Ways............................................................................
127
83. Appropriate Public Transport.....................................................................
128
84. People Powered Movement.........................................................................
129
ENERGY............................................................................................
130
Incident sunshine is the one clean,
renewable resource we have on this planet, here are some ways of harnessing it and reducing the impact of
current energy use patterns.
85. Energy Is Green...........................................................................................
131
86. Use High Energy Products..........................................................................
132
87. Energy Producers not Consumers...............................................................
133
88. Minimum Energy Consumption...................................................................
134
89. Minimise Peak Loadings..............................................................................
135
90. Put in a Solar Hot Water System................................................................
136
91. Eliminate Super Voltage Grids...................................................................
137
92. Localise Energy Generation.......................................................................
138
93. Diversify Local Energy Generation............................................................
139
94. Energy Generation Everywhere.................................................................
140
95. Energy Sharing.............................................................................................
141
96. Match Energy Sources to User Needs........................................................ 142
97. Heat Exchangers..........................................................................................
143
98. Sun Powered Living.....................................................................................
144
99. Alternative Energies....................................................................................
145
100. Big Scale Stuff............................................................................................
146
101. People Powered Buildings.........................................................................
147
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT......................................................... 148
Ideas and concepts for creating a
sustainable infrastructure for our villages, towns and cities.
102. The City as a Natural Ecosystem..............................................................
149
103. Create a Sustainable Infrastructure......................................................... 150
104. No More New Subdivisions........................................................................
151
105. Spaces at the Centres................................................................................
152
106. Increase Densities......................................................................................
153
107. Variety of People and Buildings Everywhere.......................................... 154
108. Smaller Houses...........................................................................................
155
109. CoHousing Schemes...................................................................................
156
110. Conduiting of Information Technology..................................................... 157
HEAL SICK BUILDINGS................................................................
158
Some strategies for improving the
quality of the interiors of our buildings to avoid and repair the problems that lead to the so called “Sick
Building Syndrome”
111. Diagnosis.....................................................................................................
159
112. Change the Air...........................................................................................
160
113. Avoid Wall to Wall Carpeting...................................................................
161
114. Avoid Polymer Finishes..............................................................................
162
115. Avoid Glues................................................................................................
163
116. Pesticides, Insecticides, Fire Retardants and Herbicides........................ 164
117. Avoid C.C.A. Treated Timber...................................................................
165
118. Natural Paint and Oil Finishes...................................................................
166
119. Porous Wall Surfaces.................................................................................
167
120. Real Polish Finishes for Timber................................................................
168
121. Radon Gas..................................................................................................
169
122. Ozone..........................................................................................................
170
123. CFC.............................................................................................................
171
124. PVC.............................................................................................................
172
125. Dust Build Up..............................................................................................
173
126. Mites...........................................................................................................
174
127. Minimise E.M.F. Radiation Exposure....................................................... 175
128. Radiation From Microwave Ovens...........................................................
176
129. Radiation From Television.........................................................................
177
130. Radiation From Computers.......................................................................
178
131. Radio Telephones and Mobile Phones...................................................... 179
132. Mobile Phone Transmitter Towers...........................................................
180
133. Fluorescent Light Quality..........................................................................
181
134. Incandescent Lights...................................................................................
182
THE NON BUILT ENVIRONMENT............................................... 183
A series of strategies for minimising
impact on the environments surrounding our buildings, cities and rural areas.
135. A Natural Landscape.................................................................................
184
136. Do Nothing Landscaping............................................................................
185
137. Mix Natural Ecologies with Urban Patterns............................................ 186
138. Habitat Preservation and Recovery......................................................... 187
139. Land Tenure...............................................................................................
188
140. User Pays Degradation..............................................................................
189
141. Land Tax as a Transition Mechanism....................................................... 190
142. Sustainability Covenants...........................................................................
191
143. Reuse Redundant Land..............................................................................
192
144. Decontamination, Rehabilitation,..............................................................
193
145. Develop Bioshelters for Land Regeneration............................................ 194
146. Community Gardens..................................................................................
195
147. Remove Fences..........................................................................................
196
148. De-Pipe Street Stormwater Disposal........................................................ 197
149. Don’t Interrupt Ground Water Flow........................................................ 198
150. Weed Out Weeds.......................................................................................
199
151. Natural Toxins............................................................................................
200
ECOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE SYSTEMS............................. 201
Alternative environmentally sound,
sustainable systems for just about anything technical.
152. Living Machines.........................................................................................
202
153. Sewerage Processing as a Work of Art.................................................... 203
154. Plants as Environmental Controllers........................................................ 204
155. Living Machines for Buildings...................................................................
205
156. Water Saving Devices & Systems............................................................
206
157. Use Composting Toilet Systems................................................................
207
158. Integrated In House Recycling..................................................................
208
DESIGNING......................................................................................
209
Thoughts about sustainable design
principles in general and the designing of buildings in particular.
159. Develop an EcoCost Budget......................................................................
210
160. EcoCost.......................................................................................................
211
161. Minimise The EcoCost of Buildings..........................................................
212
162. Make Buildings Better...............................................................................
213
163. Re-Use Existing Building Stock................................................................
214
164. Minimum Accepted Specifications............................................................ 215
165. Watch for Natures Little Signals..............................................................
216
166. Look to the Indigenous and the Vernacular............................................. 217
167. Touch the Earth Lightly............................................................................
218
168. Building for Now.........................................................................................
219
169. Communal Places and Spaces at the Centre............................................ 220
170. Closing the System.....................................................................................
221
171. Building a Place to Be................................................................................
222
172. Design to Fit...............................................................................................
223
173. Building for Long Life................................................................................
224
174. Natural Environments Inside Buildings..................................................... 225
175. Controllable Personal Space.....................................................................
226
176. User Altered Buildings...............................................................................
227
177. Lightweight Building..................................................................................
228
178. Minimal Enclosure......................................................................................
229
179. Open Up to the Sun....................................................................................
230
180. Natural Lighting.........................................................................................
232
181. Direct Sunlight............................................................................................
233
182. Natural Ventilation....................................................................................
234
183. Catch the Breezes......................................................................................
235
184. Mass at the Core........................................................................................
236
185. Massing Around Heat Sources..................................................................
237
186. Masses of Stone and Space Reduce Stress.............................................. 238
187. Keep Roof Water for Drinking.................................................................
239
188. Wide Eaves.................................................................................................
240
189. Insulate Yourself from it all.......................................................................
241
BUILDING.........................................................................................
242
Strategies for actually putting up
buildings with minimum environmental cost.
190. Spare the Soil.............................................................................................
243
191. Employ Local Tradespeople......................................................................
244
192. Something Close By...................................................................................
245
193. Minimise Site Wastage..............................................................................
246
194. Supervise Minimal Materials EcoCost..................................................... 247
195. A Good Joint..............................................................................................
248
196. Natural Insulation.......................................................................................
249
MATERIALS.....................................................................................
250
Some in depth discussions and information about the procurement of
materials.
197. Re-Use Materials.......................................................................................
251
198. Use Re-Usable Materials Re-usably......................................................... 252
199. Longevity....................................................................................................
253
200. Minimal Processing....................................................................................
254
201. Toxic Materials..........................................................................................
255
SPECIFIC MATERIALS DETAILS................................................ 256
Details on the impacts and
environmental effects of specific materials used in building today.
202. Concrete.....................................................................................................
257
203. Masonry......................................................................................................
259
204. Stone...........................................................................................................
261
205. Corrugated Metal Sheet............................................................................
263
206. Glass...........................................................................................................
264
207. Ceramics.....................................................................................................
266
208. Timber.........................................................................................................
268
209. Composite Timber Products......................................................................
270
210. Straw...........................................................................................................
271
211. Rammed Earth...........................................................................................
273
212. Plywoods.....................................................................................................
275
213. Fibre Cement Sheet...................................................................................
277
MAKING IT HAPPEN......................................................................
278
Advice for bringing these ideas into
being and a general passionate rounding off.
214. Making it Happen.......................................................................................
279
215. Selling Sustainability..................................................................................
280
216. Making it Possible......................................................................................
281
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