Cradle to Cradle Ch. 5

Cradle to Cradle Ch. 5

Respect Diversity

-“This is nature’s design framework: a flowering of diversity, a flowering of abundance.  It is Earth’s response to its one source of incoming energy: the sun.”

-Human cover up nature and try to control and hold it back leaving only the hardest of nature left to survive

-In this age we say “respect diversity”, but we really either push people away from other cultures or just become similar.

The Fittest Survive, the Fitting-est Thrive

-The “fitting-est” is a term that describes “an energetic and material engagement with place, and an interdependent relationship to it.”

-Ants have so many distinct differences within its own species that can exist in many different environments all over the world and can coexist with other kinds of its own species and other species

-In one tree some kinds of ants occupy the top, others the middle, and others the bottom, all working in the same tree but using different recourses and sometimes the same

-Ants air out the soil making water more easily available to it and trees give us oxygen to breath and it all works together in a divers woven fabric, that as each thread gets hurt or destroyed it weakens other weaves

All Sustainability is Local

-Human systems are local, but we don’t see it that way; we don’t see our moves and how they affect others in the area, in the environment, or imports and exports as really affecting our area

-Modern prefab housing can be placed anywhere, but is that what is best for the area, or to use local materials and building constructions that are already workable in a more sustainable way, from that area?

Using Local Materials

-Bio-invasion is where a material from one place is ad verdantly or non ad verdantly in traduced to a un-excepting environment that kills or mutates

-A process is being worked on that replaces natural (using fish, algae, shrimp, plants and others) process to purify our waste in water, instead of using chemicals like chlorine

-Some places store their septage during the winter and uses it during the vibrant long lasting summer months to use its many minerals and nutrients it holds

-If all our water sources and cycles were local we would think twice about pouring dangerous chemicals down the drain; but even if we don’t use local sources we should still think about others

Connecting to Natural Energy Flows

-We now have unprecedented power over nature and no longer completely rely on it, but along with our machines for living, we have disconnected ourselves with nature which is not really living

-There are countless examples of worldwide (non-modern) examples of using natural methods, such as building into the ground or building wind scoops down to water to cool the air in the hotter temperatures

-We aim to cut ourselves off from nature use, like using glass to see nature but not be in it

-We could use hybrid strategies optimizing our technologies, but still use natural flows to limit artificial energy sources

A Transition to Diverse and Renewing Energy Flows

-Using small and more local sources of energy is a whole lot more eco-efficient than using one big centralized production

-Solar Panels can easily be mounted on roof tops and used during peak times of need, such as when air condition is need for cooling from the Hot Sun!

-Machines can cut on and off according to need, such as a freezer making ice to cool the box while it saves power

Reap the Wind

-Wind –energy is good, but can become non-efficient once the plants get too big and don’t use natural materials to create the turbines, which can also ruin the landscape

A Diversity of Needs and Desires

-Not only thinking about how something will be produced it is also important to look at how it will be used and by whom

-If a structure is built with diversity and “enduring advantages” then it can be used over and over by different users without having to tear it down or awkwardly renovate.

-Packaging is one of the biggest problems, but could be designed to be used by the area sent to; for burned energy, building material, or just decomposable

Form Follows Evolution

-Products should not be one-size-fits-all products, but rather have variables with in its mass production that allows for a variety of possible places the product could be used

-Soap that is used in a washing machine needs to be stronger than if used on skin and could be recycled if washing machines had this kind of function

-Diversity is in nature’s framework and people naturally prefer diversity over sameness

A Tapestry of Information

-We don’t need to look at what has worked for the past and is working in the present but it is important to look at what will work in the future so the next generation is not left with a mess to clean up, or add to.

-Products should evolve; for example: now that a soap product is safe for human skin, we can ask is it safe for the river? Or can it bring nutrients to the soil?

-Moisturizers were added to shampoos because it had other cheap chemicals that would dry out skin

A Diversity of “Isms”

-Going to any extreme is dangerous and is bound to leave out at least one important point

-There is a triangular balance of: ECONOMY, EQUITY, and ECOLOGY

-Only Economy is “does it make money?” no matter the social or environmental impacts

-Only Equity is “Are people being treated fairly?” no matter if you are making money or hurting environment

-Only Ecology is “How can we improve the environment?” no matter the cost and peoples roles are dismissed

-Economy is important because if you don’t make money you don’t stay in business Equity is important because if people are not treated fairly moral and people’s rights are compromised

Ecology is important because if the world goes under we go under

-Balance can support each of the three

The Triple Top Line

-Conventionally in design there is a tripod: cost, aesthetics, and performance

-This has a part of the Economy, Equity, and Ecology, but still is heavy on the Economy side and just extra points for the others are considered

-Companies see Equity and Ecology as a bottom line. But if they saw it as a top line there would be many economic advantages

An Industrial Re-Evolution

-Creating diversity and using natural methods instead of harsh chemicals can start to move from the industrial revolution to an industrial re-evolution

-Sustainable is better but is only a stability instead of flourishing or giving back like nature does to itself

-We need to create and be in a system that takes and gives back