Tapping-into-Nature-2015p

SYSTEMSAn ecosystem is a complex, intricate system that processes materials, energy, and information, often cyclingthese constituents within and between subsystems. Through evolution, nature creates flourishing ecosystemsthat optimize material and energy use. A valuable characteristic of ecosystems is that they operate fromnano- to macroscales, allowing materials and energy to be reused and transferred across scales. Intentionallymimicking these key characteristics and harmoniously connecting society’s industrial processes, buildingoperations, and urban infrastructure to natural systems offers a path to a prosperous and resilient future forour society.INDUSTRIESAgricultureBuilding ConstructionBuilding SystemsData CentersFinancial ServicesFood ManufacturingHealthcareHVAC & RefrigerationOil & GasPower Generation,Distribution & StorageSoftwareTelecommunicationTransportationUtilitiesWarehouse & DistributionWaste ManagementWater TreatmentSELECTED STRATEGIESCYCLIC FLOWSThe concept of waste does not exist in nature. In an ecosystem, resourcesdiscarded by one organism or community are harnessed by another,establishing symbiotic, cyclic flows. This occurs from the cellular scale(e.g., bacteria) to the macroscale (e.g., forests) and can create countlessniches for growth. In comparison, human systems typically generate largeamounts of waste. However, industrial by-products can be minimized byforming an industrial symbiosis—exchanging waste materials and energyas valued commodities between industries. Similar to biological symbiosis,individual companies benefit from shared services and the exchange ofresources in the resulting system, increasing profits and dramaticallyreducing environmental impacts.INTERDEPENDENCEEcosystems provide a wealth of inspiration for systems thinking. Theyalso influence and integrate with our human-constructed systems. Viewinghumans and nature as interconnected parts of a larger system allowsus to evaluate how industrial processes, agriculture, buildings, and citiesfunction in relation to our relatively frugal and efficient counterparts innature. To evaluate the efficacy of projects in the built environment,Terrapin is developing the Phoebe Framework.EMERGENCEIn a phenomenon known as emergence, complex systems have patternsand qualities that arise from the interactions among smaller components.Ecosystems exhibit many emergent properties, such as self-organizationand adaptation, which can be incorporated into our engineered systemsto address changing cultural, technical, and societal issues. Ecosystemservices are another example of emergence, providing us with “services”such as food, water, fuel, disease control, and recreation. To continueto benefit from these services, human systems can look to restorationecology, the Phoebe Framework, and other efforts to support the systemsthat produce them.32Tapping into Nature