ECOTOPIA

Class 3 Team D
Team Leader: Saurabh Hinduja (2011 B 24) Team Members: Leena Khiani (2011 A 09) Ajit Yadwadkar (2011 B 26) Bhuvanesh Changrani (2011 B 46) Radhakrishnan B (2011 B 48)

Ecotopian Vision
ECOTOPIAN vision promotes the development and dissemination of scientific research and knowledge at sectors which promote social and environmental sustainability, social justice and solidarity, as well as the growth of a common consciousness This vision is technological skeptic (community first) and has skeptical right(limited resources) approach Ecotopia is basically The Low-Consumption Sustainable Vision

Assumption of Ecotopian Vision

The world view of the "Ecotopia" vision is technological skepticism and communitarianism (the community comes first), and its essential underlying assumptions are that resources are limited and that cooperation pays.

Characteristics of Ecotopian Vision

In Ecotopian society, there are no private automobiles. Pavement is torn up to grow food in the middle of cities. Power comes from the sun and the thrills of consumerism are replaced by home-made music, art and games. Forests are protected and the air and water are clean. Cooperation and community subsume competition and alienation. It's not a perfect society, but it is sane and sustainable. Ecotopia promotes vision of sustainability, equity, efficiency

Dos
Standards for simple living, reducing, reusing and recycling should be preached and practised Companies/Individuals Depleting natural capital could be taxed Countries not enacting ecological laws could be punished The QLI (Quality of Life Index) can be regarded as the primary measure of national performance Fossil fuels should be more expensive, both limiting travel and transport of goods and encouraging the use of renewable alternative energies. Mass transit, bicycles, and sharing the occasional need for a car can be imbibed in the society Laws could be enacted for strict new fuel economy standard for cars, which will reduce CO2 emissions subsidies could be given to companies and homeowners for installing power sources like wind generators and photovoltaics In Ecotopian vision more emphasis is laid on leisure and towards community the work week should be shortened People should be given more time for leisure Rather than consumption-oriented vacations taken far from home, people should began to pursue more community activities

Consequences
Society as a whole will feel more responsible towards the environment we live in Increased awareness amongst people. With taxation of depleting natural capital, organisations will find alternatives that are more sustainable in the long run. Increased prices of fossil fuels will lead to a great increase in the use of public transport, giving tremendous boost to this sector. Car pools can also be a huge business opportunity. Greater community activities will foster relationships and make people come together for a common cause. The wind generators and photovoltaics industry will prosper creating job opportunity and contributing to the economy. Lesser consumption will lead to a healthier lifestyle. People will age slower and live longer! More leisure time for people will lead to more creative inputs resulting in better, well thought out business solutions. It will be a huge boost for fine arts with greater quality of work being showcased. The overall quality of life will be enriched with people being satisfied.

Renewable Energy
Wind
1.2 x 105 TW at Earth surface 600 TW practical 5-7 TW gross all cultivatable land not used for food

Solar

2-4 TW extractable

Biomass

Tide/Ocean Currents
2 TW gross

Hydroelectric
4.6 TW gross 1.6 TW technically feasible 0.9 TW economically feasible 0.6 TW installed capacity

Geothermal
12 TW gross over land small fraction recoverable

What might have been done

 An unexplored solution for sustainable Urban PlanningStudy of traditional rural settlement patterns Traditionally rural settlements have a very distinct informal character which is always fresh and delightful which is somehow missing in our contemporary cities no matter how well it is plan. Study of rural morphology can be a source of inspiration for the Urban Planners. It can throw a light on sustainability principals which can be further replicated in urban setting with required modifications.

Better rating system than LEED

At present, it does not address the idea of embodied energy directly and does not take into account the cultural heritage associated with preserving buildings. LEED 2009, which launched in March of this year, gives much greater credit than its predecessor to metrics such as Community Connectivity and Alternative Transportation, both of which favor existing buildings

Sustainable lifestyles Sustainable supply chains Green Hippocratic Oath Compulsory Triple Bottom line for all companies Use of Geothermal energy Compulsory Biodiesel

Quantifying ecosystem services

Quantifying ecosystem services that is, measuring, in dollar terms, the value of the myriad beneficial services that natural environments perform. An example is the erosion control provided by mangrove forests: How much would it cost to achieve the same control by other means

Consequence of Delayed Investment

Net Energy Production
120

begin investment before decline

100

80

60

40

Begin investment during decline

20

0 0

10

20 Time

30

40