|
 |
|
# Introduction: Top Eco Projects Creating the Future |
|
First, we will briefly review the places visited this time. |
|
<United States>
|
|
 |
Center for Ecoliteracy (Berkeley, California), Founding director Fritjof Capra, author of The Tao of Physics and The Turning Point.
|
|
|
Rocky Mountain Institute (outside of Aspen, Colorado), a world trusted think tank in energy policy and policy implementation appointed by the Clinton Administration.
|
|
|
Santa Fe Institute (Santa Fe, New Mexico), promotes multidisciplinary research gathering by specialists from a wide range of fields, including physics and economics.
|
|
|
William McDonough (Virginia), a creative architect recognized for his work in green buildings, having worked on greening the Nike and Herman Miller buildings.
|
|
|
Earth Policy Institute (Washington D.C.), headed by Lester Brown, who is known for The State of the World and Eco-Economy."
|
|
<Germany>
|
|
|
Wuppertal Institute (Dusseldorf), a globally influential think tank for environmental policy
|
|
|
Zukunfts-Zentrum Barsinghausen (Barsinghausen), struggles to revive agriculture while scientifically examining the post-materialistic society
|
|
|
Oko-Institut (Freiburg), working on a project to determine the feasibility of making the 2005 World Cup sustainable under the theme of Applied Ecology.
|
|
<England>
|
|
|
Schumacher College (Totnes), established according to the dying wish of E.F. Schumacher, author of Small Is Beautiful, and renowned for the epoch-making workshop method that invites pioneers with vision from all over the world to stay and study alternative values.
|
|
|
Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) (Beddington), garnering attention for their development of sustainable housing and work spaces
|
|
We also visited other projects and people in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and Italy. Each of these is doing important work and I would like to cover them all, but I will focus on three projects for this article. I have asked Wataru Iida of G-Project Co., Ltd., involved in the actual development of the Kobunaki Ecovillage in Shiga Prefecture to write this report. |
|
# Rocky Mountain Institute:
Targeting the Realization of a Natural Capitalism
(Snowmass, Colorado, United States) |
|
 High up in the Rocky Mountains in the United States at an elevation of 2,200 meters, the outdoor temperature in winter is -44°C, the annual mean air temperature barely exceeds freezing, and frost alternates with severe drought throughout the year. Here, in this demanding natural environment, is the home of a global think tank for resource and energy efficiency, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). In this place that cannot be called convenient or comfortable, top level energy researchers from all over the world have gathered under RMI founder and leader Dr. Amory B. Lovins for consultation and architectural design relating to green development. RMI is a complex facility that has a living area, a lush tropical garden with bananas, and a research center in a 372m2 site.
Front entrance to the Rocky Mountain Institute. Researchers from all over the world gather here. |
|
Since the middle of the 1980s, RMI has been researching the solutions to the problems that our world is now facing. This research includes "Natural Capitalism" (Capitalism modeled on nature), a paradigm for a new society based on technology that improves long-term resource productivity rather than improving short-term labor productivity; research on "Green Development" that aims for low environmental impact construction and development; "Small is profitable" research that demonstrates "the high economic efficiency and realization of profits of small, distributed energy systems" based on several examples; and the "Hyper Car" Project working on development of an energy efficient car that uses carbon fiber for the body and runs on fuel cells.
| |
View to the left of the Institute's front entrance. The outside is made from local rock, wood, soil, and other natural materials. Just a single glance gives you the impression of an organic organization. |
| |
A living room located in the middle of the institute. The room is warm even in winter due to the super windows and thick walls. |
One notable feature of RMI is that the institute buildings themselves demonstrate the possibility of green buildings. These buildings do not use traditional heating. Over 99% of their heat is obtained through passive solar energy (making the windows larger and using material that stores heat). For example, the outside walls of the building are 30 cm thick. The windows are "super windows" with excellent insulation, using several layers including film and filled with special gas. Of course, the initial investment for these windows is much higher than traditional windows, but when the costs for the fans, piping, pumps, tanks, wires, control panels, etc. needed for a heating system are considered, the super windows can be more cost effective.
With an additional investment of US$16 per square meter (floor space), 99% of the energy for heating and hot water or 90% of the household energy can be obtained. This results in a monthly electricity bill of only US$5! RMI also produces electricity with photovoltaic panels. The electric company buys any excess electricity from RMI, so RMI occasionally receives credit from the electric company.
|
|
Dr. Lovins woke up early to show us around. |
Dr. Lovins says, "The additional cost to implement these features, even using the technology of 1983, was recouped in 10 months. We were able to do better using 20 year old technology (laughs). A general household should be able to accomplish this easier."
This idea was very interesting to those of us who are apt to focus on technological progress.
Dr. Lovins continued. "We are often asked why we built the institute in this place. This is a safe place where doors don't have to be locked and it's comfortable to live in. At least, indoors (laughs)."
In fact, when we visited, the institute was not locked. Dr. Lovins and the rest of the researchers were warm and welcoming. The institute itself is open and welcomes young students who want to contribute to sustainability as interns.
| |
Conspicuous in the Institute, the green space is a jungle. The overgrown banana tree has just been pruned. |
Lastly, Dr. Lovins had this message for the youth of Japan.
"I am truly happy that the number of young people interested in Green Development is growing. Natural Capitalism gives us courage, and I believe it is a deeply interesting theme. The speed and intensity of world change is increasing, and we must prepare ourselves to live in a less certain era. However, there is no reason for pessimism. Various signs are beginning to simultaneously and repeatedly appear in all parts of the world. Japan overflows with possibilities to contribute to the world, e.g., experientially, technologically, and culturally. Japan will be able to bring light to the realization of Natural Capitalism from a different angle than that of the West. Also, never forget that you, the youth, are our hope. Whether the world changes or not is already your problem."
|
 |
|
# Wuppertal Institute:
Think Tank Contributing to World Environmental Policy
(Wuppertal, Germany) |
|
 Located in Wuppertal in the outskirts of Dusseldorf, Germany, the Wuppertal Institute is a global think tank that focuses on climate change, energy, and the environment. To promote sustainability at the regional, domestic, and international levels, the Institute seeks and develops procedures, strategies, and guidelines for Environmental Policy through examination and analysis focused on application. The Institute's activities focus not only on ecosystems but on the interrelationship of ecosystems, economics, and society and have influence beyond Germany's borders in regional, domestic, and international Environmental Policy. Established in 1994 with the theme of "Increasing wealth and consuming resources are independent," the 120-strong staff conducts research in the following four categories. |
|
Future Energy and Transport Structures
Energy-, Transport- and Climate Policy
Material Flows and Resources Management
Sustainable Production and Consumption
|
|
Dr. Peter Hennicke, head of the Wuppertal Institute. The Institute is involved in development and propagation of new generation energy such as solar, hydrogen, and wind and is involved in policy planning. Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz is in the background. |
|
The Wuppertal Institute examines and analyzes not only how effectively resources are used (eco-efficiency) but also believes that it is important to examine the overall burden placed upon the global cycle by materials and resource usage. In other words, this new view includes not only the manufacture, use, and disposal stages but also the stage of extracting resources from the earth to emphasize the material cycle and then examines and analyzes this material flow. While terms such as Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) have become commonplace, the process of extracting materials for products has been overlooked. This extraction process has attracted attention because of the enormous amount of energy used. The Weight of Nations is a report that summarizes the flow of the global material cycle. According to Dr. Raimund Bleischwitz, who worked on this report, very interesting results were obtained regarding the relation between humans and technology. The results showed that even among residents in ecological housing that uses the same leading-edge technology, there was as much as a two-fold variance in the amount of energy consumed. These results suggest that to reduce the impact on the global environment, humans themselves must improve beyond technological progress. Dr. Bleischwitz asserted "The importance of technology that considers the relation between technology and humans, and technological development that takes human development into account is growing."
"Since the 1970s, Japan and Germany have made progress in resolving environmental problems. The first stage was requiring restrictions for government and industry. The second stage was having industry and government provide an "exit." The third stage was vertical development from concept to field, with the appearance of the eco-pioneer. The fourth stage is the explosive horizontal developmental era. Germany and Japan are at the third stage. I believe that we are getting ready to shift to the fourth stage."
Being on the verge of successfully changing policy away from nuclear energy to natural energy, Germany is surely entering this fourth stage. In fact, I feel that they are further along than Japan.
| |
Information from the photovoltaic panels in the Institute is measured in real time. The panel shows, from the top, the current electricity production, the total electric production, and the total reduction in carbon dioxide volumes since March 2000. |
The Wuppertal Institute is currently examining Europe's OKOPROFIT Movement at the request of the Japanese government. The OKOPROFIT Movement began in the middle 1990s in Graz, Austria, during the development of an implementation platform that included industry to create policy for the Local Agenda 21 Action Plan (Action Plan to be created by each nation for the sustainable development of regional public organizations in accordance to Agenda 21 adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit). This movement develops "Resolutions that create profits" for waste, energy, water, and transportation in small to middle sized corporations. Vigorous activity such as the development of cheaper natural energies has been noticed, especially in the energy industry. Currently, there are 40 companies participating in Germany alone with 123 working projects in the EU. If corporations do not do something, society will not change. Even so, formation of a new market through the independent efforts of corporations alone is difficult. Because of this, the recognition that the key to successful projects is held by intermediaries connecting to the stakeholders is permeating throughout Germany. When it becomes necessary for programs, education, information disclosure and sharing, and agenda setting to be better performed, interdisciplinary knowledge and experience, such as analytics, sociology, and psychology, will surely be required. |
|
Outside of the Institute. The Institute is a renovated historical building. |
|
Library storing an enormous amount of resources and data relating to sustainabillity. |
|
|
Dr. Hennicke made these comments about the relation between Japan and Germany.
"Germany is further along than Japan in decentralizing government, the key to the period of horizontal development. What does it mean for regional economies to have competitive power in the midst of the globalization of the economy? It is this: employment and industries rooted in the region. I think this will stabilize regional economies. The solutions for these regional issues need not start from zero. The solutions "are born from new cooperative relations." In other words, what is ultimately important is how connected people will organize. Japan and Germany are now attempting to enter a shared future. I feel that it is very likely that both countries will collaborate at the regional level and on the domestic level, as well as on the international stage." |
|
# BedZed Project:
Residential development seeking freedom from fossil fuels
(Beddington, England) |
|
 The Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED Project) was a redevelopment project that took place between 1999 and June of 2001 on the former site of the water purification facilities of a sewage treatment plant located in Beddington in the London suburbs. With a total project budget of about 3 billion yen, this project was the first large-scale, carbon-neutral community development project in England. This project demonstrates great possibilities in energy conservation.
The BedZED concept can be found in the "ZED" portion of the project name, that is, "Zero fossil fuel Energy Development." This concept was successfully implemented in the market by the Peabody Trust, a regional development trust, and a partnership of two key organizations, Bioregional and ZED Factory. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The outward appearance is designed with local wood and stone materials along with leading-edge devices that use natural energy. The colorful heat exchangers and vents can also be called symbolic of the Project. The line of equipment for the heat exchangers and vents along the roof of the buildings is perfect for the vents to track the wind direction automatically. The graceful movement reminds us of a living organism. |
|
|
"Bioregional" was the NGO that advocated "One Planet Living" (OPL). Their concept was based on the "Ecological Footprint" indicator developed by Prof. William Rees, et al. at Canada's University of British Columbia. The ecological footprint is a number derived from the energy and food consumption by country and indicates how much land surface is needed for one human to live. Currently, one Englishman requires about 6.7 ha of land (one Japanese requires 5.94 ha). If all 6 billion of the world’s population lived this lifestyle, then we would need 3 planets to support them. Bioregional seeks to change the lifestyles of developed nations and to fairly share the earth among the 6 billion humans inhabiting it (an ecological footprint of less than 2 ha per person) as well as creating a society with an improved quality of life.BedZED has not reduced the required number of planets to one, but it has realized a lifestyle that would allow life on 1.6 planets. How does the director of Bioregional, Pooran Desai, view this project?
The bridge connecting a resident to a separate private garden provides an accent to the city scene. The bridge also facilitates exchange within the community. |
"This is a first try at a comparatively large-scale residential supply, but I think we can call it a respectable success. In addition to lot sales, rentals and the owner system, the project is used as a residential area for personnel essential to the region, such as nurses, via the government and local authorities. Another reason for its success is that it matches the regional demands. There is no target age group or customer level. It is a favorable environment because of the increasing demands of people for sustainable development and lifestyles. I also feel that the OPL concept is being evaluated through the realization of BedZED. Currently, Portugal has decided to begin a 6000-unit residential development project using the ZED concept (zero fossil fuel energy development). They are targeting Zero Carbon and Zero Waste. We are also working with architect Norman Foster on developing a project to supply 2000 residents.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
The colorful child's study desk was reborn from recycled materials. |
|
The room interior uses only natural materials creating a healthy home. Natural sunlight provides sufficient lighting. |
|
|
ZED Factory worked on BedZED construction, construction materials, other materials, and the lifestyle infrastructure. In particular, it also worked on the unique products supporting the facility. Architect Bill Dunster heads up the Factory. The BedZED project is a milestone in his long career working as a sustainable building architect. (From A to ZED is recommended reading to learn about the BedZED development plan.) He could certainly be called an architect for ZED. The results of his research and development are used throughout the project: ultra-insulating materials for the buildings, a co-generation plan for electricity and heat supplying the energy needs of the site using waste woodchips, a system that uses the power of plants to reuse rain and waste water to reduce water consumption, a green transportation strategy to minimize dependence on cars, residential car clubs that use electric automobiles, and photovoltaic panels to create electricity for the electric automobiles.
How can this type of project be promoted to the general public? We asked Bill Dunster.
| |
Technology and products that support a "One Planet Living" lifestyle (all ZED Factory products). The double glass used with the solar generators also helps maintain privacy. |
"Whenever working on this kind of sustainable construction, currently, cost always becomes a problem. For example, project costs will increase about 15% for a 1000-unit project. But, when the scale reaches 5000 units, an economy of scale occurs and additional costs are virtually zero. In addition, when insulation material is more than 30 centimeters, then suddenly heating and cooling are unnecessary. We call this "Step Change." I'm not a specialist in Japanese climate, but I think that finding the optimal point of material investment volumes is the most important point."
In 2000, BedZED received the award for Best Example of Sustainable Construction from the Royal Institute of British Architects. This type of excellent community development example is also required in Japan. For this type of development, the formation of an outstanding partnership is very important. Pooran Desai had this to say on the subject.
"The most important thing is to clearly identify the issues that should be solved. And, it is also important to share goals, discuss all issues, and find excellent engineers. We are confident that the concept of One Planet Living is a simple, strong story extremely appropriate for collaboration. The story resonates with society and becomes the impetus for society to change. Partnerships are surely being formed throughout the world. Of course, this is happening in Japan, too. That is my wish." |
|
|
What impressed me most on this trip were the "people" who have held their beliefs for so long, some since as early as the 1970s, and have worked to create a future society while solving problems on a global scale. Environmental problems are currently given top priority everywhere on the planet, but they began in an era when there was no social consensus. They probably faced unimaginable hardships. But, they overcame these hardships, held on to their convictions and belief in themselves, and acted. I felt that, no matter what research or project, I saw the "dignity" in their strength of will. I think that during the development of Kobunaki Ecovillage, these kinds of hardships will probably also occur. I think that the method to overcome these hardships is to join hands with those we met on this mission and encourage youth from Japan to invite a new era. This would be a truly wonderful thing. This trip made me believe that this is the most important thing in creating a sustainable society. |
|
|
Report: |
Wataru Iida,G-Project Co., Ltd.
Soichi Ueda,Think the Earth Project
|
|
