Criteria for Selection of Technologies and Practices
The process of selecting the technologies to research, develop and demonstrate goes hand-in-hand with the development of scientific sustainability standards and indicators. Our assessment tools help to identify and prioritize the best technologies and practices to employ as a sustainable community. The criteria for sustainability clearly emerges from this process.
In considering which technologies are truly "appropriate technologies" the RD&D program considers technologies anywhere along the spectrums of sophistication (high tech, low tech) and scale (centralization, decentralization) . In general we seek technologies that represent simple, elegant solutions that are long-lasting, user friendly, user serviceable, user understandable, locally produced from locally available materials, and simple to operate and maintain. However the philosophy of appropriate technology embraces all technologies as candidates to consider when looking for what is best for the whole system. Cultural and social needs contribute greatly to this process.
In general we have found appropriate technologies to have the following conditions or attributes:
- Elegance and Simplicity of Design (even if complex in function)
- Appropriate use of High Tech, Low Tech
- Appropriate Scale
- User Friendly (Human Interface well designed)
- User Understandable
- User and/or Field Serviceable
- Efficiently Uses Renewable Energy Sources
- Produces little or no toxins or pollutants and does not Release Carbon into the Atmosphere
- Low Embodied Energy Relative to Production or Use
- Made from Recyclable Materials
- Locally Produced Using Local Materials when possible
- Durable
However there are technologies that for any given task are determined to be the most appropriate that do not meet one or more of these criteria. (Photovoltaics are not easily produced locally nor have low embodied energy but make up for it in elegance and longevity)
Appropriate Technology Candidates
The Ecovillage RD&D Program will target those technologies and practices that demonstrate sustainability solutions in the context of small human communities. Among those technologies we will consider for RD&D are:
- Resource Sharing Systems
- Land
- Buildings
- Tools
- Food Systems
- Refrigeration
- Laundry
- Transportation
- Renewable Electricity Generating Systems
- Micro-Hydroelectric Systems
- Solar Photovoltaics
- Non-Tracking
- Tracking
- Concentrating
- Solar Thermal Electric
- Point Focus
- Linear Focus
- Non-Concentrating
- Wind
- Solar Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- Solar Photo/Chemical/Bio Cells
- Biogas Hydrogen Fuel Cell
- Solar Hot Water Systems
- Passive Solar
- Batch Systems
- Non-Concentrating Flat Plate
- Concentrating - Static Focus
- Active Solar
- Non-Concentrating Flat Plate
- Concentrating Systems - Point and Linear Focus
- Cogeneration
- PV Cooling
- Solar Concentrators (PV/Stirlings)
- Stirling Engines
- Refrigeration Systems
- Passive Solar
- Passive and Renewable Energy Refrigeration Systems
- Super Insulation Techniques and Vacuum Insulation Panels
- Winter Air Assist and Ice Makers
- Solar Ice Makers
- Passive Refrigeration Loops
- Seasonal Storage
- Stirling Coolers and Thermionic Coolers
- Solar Absorption Refrigeration
- Cooking Technologies
- Finishing Ovens
- Rocket Stoves
- Biogas Systems
- Hydrogen by Hydrolysis (Renewable Source)
- Hydrogen by Bio/Thermal/Electrical Cells
- Ecological Wastewater Treatment
- Gray Water Systems
- Constructed Wetlands
- Ultraviolet and Ozone Systems
- Composting Toilets
- Aerobic
- Anaerobic
- Vermiculture
- Biointensive
- Solar Greenhouses and Season Extenders
- 4 Season
- 3 Season
- Attached
- Freestanding
- Tensile Structures
- Cold Frames and Cloches
- Hydrogen Gas Production
- By Electrolysis
- By Solar Electrochemical cells
- By Biochemical cells
- By Algal Production
- By Solar Thermal Chemical Pylori's
- Hydrogen Storage
- Low Pressure Tanks
- Medium Pressure Tanks
- Metal Hybrids
- Nantotubes
- As Solar Fuels
- Hydrogen Gas Utilization
- As Cooking Gas
- In Fuel Cells
With increased levels of funding, more advanced research projects might include:
- Alternative Transportation Systems
- Land use planning and the effect of location, lifestyle, and work arrangements on transportation impacts
- Car Sharing and Ride Sharing Systems
- Electric & Hybrid Vehicles
- Battery Only Electrics
- Hybrids (with bodiless or propane internal combustion, or propane/Stirling electric)
- Fuel Cell (Fueled by locally produced fuels)
- Concentrating Solar Systems
- Solar Fuels Production
- Practical Hydrogen Fuel Cells
- Stirling Engine Energy Systems
- Advanced Refrigeration Systems
- Thermionics
Permaculture Practices
THIS SECTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION . . WATCH FOR A FULL SITE ON THE RD&D PROGRAM'S PERMACULTURE PROGRAM)
"Soft" Technologies and Practices Ð Relationships, Patterns, Strategies, Methods
1) Ecological Awareness and Lifestyle Options
Sustainability solutions start with our basic relationships Ð to our selves, to our friends and families and others, to our work, to our health, to our homes, to our sense of place, and to the Earth. Our basic values dictate the choices we make in every one of those relationships. All Living Routes programs will start with these values and relationships as a foundation of exploration. The RD&D program will also explore these basic relationships and encourage a relationship centered approach in every research project it undertakes. These relationships themselves as well as how they affect the more hardware-oriented choices we make can be the subject of much research, development, and demonstration. Many of these areas of exploration are basic to the pedagogy of Living Routes general programs so there is no clear boundary between this and the subject of RD&D research. Some of the areas of exploration include:
- Deep Ecology - an exploration of basic values and relationships
- Sense of Self and Self Esteem
- Health and Wellness
- Interpersonal Relations
- Communication skills, patterns and agreements
- Conflict Resolution
- Intentional Community
- Shared guidance of youth, "Village Parenting"
- Integration of youth (and seniors ) into community activity
- Sharing Work and Responsibilities
- Group Governance
- Meeting design and process
- Cultural and Racial Diversity
- Shared spirituality, ritual and celebration
- Balancing privacy and collectivity
- Envisioning and strategic planning.
2) Permaculture
The field of Permaculture is a rich universe of possibilities. By taking a whole being and whole systems approach to the natural world and the place that humans hold in the world, permaculture seeks to infuse a way of seeing and way of wisdom into the more scientific knowing of Nature. PermacultureÕs roots started in landscape design, but as the philosophical foundation of Permaculture evolved it became synonymous with the Ôstudy of everythingÕ as thatÕs what it takes to really do whole systems design. In Permaculture is formalized the integration of the Spiritual, Scientific, Technical, Biological, and Social. As a design method it draws on the understanding of underlying patterns and flows as well as the needs and products of the elements making up a system.
For Living Routes Permaculture represents a foundation cornerstone that we want our students to be immersed in at some point in all our programs. To this end Living Routes and the ecovillage movement have the good fortune of having some of the national leaders in Permaculture design right in our midst. Permaculture design courses are available as a primary educational program in several of our member ecovillages including Crystal Waters, The Farm, Earthaven, Earthlands, and Heathcote. Living Routes will incorporate some basic instruction in Permaculture design in all its courses. The number of possible research projects possible in the field of Permaculture are too numerous to list. The general areas can be outlined. Living Routes is in the process of gathering possible research projects from Permaculturists within our Network. A few general areas of interest for PermacultureÕs place in our RD&D program are:
- Sense of Place
- Transportation use patterns
- Purchasing and reuse of material goods/patterns
- Economic sustainability strategies, successes.
- Permaculture food production (Gardening of all types including Edible Landscaping and Forest Gardening)
- Community Land Use Planning
- Sustainable Seed Production and Preservation of Indigenous Genetics
- Sustainable Forestry Practices
- Composting strategies
- Water re-use and storage systems
- Habitat restoration (meadow, forest, wetland, watershed. . .)
- Building design, materials, methods, etc.
- Neighborhood design
- Village design
- Whole systems design
If you are interested please contact Living Routes.
Together we can ensure a sustainable future!
