Philosophy of Appropriate Technology and Permaculture
Scientific Sustainability Standards and Indicators
Ecological Footprinting and the Community Assessment Tool
Criteria for Selection of Technologies and Practices
Candidate Technologies and Practices
The concept of Appropriate Technology invites an inquiry into what technology is best from a holistic perspective of design - technically, ecologically, socially, culturally and spiritually. Appropriate Technology is technology that has been selected according to user-determined needs and criteria with this Whole Systems Design approach as a primary design principle.
The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) at Humboldt State University defines Appropriate Technology as follows:
Appropriate Technology (AT) describes a way of providing for human needs with the least impact on the Earth's finite resources. AT reaps the benefits of both modern scientific advances and effective traditional practices to create solutions that allow people to live comfortably with a minimal impact on other living beings and the environment. The ethic behind AT minimizes the use of nonrenewable resources through conservation, recycling, reusing, and precycling (avoiding packaging). AT practices are designed to be environmentally and resource conscious, and harmonious with local conditions. Appropriate Technologies are built with the intention of promoting self-reliance. They are meant for human beings to be able to understand, operate and maintain effectively. As E.F. Schumacher said when he coined the phrase,"AT is technology with a human face."
Permaculture is a an exciting new field that is developing Whole Systems Design into a body of wisdom and knowledge that holds the promise of reuniting science and spirit and provides the necessary tools to engage in whole systems thinking. Although permaculture started as a holistic approach to the Human - Nature interface in the area of landscape design, it has grown to encompass all systems - physical, technical, biological, social, cultural and spiritual.
Permaculture is used to convey the ecological interface with human systems while Appropriate Technology usually refers to the more technical systems interface with human systems and the natural world. Ultimately they mean the same thing and encompass each other - both seeks to express the best wisdoms of humanity in systems thinking in our search to reintegrate with Nature and live sustainably upon the Earth.
Scientific Sustainability Standards
and Indicators
We cannot pursue sustainability without being able to determine what is sustainable. Everyone is talking "sustainability" but we are in danger of using it without inquiry or true understanding of what we are saying. Until we determine what types and levels of human activities can be sustained on our planet indefinitely, the degree of sustainability of any given technology or practice is but a subjective hypothesis - not a "given".
The development of Sustainability Standards and Indicators is a crucial foundation stone in this pursuit. We must be able to determine both quantitatively and qualitatively where we are now and where we need to get to in our pursuit of a sustainable society. Specific technologies and practices must be measured against a baseline of data of present practices and a clear goal that truly represents a sustainable state.
The Global Ecovillage Network has been working for several years on the development of a Community Assessment Tool for it's member ecovillages to use in determining the state of their "ecovillageness". This tool combines both a quantitative and qualitative approach to sustainability and helps to set goals for ecovillages as they pursue becoming true sustainable communities.
Researchers at the University of British Colombia have been working on a powerful new tool in determining ecological impacts and degrees of sustainability with their work on Ecological Footprinting. Their book Our Ecological Footprint translates human activities into acreage of bioproductive land needed to sustain that activity, thus providing a yardstick for sustainability.
The RD&D program is working to combine the wisdom of the Ecological Footprint, The Community Assessment Tool, and other scientific approaches such as Carbon Indexing, with other more qualitative approaches to determine sustainability. Living Routes is working with participating ecovillages to further develop these standards and tools through our traveling and placed based programs in sustainable living.