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???