A better world is possible - Global Commons Institute

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Copyright Bruce Nixon 2010. All rights reserved. This electronic copy is provided free for personal, non-commercial use only. www.brucenixon.com heat and power (CHP), solar photovoltaics (PV), and energy efficiency. It has made the town centre, housing estates, and old people's homes energy self-sufficient. If the UK grid went down, they would have their own heating and electricity year-round. The technologies work in harmony. CHP units generate heating when needed in winter and electricity along with it when the PV is not working optimally. PV generates a lot of electricity in the summer, when heating is not needed and CHP cannot generate much electricity. Because the use of private wires is so much cheaper than the national grid, the whole package costs fractionally less than the equivalent heating and electricity supply would cost from the big energy suppliers. This ingenuity needs to be compared with what nuclear has to offer. Buildings Brighton and Hove Library, Elizabeth Fry Building at UEA, The Zuckerman Institute for Connective Environmental Research (ZICER) building on the same site, Evelina Children's Hospital – children were involved in its design by the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, The Natural House at Building Research Establishment Innovation Park, Passivhaus UK, Active House producing more energy than it consumes, Susan Roaf’s Oxford Ecohouse, The Welsh Assembly Building (Senedd) an “exemplar” in terms of environmental design, sourcing and construction. Summary These are the features exemplified in many of these examples we need to adopt everywhere with the emphasis on refurbishing and adapting what we already have. Visionary thinking and belief in possibilities are needed to make them happen together with the support of local, national and regional government and global institutions. A holistic approach for sustainable cities, towns and communities Based in their biosphere and eco-system Cities, towns and regions based on their biosphere Nature co-exists with humans in a city Sourcing biomass, food, fuel and materials as locally as possible Buildings Carbon neutral, low energy buildings Emphasis on Refurb rather than demolition and new build Local vernacular building Longevity – buildings that will last for 200+ years and meet the needs of Climate Change Traditional design, using natural breathable materials, that works in hot or cold weather Natural ventilation, solar gain and night –time cooling strategies Passive solar design for heating and cooling living spaces* Simplicity vs. complexity – hi-tech can be short lived, unreliable and expensive to maintain Communities for well-being Diverse, mixed income population Leadership and collaboration at every level – involving everyone Environments and spaces where people of all ages can intermingle and enjoy themselves 184
Copyright Bruce Nixon 2010. All rights reserved. This electronic copy is provided free for personal, non-commercial use only. www.brucenixon.com Local shops, diverse high streets in walkable neighbourhoods in which people connect Mix of old and new buildings and, in cities, high and low-rise areas, sympathetic in scale. Parks and gardens Streets for people, not traffic, safe for children to play and peaceful for residents Support for diverse needs at all stages of life Culture, heart, body and soul A diversity of faiths and spiritual needs are met Local art, dance, drama, exercise, film, music, performance, recreation and sport Diverse therapies and forms of meditation Food and health Food grown locally, not using agrichemicals or industrial methods, by farmers, in gardens, allotments, community gardens and public spaces; emphasis on food in season Gardens combine flowers, fruit, and vegetables with outdoor eating, relaxing, exercise and games. Housing developments provide space for these needs Health prioritised and pollution minimised Local shops, independent shops, busy markets, farmers markets and food co-ops Reconnection with healthy food, how it is grown and cooked Heat and power Combined heat and power New development should only take place when housing and workplaces are planned as mini energy, cooling, heating and generating stations Infrastructure Local mini heat and power stations Building projects pay for themselves and achieve more than one purpose Nearby infrastructure including shops and public services such as education and health facilities provided within walking or cycling distance Residential and commercial development (including eco-housing) only takes place when there is existing or planned infrastructure: transport, nearby shops and services, social services within easy reach, walk-ability, street connectivity* * and full ecological and greenhouse emissions reduction measures Local works Local shopping, local materials, local sourcing, local economy and local work Transport Car sharing and communal car hire Fast, affordable rail connections between towns and cities; high speed for long distances, eliminating air travel for such journeys Location and transport efficiency 185
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