What is involved in the design of an eco-village?

Question

I mean how do they operate?

Answer 1

its a different way of looking at the whole of life really. the big picture; sustainability, community, thinking through properly all the ways each action affects the environment.

http://gen.ecovillage.org/about/index.ht...

Answer 2

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miri l'italiana<=

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miri italian<=

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Answer 3

Its not so much the design but the people who endorse it.  From what I've seen, all that matters is that you get plenty of publicity and get green lights from the council.  After that you get carte blanche to fleece the first time buyers with more money than sense.

Answer 4

like the others do but replacing the main things that normally would waste energy,money and that is bad for the environmont.

I cant get simpler than that sorry!

:P

Answer 5

In addition to the power source information already listed, you would want your buildings to be constructed from sustainable materials; you would want to promote transportation by methods other than cars, which means pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly thoroughfares and housing near places where people need to shop and work; you would really efficient public transportation; you would want to take advantage of natural light and heat sources, wetlands to support waste water treatment, native plants for sustainable greenery; you would want to discourage waste (wasted water, wasted energy, etc.).

The U.S. Green Building Council trains architects in sustainable building practices and rates structures/projects for sustainability (LEED certification), but not whole communities. I think it's very rare to have an entire community designed for sustainability. There are practices that help, some of which are very 'old world,' including small lot sizes, public transit, pedestrian-friendly plazas, windmills, etc.

Actually, I think there are senior communities that are getting closer. If we could just power golf carts more sustainably, we'd have go-anywhere personal transportation that doesn't require lots of road-building, allows for hauling groceries and passengers, doesn't require nearly the materials to manufacture, and doesn't do nearly the damage in a collision. The communities are often created with small living spaces, large multi-purpose gathering places (for the odd family get-together) and lots of communal greenspace. Could be an interesting model!

Answer 6

Ideally, Eco-village, as you put it, is an environment that attempts to be ecologically balance.

The biggest issues for these places are waste water management, sewerage and solid waste management (including rubbish and garbage).  For waste water and sewerage, there were studies a few years back using natural decomposition (or is the term biodegradable?) and filtration.  Water is passed through a system much like a swamp or a pond (as in a small pond with plants, fish, insects and enzymes).  Its like a natural sewer treatment plant.   Water is ensured to have a ph of 6-8 before it is released.

Solid wastes are biodegraded and recycled to various materials.

As for power, they normally use alternative power sources, like wind power, hydro power, solar power, hydrogen power.

Use of non-environment friendly materials are kept minimal if not eliminated, that also helps in recycling.

A lot of these eco-villages are normally far from cities as you would need a larger area than usual villages especially with your sewer treatment plant (system) and solid waste management system.