Introduction

Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design

Appropriate Technology: Water

Organic Agriculture and Local Food

Appropriate Technology: Energy

Green Building & Retrofitting

Ecological Economics

Ecological design principles work within the contemporary economic paradigm called ecological economics (Dr. Robert Costanza).  There are four capitals or resources.  In the past “built” capital was increased at the expense of “natural” resources and often our “social” capital, through political activities.  The intention now is to create sustainable human settlements and wellbeing by increasing or at least not diminishing any of the capitals, while building others.  This is an important set of ideas for the design of sustainable communities.

Four types of capital:

• Built (infrastructure and buildings)
• Natural (environmental)
• Social (quality of interactions)
• Human (skills - education)

• Ecological Economics
• Restorative Design
• Industrial Ecology
• Ecological Engineering

Sustainable Human Wellbeing is created by optimizing the contribution of four basic types of capital.

ISEE is a not-for-profit, member-governed, organization dedicated to advancing understanding of the relationships among ecological, social, and economic systems for the mutual well-being of nature and people.
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