ecohouses

ecoquarters

ecovillages

ecocities

ecoworld

'An ecological city is a city in balance with nature.

Cities are at the centre of nearly all human activity.

If we fail to evolve human settlements in balance with nature,

our civilization will fail.'

www.urbanecology.org.au

ecohouses

Two types of ecohouses are: passive houses and earthships.

The term 'Passive House' refers to a specific construction standard, that aims to ensure a comfortable indoor climate throughout the year without conventional heating or cooling systems.

Important are: a very good thermal insulation and an excellent air and split tightening. The comfortable indoor climate is insured by a well-balanced ventilation with a high degree of warmth recuperation.

info: www.europeanpassivehouses.org

An even more radical type of ecohouse is the so-called 'earthship', an 100 percent ecological house with all the comfort of a traditional house, though without being connected to the electricity grid, the water supply, the sewerage network and the natural gas grid. Earthships represent a type of ecological architecture that's been originally designed by Michael Reynolds more than thirty years ago. Since then Michael Reynolds continued to experiment with this concept, kept refining it and has meanwhile built hundreds of earthships around the world.

An earthship is a complete self-sufficient house that disposes of a natural temperature regulation and ventilation, and therefore has no heating system. Nevertheless there is an indoor temperature of between 17 and 24 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Besides, the building generates its own electricity, collects and purifies its own drinking-water and even purifies all the sewage. The house is partially buried in the ground and has been mainly built with 'low impact' construction material: local, recycled, natural and renewable material and waste."This low-tech approach makes earthships are both ecologically and economically particular advantageous, but therefore certainly not less luxuriously or comfortable than a traditional house", writes Kris De Decker in Lowtechmagazine.

www.lowtechmagazine.be, Kris De Decker, 29/11/2007, Verwarm je huis met aarde en autobanden.

Info:

- www.earthshipbelgium.be (Dutch-speaking site!)

- www.lowcarbon.co.uk

- www.grownupgreen.org.uk

- www.zuluna.com

ecoquarters - ecovillages - ecocities

Nowadays we are consuming natural resources and polluting globally 30% more than the planet can sustain. To establish an ecoworld where everyone can live an happy, healthy life within our fair share of the earth's resources, our residential environment has to be ecologically harmonized. This leads us to build new ecoquarters, ecovillages and ecocities, or to ecologically reshape our quarters, villages and cities.

Examples

United States

*Davis, California*

Davis is a Californian university city where since about twenty years both students and graduates are active in the city council. They have converted Davis into an ecocity and since twenty years ago they have started up a lot of projects that attracted international attention : weekly organic food market, separated collection of reusable refuse, solar energy projects, organic garden, projects for sustainable house construction, cycle paths construction, break up parking places for the layout of a park, planting shade trees at the sunny side of houses to make air conditioning superfluous, etc…

www.city.davis.ca.us

*Treasure Island, California*

Global design and engineer firm Arup is reconceptualizing Treasure Island as an ecological development, 'complete with shiny skyscrapers and ferry service to the mainland, small,

pedestrian-friendly blocks and plenty of housing within walking distance of services, as well as bike lanes for easy cycling around the island.' Treasure Island is a man-made island, located between San Francisco and Oakland, originally built for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. It is planned to rebuild it as a sustainable community for 13,500 people. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2009.

'Streets will be angled in order to maximize solar energy for heating, cooling and lighting and protect residents from the wind. Every single building built on the island will have LEED** Gold certification. About half of the island's 400 acres will be set aside for open spaces, including an urban farm to supply organic local food to the residents, constructed wetlands to purify storm water runoff, and a restored natural forest ecosystem. All food scraps and grass clippings produced on the island will be composted for use by the farm. Electricity will come from a combination of solar (drawn from solar panels on the island's buildings), wind and biogas, and possibly also tidal energy.'

www.treehugger.com 

**The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. (www.usgbc.org)

*Sonoma Mountain Village, Rohnert Park, California*

"Our goal is to attract creativity -

the kind of people and companies who will embrace this community

for the unique advantages and amenities it offers."

Sonoma Mountain Village is a 200-acre (0,8 km²) Zero Carbon, Zero Waste development in Rohnert Park, California 'designed with a philosophy centered on restoration instead of minimizing harm.'

Sonoma Mountain Village is a redevelopment project of an industrial site that combines new urbanism with deep sustainability. This project, that is a cooperation between Codding Enterprises and BioRegional, is North America's first endorsed 'One Planet Community', sufficiently answering the targets within the guiding framework of the Ten Principles of One Planet Communities**.

The community is planned 'to ensure every resident is no more than a five-minute walk to groceries, restaurants, day care and other amenities offering local, sustainable, and fair trade products and services. The pedestrian scale extends into the commercial core where more than 500 people already work in renovated buildings; a long-term balance between housing and jobs is planned.'

www.bioregional.com/oneplanetcommunities/na/sonoma

**One Planet Living is a global initiative based on 10 principles of sustainability developed by BioRegional and WWF.

1. Zero Carbon

2. Zero Waste

3. Sustainable Transport

4. Local and Sustainable Materials

5. Local and Sustainable Food

6. Sustainable Water

7. Natural Habitats and Wildlife

8. Culture and Heritage

9. Equity and Fair-trade

10. Health and Happiness

www.oneplanetliving.org

*Ithaca, New York*

The Ithaca EcoVillage is localized in an area of approximately 71 hectares in the Fingers Lakes region, New York. The project consists of an 'intentional community' (- this is a form of co-housing with besides individual houses an intentional choice for common supplies) and an educational nonprofit organization. The objective is to develop an alternative model for living in suburbs, a model that supplies a satisfactory, healthy, socially rich life style with a minimal ecological impact.

At the moment, Ithaca EcoVillage has two co-housing quarters with each thirty houses, and a third quarter is planned. There is an organic farm, an organic berry garden, office space for homework and a common cellarage. Additionally, there are several gardens and natural areas. More than 80 percent of the area will remain green space.

Intended points of interest are, among other things, more accessible and affordable housing, an education centre, a charter school, wind energy, organic fruit trees, biological treatment of sewage and recycling domestic wastewater, use of biomass energy, production of biofuel, sharing cars, a shuttle bus, a natural cemetery, and more pleasure!

www.ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us

*Phoenix, Arizona*

In November 2007 an agreement was made with design and engineer firm Arup to build a new ecocity in Phoenix, Arizona which will be completely powered by solar energy and will house 300.000 people. The city will be built on an area of approximately 13.350 hectares and will have the disposal of the necessary high tech and commercial facilities. By day the city will export energy to the electricity grid  that can be imported again at night after sunset, when solar panels of course can't  produce energy. Renewable energy will be obtained from photovoltaic solar panels which will be placed on the roofs of the houses and from solar thermal power technology.

www.building.co.uk, 23/11/2007, Arup to design world's first 'solar city' in Arizona

*Babcock Ranch, Florida: the first ecocity planned to be powered by the sun*

Next year (2010), project developer Kitson & Partners will start building in the southwest of Florida Babcock Ranch, a new ecocity that will become the first city on earth with plans to generate 100% of its energy needs on-site through the use of clean, renewable solar energy. The city will be powered by an innovative $300 million solar energy facility. Some 19.500 eco-friendly houses will be built as well as new offices and factories to create about 20.000 new jobs. There will be an electric car charging point at almost every street corner. CEO Sydney Kitson considers this new city as a pilot project for the future American society: ‘Babcock Ranch will also be a working laboratory for companies and industries that are focused on sustainable technologies and environmental issues.’ Sources: www.happynews.nl / Babcock Ranch

*Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa*

*Ecocity Builders, Oakland, California*

Ecocity Builders is  a non-profit organization "dedicated to reshaping cities, towns and villages for long term health of human and natural systems." Their goals include "returning healthy biodiversity to the heart of our cities, agriculture to gardens and the streets, and convenience and pleasure to walking, bicycling and transit." They visualize "a future in which waterways in neighborhood environments and prosperous downtown centers are opened for curious children, fish, frogs and dragonflies." They work "to build thriving neighborhood centers while reversing sprawl development, to build whole cities based on human needs and 'access by proximity' rather than cities built in the current pattern of automobile driven excess, wasteful consumption and the destruction of the biosphere."

www.ecocitybuilders.org

*EcoCity Cleveland*

EcoCity Cleveland is "a nonprofit environmental planning organization that promotes the design of cities in balance with nature in Northeast Ohio."

In the cities they work "to promote environmentally-friendly redevelopment that improves quality of life and makes cities more sustainable."

In the countryside they work "to promote sensitive development that preserves open space and the ecological integrity of the landscape."

www.ecocitycleveland.org

According to a list recently published in Popular Science Magazine, Portland is the greenest city in the United States, followed by respectively San Francisco, Boston, Oakland and Oregon. The list rates cities by looking at their renewable energy sources, transportation programs, recycling efforts and “Green Living” grade. This Green Living grade is defined as the number of buildings approved by the United States Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization that has developed a rating system for making environmentally safe buildings.

Canada

*Whole Village, Caledon, Ontario*

A group of singles and families from a wide variety of backgrounds have come together to build an ecovillage and biodynamic farm on 77 hectares they have purchased in the Town of Caledon, northwest of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

www.wholevillage.org

*Kakwa Ecovillage*

Kakwa Ecovillage is a community "founded on the principles of harmony with nature and each other; where work is meditation in action. Organic agriculture will be used to transform the fields to feed and support the community. The natural beauty of the valley and Kakwa Provincial Park will encourage" them "to promote eco-tourism and greater appreciation for the earth." Their "dwellings and sustainable life styles will be used as examples to a larger society to identify the possibilities."

www.kakwaecovillage.com

*Toronto*

By implementing programs to cut overall emissions from its own facilities by 42%, Toronto -with a population of over 5 million - is recognized as one of the greenest cities in North America. Toronto cools its buildings in summer by using cold water from Lake Ontario, saving up to 90% on electricity compared to conventional air-conditioning systems.

Toronto City Council also established in 1991 the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, to finance Toronto-based initiatives that combat global climate change and improve air quality.

www.toronto.ca/taf/

*Ecocities and solar cities in Australia

In Australia a solar cities program is running for the purpose of trying out now alternative solar energy systems to obtain the necessary information for the future energy management, to reduce the greenhouse gases and to protect the Australian environment. The project is a partnership between the different governmental levels, the private sector and the local community. The program was started up in Adelaide, Townsville, Blacktown, Alice Springs and Central Victoria, and during the elections of 2007 the Australian government made the promise to add Coburg and also Perth to the list of solarcities.

The consortia of solar cities cooperate with the industrial and business world and with their local communities to reconsider the way they produce and use energy.

www.greenhouse.gov.au/solarcities

*Urban Ecology Australia*

Urban Ecology Australia (UEA) is a non-governmental organization that is set up in 1991, is recognized by the United Nations and strives for the transformation of villages, municipalities and cities in Ecovillages and Ecocities: vibrant, honest, ecologically sustainable and economically viable communities. The UEA, which is established in Adelaide, has an educational and informative task, lobbies to bring about a change of attitude and policy at all levels of govern-ment and industry, has running some ecological regeneration projects, is conducting campaign for renewable energy, bioregional planning, traffic-free neighborhoods and ecological development in general, has an advisory role, etc…

One of the UEA projects is Christie Walk, a co-housing development in the centre of Adelaide which implies a combination of ecologically sustainable and community enriching elements. Christie Walk has been designed by Ecopolis Architects and is intended as a demonstration project for the promotion of nature and human-friendly urban development.

www.urbanecology.org.au

*The New Zealand Project*

The New Zealand Project is recently launched to be the first experimental community based on Jacque Fresco’s ‘The Venus Project’. This experimental community ‘will be the vision and prototype dedicated to The Zeitgeist Movement Community tot test and implement a Resource-based Economy for the First time.’  It ‘will be offered as a service to experience eco friendly living while enjoying the luxury of latest Technologies.’

http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council--services/transport-

Eight kilometers northwest of Cambridge comes Northstowe, Engelands first real ecocity, partially inspired by the Vauban district in Freiburg. In its turn, this ecocity will be a model for a number of other ecocities that will be realized in the near future. In Northstowe about 9500 ecohouses will be built, as well as a town centre with shops, restaurants, office areas, community and sport facilities and some local schools. There will be much open space and the construction of the first houses will start in the summer of 2009. By 2016, the first 4800 ecohouses must be ready.

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/countryside/northstowe/

In april 2006 Ken Livingstone, at that time the Mayor of London, unveiled his plans to build a mini-ecocity in London. The project results from a proposal of Greenpeace and will be executed by the London Development Agency with the assistance of the British design and engineering agency Arup. This London ecocity will arise at Gallions Park in the Albert Docks "where the chosen development partner will be expected to build 200 high quality new homes that incorporate the best of modern construction and energy technology to ensure the development produces virtually zero carbon emissions."

“Gallions Park is showing the way forward. Not only will such progressive housing produce less global warming gases, but it should also mean that cheaper energy bills drop on residents’ doormats. And by producing power locally, Gallions Park will avoid the enormous inefficiencies of antiquated and dangerous technology such as nuclear power”, said Simon Reddy of Greenpeace UK.

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=9307

*Findhorn Ecovillage is located at the North Sea in the northeast of Scotland. The Ecovillage is part of the Findhorn Foundation, which has resulted from the Findhorn Community that was started in 1962 by Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy. The Findhorn foundation is recognized in 1997 as an official non-governmental organization (NGO), associated to the Department of Public Information of the United Nations, where it plays an active role in the field of education, sustainable lifestyle and values. It is a spiritual community, ecovillage and international centre for holistic education, focused on developing a new human conscience and creating a positive and sustainable future.

Findhorn Ecovillage was started up in 1985, and has grown into a tangible demonstration of links between the spiritual, social, ecological and economic aspects of living. The ecovillage consists of 55 eco-friendly houses, has 4 wind turbines, many solar water heaters, a biological 'Living Machine' system for the purification of waste water, an elaborate recycling system and a large centre for adult education that receives 9000 visitors per year from more than 50 different countries. It has the oldest and largest 'Community Supported Agriculture system' in the United Kingdom, has its own bank and complementary currency and is the editor of the first British technical guide for ecological housing. Findhorn Ecovillage is also founding member of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), a NGO which unites a very various worldwide movement of autonomous ecovillages and related projects.

www.findhorn.org

*Global Ecovillage Network

Pioneers of  the 'Global Ecovillage' concept are the Danes Hildur and Ross Jackson. In 1987, they founded the Gaia Trust, a Danish charitable association aiming to promote a global consciousness that enables to experience the planet as a living organism in which people are a part of the whole."

Bernard Lietaer helped Hildur and Ross Jackson to formulate this Gaia Trust strategy in which the way we deal with each other and with nature, and how we organize society

(the 'yin' or female aspect) get more space, while technology and economy (the 'yang' or male aspect) play a supporting role.

Permaculture journal no. 36

In 1995, the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) was founded, after the 'Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities Conference'  in Findhorn, North Scotland. Gaia Trust promised to finance the GEN during the first five years.

GEN is an association of ecovillage-projects from all over the world. It concerns projects that imply a commitment to develop new paradigms for a sustainable and righteous society.

Many of the ecovillage principles start influencing traditional city planners.

www.gaia.org

*Ecovillage Munksøgård, Denmark*

Meanwhile ecovillages are becoming mainstream In Denmark. For Ecovillage Munksøgård there is a long waiting list of 'usual' people who want to move in. Munksøgård is located in the outskirt of Roskilde, about 25 km west of Copenhagen. The development includes 100 row houses. "The key idea behind the community was to create a development that integrates environmental friendly technologies and practices in the construction of the houses as well as in the operation. At the same time high priorities have been given to establish a strong community among residents supported by houses for joint activities, common areas etc. The residents have planned the development with assistance of professionals, and the residents are in charge of management of the settlement."

http://www.munkesoegaard.dk/index_en.html

*Växjö, Sweden*

In 1996, Växjö, a city in the south of Sweden, made a pledge to become fossil-free. Thanks to the cooperation of the city's administration, NGO's, universities and individuals, as well as the energy, housing and transport sectors, the city is on its way to fulfill this pledge. Already in 2005 an incredible 51% of its energy came from sources such as biomass, renewable electricity, geothermal and solar. In little over a decade, Växjö succeeded to reduce its emissions by 24% per capita to 3,5 tons of CO2 annually, what 's far below the US and European averages and even below the world average of 4 tons CO2 per person annually.

http://www.nycclimatesummit.com/casestudies/energy/energy_vaxjo.html

*Ecovillage Lofoten, Norway*

Lofoten is a large island archipelago in the province of Nordland in Norway where people are currently developing the first ecovillage above the Arctic Circle. The ecovillage is located on a hilly terrain of about 66000 m2, alongside a fjord on the island of Vestvågøy where the climate has huge benefits of the gulf-stream.

contact: nille@vikingdrakt.no

*EcoCity, Trondheim, Norway*

Tronheim is situated in central Norway by the Tronheim fjord and is surrounded by forested hills. Trondheim EcoCity is part of an EU funded EcoCity project that also runs in Tudela (Spain) and Helsingborg/Helsingør (Sweden/Denmark) and aims to demonstrate innovative integrated energy solutions for both consumers and suppliers.

The partners in Trondheim are the Municipality of Trondheim, Trondheim Energiverk, Heimdalsgruppen, TOBB, Svartlamoen Boligstiftelse, SINTEF, and COWI.

The EcoCity program in Trondheim consists of:

- Renewable energy supply: 265 m² solar thermal collectors / 750 kW biomass fired boilers.

- Energy efficiency in buildings: up to 350 new ECO-dwellings; ECO-rehab of 24 dwellings;

ECO-rehabilitation of three schools; one commercial / cultural building of 3,000 m².

- Polygeneration (energy supply system which delivers more than one form of energy to the final user).

- Waste based district heating and biomass to supply the ECO-buildings, energy storage in waste to improve waste to energy utilization efficiency from 76% to 89%.

- Intelligent metering in ECO-buildings.

www.ecocity-project.eu/TheProjectTrondheim.html
http://concertoplus.eu/CMS/content/view/87

*Keuruu Ecovillage, Finland*

*Hydrogen society, Iceland*

Already in 2002, Iceland embarked on a radical plan to transform itself into the world's first 'Hydrogen economy'. The pioneer of the hydrogen society concept is Professor Bragi Arnason of the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. ProfessorArnason first put forward the idea of basing Iceland's economy on home-produced, pollution-free hydrogen back in the 1970s.

Iceland can produce hydrogen economically and pollution-free because it has cheap hydropower and geothermal energy. This cheap renewable energy sources already generate almost all of Iceland's electricity and heating. When successfully used for the production of hydrogen, all of its transport and even its huge fishing fleet could run on it.

*Ecovillage Sólheimar, Iceland*

The Sólheimar community was founded in July 1930 by Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir.

It is an ecovillage of about 100 people renowned for its international, artistic, and ecological atmosphere. It is also "the first self-sufficient community of its kind in the world, where people with special needs and those without live and work together in a community committed to environmental sustainability." Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner, Sólheimar was the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation.

http://www.cellonline.org/programs/iceland.htm

*Ecovillage Grishino, Russia*

Ecovillage Grishino is built up in the historical village of Grishino, in the northwest of Russia, 300 km North East of St. Petersburg.

The residents came from different cities to live on the land in harmony with each other and with nature. Despite their different world-conceptions, they're learning to accept each other and to 'co-create' together their community.

http://www.grishino.ecology.net.ru/en/index.htm

*Global design and business consulting firm, Arup, is designing the plans for a new green community in Sint-Petersburg.*

*Some other eco-communities in Russia*:

Tyberkul', Kitezh, Nevo-Ecoville, Ecological Rehabilitation Service, Ecovillage Druzhnaya, Salganda, Zavadova Polyana, Safonovo, Raskity, Sotvoreniye, Rodnoye, Kovcheg, Polovinka, Rodina-2, Korpytovo, Alexandrovka.                    

www.unclepasha.com: Vegetarian Communes

*Ecovillage near Tryavna, Bulgaria*

Near Tryavna, Bulgaria, the Belgian company Bel Elin plans the construction of an ecovillage. 13 houses, a shop, a restaurant, a swimming pool and other facilities are built on a surface of 2 hectares.

The Eco-settlement is built in a village that has no sewerage, electricity or water supply system. The Belgian investor wants to make use of eco-technology such as solar power and a system for rainwater harvesting and purification.

www.novinite.com, 18/07/2007, Belgian investors to build eco-village in Bulgaria's Tryavna

*Freiburg, Germany*

Freiburg is a university city, located at the foot of the black forest, in the south of Germany. When there were plans in the 1970s to build new nuclear plants along the Rhine, the wine farmers together with the students revolted. The green party won the next elections and is since then the party in power.

Meanwhile, Freiburg with its approximately 230.000 inhabitants is known as ecocity and as a pioneer in the field of solar energy.

The green party invested in public transport and renewable energy, such as wind mills, solar panels and geothermal energy. Today the Freiburg university is known for its research in the field of sustainable energy.

The supply of green energy is standard in Freiburg. Even on the roof of the new church in the Rieselfeld district solar panels are installed instead of a weathercock. New houses meet the highest ecological requirements, what results in completely low-energy quarters. Organic food is the standard on the markets and in the stores.

Thanks to an explicit sustainable mobility policy, important parts of the city are car-free or almost car-free. Seventy per cent of all transport happens by means public transport, on foot or by bicycle. Only one in every three families still has a car.

In climate protection district Vauban, where are living about 6000 people, an old army barrack has been transformed into a neighborhood, entirely based on sustainability. The district is built up with houses with solar cells, passive houses and houses that produce more energy than they consume. Only one in every ten families in Vauban still has a car.

DM Magazine, 01/12/2007, p.16-22, Rock the Earth, Met Tom Kestens naar ecostad Freiburg;

*Ecohousing projects in Belgium*

Kamp C, the provincial centre for sustainable building and living, is located in Olen, Flan-ders, Belgium. It is an innovative business and project centre for companies operating in the sector of sustainable building.

www.vivat.be

Since 2000, the nonprofit organization 'Samenhuizen' has been active in Belgium to promote and support all kinds of communal living, such as communities and co-housing projects.

DissiGent is an ecological association in Ghent, Belgium, which emphasizes living together and ecological living in the city.

In Clabecq (Wallonia, Belgium) a co-housing project is started in a farmhouse that is reconstructed into a residential estate with houses, apartments and studio's for 20 families.

www.samenhuizen.be

In 1987, Dirk Vansintjan, municipality Council member for the green and social party in Rotselaar, Flanders, Belgium started a renovation project of the Mill Complex at the local river the Dijle. The Mill Complex shelters about 30 people. The mill also functions as an hydro-electric power station.

www.ecopower.be

*Ecoquarters in the Netherlands*

In the Netherlands the number of ecoquarters is increasing. Most quarters are realized in collective private ownership (CPO). Most of the plans initially contain also all kinds of common facilities such as a kitchen garden, community house, collective services. In practice people nevertheless turn out to be mainly interested in a comfortable, ecologically built private house and consider the common facilities as an attractive extra, says Marta Resink.

Ecoquarter EVA-Lanxmeer in Culemborg is a development where sustainability and permaculture* are applied in an integrated manner. This 'integration' includes: ecological building, organic design and architecture, and development of nature and agriculture. Also an ecological efficient water management is an important aspect. Within a surface of 24 hectares about 200 houses and apartments are built, as well as several company buildings, offices and workshops. Furthermore a home-work-initiative (de Werfterp) is planned as well as a visitors-annex-conference centre with hotel accommodation. An ecological city farm (Caetshage) is located on the outskirts of the quarter. Living and work is combined as much as possible within the district. Public green areas have a natural character and are partially used for the production of food. Fruit trees and berry bushes simply grow in public green spaces, writes Marta Resink.

Marta Resink, bijdrage t.b.v. de Workshop Regionalisering d.d. 27/04/2007, www.globalternatives.nl

ECODORP is an association that was founded in the Netherlands in 1999, inspired by ecovillages in other countries. Their aim: to create one or more ecovillages for a couple of hundred people. The association has about 1200 members and sympathizers.

Marta Resink, bijdrage t.b.v. de Workshop Regionalisering d.d. 27/04/2007, www.globalternatives.nl

*Ecovillages and ecocities in France*

Cornan Eco-village is a new development in Plouray, Bretagne, France. It promotes itself as a special place for people who want to live in harmony with themselves, the others, nature and the earth.

www.cornan-ecovillage.nl

A site presenting some other ecovillages in France:

ecolieuxdefrance.free.fr

In May 2008, the president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, has announced in an interview to think about the creation of one or two ecocities near Paris. These cities should be sustainable, have green energy, focus on public transport and offer a good quality of life to the future inhabitants.

www.lemoniteur

*Eco-society Damanhur, Italy*

Eco-society Damanhur is "a federation of communities and eco-villages with a social and political structure in continual evolution, awarded by a department of the United Nations in 2005 as a model of a sustainable society."
Damanhur was founded in 1975 "when a group of people came together around the figure of philosopher and healer Oberto Airaudi, to plan the creation of a new society where everyday life could be the practical application of spiritual values." Since 1998 it is a member of GEN Europe (Global Ecovillages Network).

"The Federation of Damanhur comprises 20 communities, with about 30 people living in each of them. Around 400 supporters live in the surrounding valleys and regularly participate in the activities of Damanhur. Community life encourages the creation of a social model based upon solidarity – a strong expression of which is voluntary work – with respect for others and the environment and the sharing of ethical and spiritual values.
The settlements of the Federation in the area of Valchiusella extend across more than 1,200 acres of territory which includes woodland, farmland, residential areas with around a hundred private dwellings, arts workshops, craft studios, businesses and farms. Damanhur has centers in Italy, Europe and Japan and collaborates with spiritual and community groups throughout the world."

*Ecocity Teluda, Spain*

Teluda is located south of Pamplona in the Foral Community of Navarra, Spain, and is one of the participating ECO-City demonstration communities together with Helsingborg / Helsingør and Trondheim.

The community of Navarra shows a very strong commitment to environmental issues and aims to balance this with industrial progress. It occupies an important position in the field of renewable energies and has been since 2001 the official headquarters of the National Centre for Renewable Energies (CENER).

"The ECO-City city demonstration sites in Tudela comprise a whole integrated community approach to energy efficiency and sustainable energy supply and constitute an extension of existing policies towards a more sustainable community development.

The overall objective of the effort is to connect and balance the energy supply and demand side through an intelligent energy management system. In the future system energy supply is solely based on wind power, electricity from Photo Voltaic panels and thermal energy from passive solar and solar collectors."

The overall ECO-City objectives for the Tuleda Community include:

* Renewable energy supply:

- A wind farm with two 1.5 - 3.0 MW turbines is planned at the northern boundary of Tuleda on top of the hills.

- 2000 m² of solar collectors for domestic hot tap water, space heating and possibly district heating.

- 4000 m² of photovoltaic panels will be integrated in the energy system, contributing significantly to the 100% renewable energy systems supply of the community.

* Energy efficiency in buildings:

- ECO-community of 70.000 m² dwellings within the 'Campo de Golf' neighborhood, located at the north western boundary of Tuleda.

"The objective is to cover all the energy demand of the neighborhood with 100% renewable energy sources on yearly balance and to apply technologies for efficient use of energy. This will allow achieving a 'zero-emission' community. Use of bioclimatic architecture, passive solar heating and energy storage in thermal mass will be included."

* Specific innovations:
The use of an advanced metering and supply / demand control system will be integrated in the buildings.

http://www.ecocity-project.eu/TheProjectTudela.html

*La Ciudad del Motor / Motor City, Aragon, Spain*

La Ciudad del Motor/ Motor City is a large new cultural and leisure zone which is built by Foster + partners in a new centre for motor sports in Alcañiz, Aragon. What 's special about Motor City is that there will be used both passive environmental factors as well as renewable energy, so that the whole complex will be CO2-neutral. The roof will be equipped with photovoltaic solar panels and solar thermal tubes, together with a range of wind turbines.

www.fosterandpartners.com , 21/03/2007, Carbon neutral design wins Motor City competition in Aragon, Spain.

*Maat de Sesimbra, Portugal*

Maat de Sesimbra is an entirely ecological city that is built South of the Portuguese capital Lisbon with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and inspired by the South-London BedZED-project. The project implies a combination of integral biological building, ecotourism, nature conservation and a reforestation program. The city will comprise 8000 dwellings for the housing of about 30.000 people. The project is estimated to cost approximately a billion euro. It fits in with the 'One Planet Living' sustainability project for which the WWF cooperates with BioRegional, the British company that also realized the BedZED-project in Wallington, South London.

The WWF wants to build several ecological cities. Their most important standards are:

- exclusive use of environment-friendly construction material and energy;

- recycling at least 25% of the waste;

- no fossil fuels ;

- food and transport must meet the highest ecological requirements.

Marta Resink, bijdrage t.b.v. de Workshop Regionalisering d.d. 27/04/2007, www.globalternatives.nl;

*Peace Research Center and Ecovillage Tamera in Portugal*

Tamera is an international training and experimental site in Southern Portugal, focusing on the development of peace research villages and healing biotopes worldwide. ‘Under the motto "Think Locally, Act Globally," approximately 200 people live, work and study in Tamera,’ which main aim is ‘to develop an example of a model for a nonviolent co-existence of people and between people and nature. The main tasks of Tamera are: the education of young people within the "Monte Cerro" peace study, the building of a village model called "Solar Village" which produces its own food and solar energy, and global networking under the name of GRACE.’

*Curitiba, Brazilië*

In 1992, the year the United Nations conference on environment and development in Rio, the Brazilian city Curitiba with its almost 1.8 million inhabitants was proclaimed an ecocity. At that moment, Curitiba already pursued for many years a sustainable policy. For instance, there was a 'surface metro' system developed that not only was really cost saving, but also led to more social safety. Existing roads were narrowed for cars, so that there could be made a free track for the surface metro buses. And because people get free metro-tickets in exchange for handing over separated waste, the metro has become very popular in a short period of time. Besides, Curitiba has no less than 22 km² of parks and green spaces.

Curitiba, ecostad: Books.google.com; geography.about.com : curitiba

*Gaia Ecovillage, Argentina*

'We believe that Latin America is a fertile land

to develop new techniques for sustainable life style

and the challenge is to learn and spread them,

always making local adaptations.'

Also in 1992, the Gaia Association was set up in Argentina. It is a nonprofit association that sets out to advance sustainable societies, first of all by promoting ecovillages, based on systems and methods which belong to the permaculture and lean on ecological and spiritual com-munity principles.

In 1996, a first ecovillage was started on an area of 20 hectares at the countryside close to Buenos Aires city. The buildings of an old dairy are renovated (approx. one third or 3200 m² is ready), a part of the area is reafforested with native trees, there is an organic vegetable garden, and a number of micro-enterprises is started up to generate income. New ecological dwellings  were designed and are built with natural and recycled materials.

The Permaculture institute of Argentina is established there, as well as the South American department of the Global Ecovillage Network.

www.gaia.org.ar : Gaia Ecovillage

*Ecovillages in Bolivia*

In 1993, Enrique Hidalgo and his wife Øyunn Gulliksen started to build with their own resources La Cruz de Turupa, an ecovillage at an altitude of 4100 meters in the Bolivian mountains. This project serves as a demonstration centre and integrated with three other villages in the neighborhood, at a distance of about 25 km from La Paz. In 1994, a first permaculture course has been given.

One year later, the Latin American Permaculture Institute (ILP) was set up. In 1997, the ILP started to transform Marquina into ecovilllage. Marquina is a rural village, located at an altitude of 2800 meters, close to the city of Cochabamba. A second permaculture course has been given, rural occupants laid out some herb gardens, a group of 33 women started a micro-enterprise that makes 'dreamcatchers', a number of ecological dwellings were built, and the ILP got half an hectare of land for their permaculture training centre. Furthermore, there are two permaculture demonstration gardens, a restaurant, a teaching centre and an ecological hotel in the village.

The ILP started in 1998 a green enterprise in ecotourism, ecological and permaculture design, and export and import. In 1999 Enrique Hidalgo began to work for the Norwegian Permaculture Institute, from where he set up theRainbow Project, that strives for a close cooperation between the north and the south. The Norwegian Ecovillage Network, the Norwegian ecovillage 'Lluvia de Arco Iris' and 'Cesta' from El Salvador are participants in the Rainbow project.

Ecovillage Millennium News from the global Ecovillage Network, vol. 1, January 2000

*Querencia, Costa Rica*

In Tres Rios, close to Cartago, the capital of Costa Rica, Querencia plans the building of an ecovillage where both Costa Ricans and foreigners will live together and that is meant to be an active demonstration and promotion of a sustainable life-style.

The community will have an organic farm and an environmental education and study centre, and will embody most of the values which are generally found in ecovillages: learning, conflict transformation, holism, consensus, sharing, harmony and connectivity with nature, with other people and with the self, spirituality, sustainability and qualitative wealth.

The people of Querencia want to develop first of all in Costa Rica and then elsewhere in Latin America self-sufficient communities which revitalize the attention for the environment, community life, local landscapes and sustainable energy sources.

www.querencia.co.cr : Querencia Costa Rica

*Huehuecoyotl, Mexico*

'A true ecovillage of dreamers and doers looking to harmonize with the

Earth in all its beauty and life forms'.

Huehuecoyotl A.C. is an ecovillage project that was started up in 1982 by a group of people from different countries, when they began to develop their 'village' after having travelled around the world as nomads for almost ten years. Some of them were members of 'The Illuminated Elephants Traveling Gypsy Theatre' (IEs), while others had been members of ra-dical youth groups in Italy and other countries. About thirty members of the IEs lived in converted busses and vans, and others co-rented a number of houses in Mexico city.

Today nomadism continues playing a role to a certain extent. For instance, some of the members are leading a 'networking caravan' throughout Latin America. Others travel around the world to perform for schools and other audiences, playing traditional Latin-American and Caribbean music. Still others choose to work on their artistic creations as writers, poets, painters, healers, scenarists, photographers, video artists, gardeners, merchants or architects in their home base in the mountains of Tepoztlan, Morelos or other places in the world.

The Huehuecoyotl group is dedicated to the modeling and research of lifestyles based on ecology, the  arts, real democracy and the practice of holistic health methods which address the well-being of individuals and communities within a sustainable ecological balance.

The group maintains particular relations with the occupants of the adjacent municipality of Santo Domingo Ocotitlan that is inhabited by Nahuatl speaking Indian farmers who live in extreme poverty and low technology.

Ecovillage Millennium News from the global Ecovillage Network, vol. 1, January 2000, Giovanni Ciarlo

*The Source Farm Ecovillage, Jamaica*

The Source Farm Ecovillage is a multicultural, intergenerational ecovillage, in Johns Town, Saint Thomas, Jamaica.

The ecological vision and mission of the ecovillage is respect for natural living and the natural systems and processes; preserving wildlife and the botanical habitat; and creating a life-style that regenerates rather than diminishes the integrity of the natural environment.

Important points are, besides a natural way of life: holistic health care and spirituality; ecological and social stewardship; educational sharing (learning and teaching); organic farming and gardening; arts and culture; permaculture; self-sufficiency.

On the other side, the Source Farm Ecovillage also 'believes in integrating cutting edge technology that will assist up in living a high quality of living while not harming the environment.'

www.thesourcefarm.com

*Ecovillages in Africa*

*Tiholego Ecovillage, South Africa

The Tiholego Ecovillage is located it on a domain of 150 hectares near Rustenburg, in the Northwest Province of South Africa. It was started up in 1991to address the challenge of rural sustainable development.

This ecovillage has evolved through a process of practicing, learning and teaching sustainable approaches to land use, housing, food security and cultural and social development within their local community and watershed.

"Tiholego works with leading professionals from Southern Africa and around the world to develop and refine an integral model for rural settlements. The project is focused on five key areas: sustainable agriculture, cooperative economics, education, cultural and social development, and the Molokwane Iron-Age Village Conservancy."

*The Molokwane Iron Age Village is an undeveloped area of magnificent, well-preserved stone-walled ruins of an early Sotho-Tswana agro-pastoral hunting and trading society.

www.sustainable-futures.com: Tiholego Ecovillage

*Kuyasa Project, Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa

In Khayelitsha (near Cape Town), Western Cape, South Africa the Kuyasa project was established, a program for retrofitting low-cost buildings with simple energy-saving devices such as insulated ceilings, low-watt bulbs and solar water heaters.

The initiative, which has been recognized by the United Nations as 'gold standard clean development mechanism project' , includes two crèches and eight houses, and will be extended by 2025 to more than 2000 houses.

The retrofitted buildings are 5% warmer in the winter and 5% cooler in the summer, allowing a saving of up to 40% on electricity bills. Research has shown that energy burns up more than 25% of the income of the urban poor in South Africa. Additionally, it is valued that this has saved some 2,85 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per building every year.

www.urbansprout.co.za : Kuyasa Project; www.southafrica.info, 22/02/2005, Mary Alexander, From Kyoto to Khayelitsha

*Lynedoch EcoVillage, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

Lynedoch EcoVillage, that lies just outside Stellenbosch, Western Cape, is the first  intentional, socially mixed ecologically designed urban development in South Africa. This hamlet promotes a sustainable way of living through efficient use of energy, the utilization of natural resources and the application of the power of knowledge.

Lynedoch Ecovillage houses the Sustainability Institute has a Montessori kindergarten with 35 children from the surrounding farms and an elementary school with 475 children.

Phase 1 of the ecovillage includes the construction of 42 eco-houses, of which 14 are subsidized by the government.

www.sustainabilityinstitute.net, Mark Swilling, Lynedoch Ecovillage

*Oude Molen Village, Cape Town, South Africa

The Oude Molen Village is an ecovillage project located on a site known as Valkenberg East, near the suburb of Pinelands. The village includes micro-enterprises of approximately seventy tenants representing a diverse range of businesses such as artists, woodworkers, music studios, photographers, joiners, a training centre, a frail-care centre, and an organic farm. All together, the tenants provide employment for approximately 300 people.

The site comprises numerous buildings and large park-like gardens and is bordered by sensitive wetlands alongside the Black River.

This urban ecovillage was created with the intention to establish a working model of a sustainable eco-village and to encourage an environment of respect and consideration for people, nature and diversity.

The Oude Molen Village has a number of buildings of historical value. In one of these buildings that has been renovated, a vegetarian restaurant is housed.

Recycling initiatives and the development of alternative energy sources are some projects in their early stages.

The Project also demonstrates a working organic farm in the urban environment.

"The ultimate aim is to establish an economically sustainable micro-enterprise eco-village that is able to showcase how government / community / business partnerships are able to address a wide range of national priorities such as job creation, youth development, occupational therapy, environmental education, arts and cultural interaction, micro-enterprise development, and the demonstration of eco-friendly energy and technology."

www.oudemolen.org : Oude Molen Village

*Forest Vale, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Near Cintsa, Eastern cape, lies Forest Vale, an 'intentional egalitarian community', on a site of 33 hectares with an organic farm and a nature area with a virginal bunch, undulating hills and view at sea.

www.forestvale.co.za, Forest Vale Organic Farm

*Kufunda learning village, Zimbabwe*

Kufunda Village is a model village and training centre, situated in the outskirts of the Zimbabwean capital Harare. The mission of this village is to inspire the co-creation of  strong life affirming communities in Zimbabwe and elsewhere, "by demonstrating and sharing the neces-sary ideas, skills and practices that are required for community sustainability."

Initiator of the project is Marianne Kuuth. In 1999, she established with two cofounders 'Pioneers of Change', "a network of more than 1500 people in their twenties and thirties de-dicated to systemic change. The Pioneers network is based on five principles: be yourself, do what matters, start now, engage with others, and never stop asking questions. It is a self-organizing, non-hierarchical learning group which meets regularly at the local and international gatherings." The way that Pioneers of Change was developed clearly influenced the structuring of Kufunda.

According to official figures, 50% of the Zimbabwean population has to contend with food shortage, the unemployment rate is estimated at over 80% and people in rural areas must try to survive on the absolute minimum without being able to keep up with the rising costs of living. But in spite of these critical socio-economic challenges, Kufunda believes "that each community can be healthy an vibrant, and largely self-reliant."

People of Kufunda believe that "the beginning is to support people to reclaim their sense of wealth and wisdom. Great energy is released when we stop focusing on what we don't have, and when we begin to pay attention to what we do have, and build on this with each other in innovative and creative ways."

Kufunda Village wants to be a source of inspiration for the world, by developing themselves as a place where people explore and seek to live what they believe to be possible.

www.kufunda.org

*Yoff, Senegal: Third International EcoCities Conference (1996)*

In January 1996, 320 people from 27 different countries attended the ThirdInternational Ecocities Conference which took place in Yoff, Senegal and among other things dealt with the vital question how we can build communities, villages and cities in harmony with nature. Yoff is a more than 600 years old fisherman village at the Atlantic, near the Senegalese capital Dakar. Traditionally, the inhabitants of Yoff have always been able to subsist on fishery, handcraft, arts and agriculture in a sustainable way. The social structure and cohesion that they have developed through the years made police and prisons superfluous. A good functioning hierarchical structure of religious leaders, councils of elderly and wise men, and economic women cooperatives have always kept together this village as one big family. But just like other fisherman villages in the region, Yoff has been increasingly threatened culturally and physically during the past hundred years by modern industrial developments and agro-industry. Besides, the population grew from 25.000 inhabitants in 1986, up to 40.000 in 1996, and almost 60.000 in 2004. The expansion of Dakar city already munches all the land  around this village. This erodes the tradition of self-sufficiency of this car-free village that 's  always been able to shelter and feed the whole community.

During the EcoCities conference in January 1996 a small group of Senegalese and international volunteers started the Yoff EcoCommunity Program(EcoYoff) as an answer to the end statement of this conference which implied a recall for "the integration of traditional African wisdom in the program of worldwide ecological reconstruction."

In 2001, EcoYoff became a 'Living and Learning Centre' of the Global Ecovillage Network, what simplified the establishment of the Senegalese Ecovillage Network (GEN Senegal). The GEN Senegal promotes and supports the development of sustainable holistic communities and has recognized 32 Senegalese ecovillages which meet the environmental and community criteria.

www.communities.ic.org: Scott Sherman, Joan Bokaer, Liz Walker, Richard Register: What We Can Learn From African Villagers; Permaculture Association of Western Australia Inc., 1997, Thomas Mack: Third International Eco-City Conference And Permaculture Design Certification Course. Yoff, Senegal, January 1996;

*Ecocities in Japan*

Ecovillage Kobunaki is a prestigious ecovillage development in Omihachiman, close to Kyoto. After a period of three years of consultation and negotiations with the local authorities, they gave green light to the project on December 22, 2006. One of the most important objectives is 'local production for local consumption, in particular cultivating and consuming organic vegetables'. "In Kobunaki we will examine how personal relations can be enriched within the community and in symbiosis with nature. This can result in the discovery of an alternative society vision. We 'd like to present a lifestyle where people take pleasure in agriculture, food, Japanese culture, this in association with other 'global ecovillage' initiatives", says Tomomi Takada, design consultant for this development of G-Project Co. The project is an initiative of real estate developer Akimura in association with local politicians.

Kobunaki is built on a surface of 12 hectares near the Biwa lake, the largest lake in Japan. About 250 houses are planned and eight young designers from a different background (architects, farmers, landscape architects, biologists) were engaged by the Akimura group to design the ecovillage and become the core residents. 

Hiroshima is also interested in the concept of ecovillages and ecocities, which is considered as a possible new peace strategy.

Promoter is Ken Kenichi Kawamura, who teaches at two Japanese universities, and is on the board of several venture capital companies as well as of E ² Consultancy (E ² = ecology and economy) and the NEN (Nippon Ecovillage Network). People in Hiroshima did not forgot the horror of war and the nuclear bomb. Since the nuclear bomb peace work got a prominent place in Hiroshima. Consequently, the vision of a world of ecovillages and ecocities is really embraced by the people of Hiroshima, because such a world would be "much more decentralized, more reliant on renewable energy, and less dependent on oil and the enormous power centers that result from a fossil energy world. It would thus be more peaceful" , writes ecovillage  pioneer and co-founder of the Gaia Trust, Hildur Jackson.

According to economist and social innovator, Bernard Lietaer***, the Japanese are on the lookout for new models and ideas because "they have hit the wall economically, just some years before Europe and the USA." (...) "Japan is the first of the major economies to hit the wall of structural development. The standard explanation of the Japanese situation is manage ment and lack of reforms. But things are structural when they do not improve with business as usual. So what are the structural problems?

“Firstly, the age wave (many old people) will not go away. Secondly, jobless growth will not go away and new technologies will just make it worse. Thirdly, the environmental crises will not go away and neither will monetary instability. 87 countries have gone through a major monetary crisis over the past 25 years. Japan has all these problems. So does the US and Europe. It is a world problem."

Japan recognizes the structural nature of the problem and is "more open to radical new ideas like the ecovillage model and complementary currencies because they have tried all conventional solutions in the early 1990s and they have not worked", said Bernard Lietaer in 2003.

Permaculture Magazine no. 36, Hildur Jackson,The sun rises over a new land of ecovillages,www.permaculture.co.uk

Japan is also the first country in the world that works at rules and laws for the integration of robots in the society!

*Ecovillages and ecocities in China*

Today, there would run, spread over the country, more than 230 ecocity projects in China. A large part of these ecocities is still in the development stage, but nevertheless the Chinese are open to sustainable energy and a more conscious use of raw materials.

One of the major projects is Dongtan, a new ecocity that will arise on the Isle of Chongming, at a stone's throw of Shangai. Dongtan will be part of an ecological development at the eastside of Chongming, led by one of China's biggest project developers, the Shangai Industrial Investment.

Designer of Dongtan Ecocity is the global firm Arup. According to project manager Roger Wood, the project is meant as an eco-demonstrator. All of Dongtan's energy will be produced by wind turbines, solar panels, biofuel and recycled waste.

"With Dongtan, Arup is testing a radical new approach to urban design, one that suggests cities across China and the rest of the developing world can actually get greener as they grow", writes Douglas McGray.

By 2050, this ecocity will have a half-million residents.

Dongtan will arise beside an agro park that is partly financed by Dutch investors (Transforum, Alterra, Agricultural University of Wageningen). Project manager Madeleine van Mansfield explains that modernizing the Chinese agriculture is also in the interests of the Netherlands, both because of the worldwide food and water shortages, and to export Dutch agricultural technology and know-how. "The Chinese are very much interested in Dutch concepts such as 'agro parks', 'urban agriculture' and 'industrial ecology', with which they hope to be able to produce on a large scale vegetables and meat for a critical urban public. In mundane cities like Shangai there is an ever increasing demand for high-quality ecological cultivated food", says Madeleine van Mansfield.

www.wired.com, Douglas McGray, 24/04/2007, Pop-up Cities: China Builds a Bright Green Metropolis

In the Thangshan region near Beijing a new ecological city for one million inhabitants will soon be built.

This new ecocity will consist of 150 square kilometers with an initial stage that will have a scope of 30 square kilometers.

Sweco, one of the largest consulting engineering companies in Europe, is engaged for a series of efforts to ensure that environmental aspects are taken into consideration within the city's design.

"China is in great need of new cities that can relieve the pressure on the country’s congested and polluted mega-cities. Sweco has worked in the country over the last eight years and has developed a number of cities and communities with ecological profiles, but this is the largest assignment so far," stated Eva Nygren, managing director for Sweco Sweden.

The assignment also includes a plan for an exhibition building for sustainable development, which will be used to market Swedish environmental technology.

http://www.chinacsr.com/2008/06/10/2417-chinese-eco-city-planned-for-one-million-inhabitants/

About two third of the Chinese country gets more than 2000 hours of sunshine annually. This makes that China has a potential of solar energy that corresponds with the energy of 1.7 billion tons of coal per year. Since a number of years the production and the use of solar energy have taken a high flight, to such an extent that there is even talk of real solar cities.

Some examples:

Coastal city Rizhao is located in the Shandong province, in the north of China. In the central districts of this city with almost three million inhabitants, 99 percent of the families have solar water heaters on the roof and most of the traffic lights as well as the street and park lightning are powered by photovoltaic solar cells. In the suburbs and villages around Rizhao, what is Chinese for 'sun' , 30 percent of the families use solar water heaters and  more than 6000 families cook on solar energy. Additionally, in the environment more than 60.000 green-houses are heated with solar panels, what strongly reduces the fixed operating costs for the local farmers. The city council encourages the use of solar energy and gives financial support for the research and the development of it. The city also decrees that all new buildings must contain solar panels and she supervises the construction process to insure a qualified installation. Thanks to the large-scale use of solar energy,  the consumption of coal has been pushed back, what 's in favor of the environmental quality. Rihzao, which is positioned in the top 10 of Chinese cities with a good air quality, is proclaimed in 2006 'Environmental Protection Model City' by the State Environmental Protection Agency.

Thanks to this label of environmental city there is a fast increase in foreign investments, a booming touristic industry, and a change in the cultural profile of the city by attracting top-universities and top-professors. For instance, the prestigious Beijing University is building a residential complex in Rizhao. More than 300 professors have bought their second residence or even their pension residence to work and live at least part of the year in this new complex. Also the Qufu Normal university and the Shandong Institute of Athletics chose Rizhao to build their new campuses.

Another Chinese 'solar city' is Kunming, located in the western province of Yunnan. More than half of the 4,7 million inhabitants uses solar water heaters, which are now considered by most of the Chinese citizens as standard equipment. In Kunming live and work a lot of experts in the field of solar energy. The Solar Energy Research Institute, for example, forms part of the Yunnan Normal University in Kunming. This research institute consists of four laboratories, specialized in photovoltaic solar energy, thermal solar energy, biomass and environmental engineering.

Many other Chinese cities, such as for instance Xian in the Shaanxi province, have solar water heaters on the roofs of the dwellings.

In 2005, the Chinese capital Beijing announced its plans for the construction of a 'solar street' where buildings, street lightning and other facilities all will be powered by solar energy. Also in the Xuanwu Park solar energy will be used for lightning, heating and cooling. The Chinese government strives for a strong increase of the use of renewable energy in the course of the coming decades. In February 2005 the Chinese parliament approved a law that aims at 10% renewable energy in the total energy consumption by 2020.

The city council of Shangai also elaborated a plan to give a push to the use of solar energy. That plan also implies the use of solar power generators with a combined capacity of 5000 KW, 30 projects by which solar energy is integrated in urban constructions, and the installation of solar panels on factories of about 30 heavy industries. Additionally, a proposal was adopted to install thousands of solar panels on roofs of commercial and residential buildings and schools.

www.inhabitat.com, 05/06/2007, Tylene Levesque, Rizhao: China's Solar-Powered Sunshine City;

*Ecocities in India*

Auroville: a universal city in the making ...

"Auroville wants to be a universal town where

men and women of all countries

are able to live in peace and progressive harmony

above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.

The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity."

Auroville is located in the south of India, nearby the coast of Coromandel, and ten kilometers north of the city of Pondicherry.

Mirra Alfassa, who was born on February 21, 1878 in Paris had already in the early 1930s the dream of Auroville as an ideal city, dedicated to an experiment in human unity. Mirra Alfassa was a pupil of the Indian yoga guru Sri Aurobindo.

In the middle of the 1960s, the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry proposed her to start the Auroville project. She agreed, and consequently the concept was presented to the Indian government, who promised its support and proposed it to the General Assembly of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). In 1966, there was an unanimously approved resolution of the UNESCO which recommended the project as important for the future of humanity.

On February 28, 1968 the start signal was given for Auroville in the presence of 5000 people with an opening ceremony in which representatives from 124 countries took part. Each of these representatives had brought along some soil of the homeland. That soil has been mixed and put in a lotus-shaped urn, which now is placed in the centre of the Auroville Amphitheatre.

Mirra Alfassa put her vision for an integrated way of life in a charter:

The Auroville Charter

* ‘Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. 
Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. 
But to live in Auroville, one must be the willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.’

* ‘Auroville will be the place of an unending education, 
of constant progress, and a youth that never ages.’

* ‘Auroville wants to be the bridge between the past and the future. Taking advantage of all discoveries from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring towards future realizations.’

* ‘Auroville will be a site of material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual Human Unity. ‘

Auroville will eventually have a population of about 50.000 people and has at the moment approximately 1940 inhabitants from 43 different countries, of all age groups (current average age: approx. 30 years), originating from all social classes, backgrounds and cultures

The city plan of Auroville consists of different zones.

At the centre lies the Peace Area, comprising the Matrimandir (The Mother's Shrine) and its gardens, the amphitheatre with the Urn of Human Unity, 'and a lake to help create an atmosphere of calm and serenity and to serve as a groundwater recharge area.'

To the north of the Peace Area, there is a 109-hectare Industrial Zone for "green" industries, that will focus 'on Auroville's efforts towards a self-supporting township. It will contain small and medium-scale industries, training centers, arts and crafts, and the city's administration.'

A Residential Zone of 189 hectares is bordered by parks on the north, south and west. Main access to this largest of the four city zones 'will be through a crown road with further traffic distribution via five radial roads that divide the zone into sectors of increasing densities. This zone wants to provide a well-adjusted habitat between individual and collective living. 55% of the area will be green and only 45% built surface, thereby creating an urban density balanced by nature.'

To the west of the Peace Area, lies the International Zone, a zone of 74 hectares that 'will host national and cultural pavilions, grouped by continents. Its central focus is to create a living demonstration of human unity in diversity through the expression of the genius and contribution of each nation to humanity.'

Situated to the east of the Peace Area, the Cultural Zone is planned on a 93-hectare area, that 'will be a site for applied research in education and artistic expression. Facilities for cultural, educational, art and sports activities will be located in this zone.'

The circular city area 'with a radius of 1.25 km will be surrounded by a Green Belt of 1.25 km width. As a zone for organic  farms, dairies, orchards, forests, and wildlife areas, this belt will act as a barrier against urban encroachment, provide a variety of habitats for wildlife, and serve as a source for food, timber, medicines etc. and as a place for recreation.

Presently an area of 405 hectares, the Green Belt - though incomplete - stands as an example of successful transformation of wasteland into a vibrant eco-system. Its further planned extension with an additional 800 hectares will make it into a remarkable demonstration site for soil and water conservation, ground water recharge, and environmental restoration.'

Auroville, a universal city in the making, www.auroville.org;

Nanocity

In the north of India, just over 200 kilometers north of Delhi and less than 25 kilometers south of Chandigarh, - a city that is internationally known for its architecture and town planning -, will arise Nanocity.

Nanocity, that will be ready for occupation in 2010, will be built in an area of over 45 km² in a lowland at the foot of the Himalaya. The project is a public/private initiative of the Sabeer Bhatia Group and the government of the federal state of Haryana. The vision which underlies Nanocity concerns the development of a sustainable city with a world class infrastructure as well as the creation of an ecosystem for innovation that ensures at the same time a flourishing economy, ecological balance and social cohesion.

Approximately 50 percent of this ecocity in development is reserved for parks and green space. The city is subdivided in four administrative districts: an area for information techno-logy, the university, the airport and a biotech-zone.

Nanocity will make use of solar and wind energy, geothermal energy and biomass. Half of the energy will be obtained from renewable sources. The large amount of rain that falls during the rainy season, will be harvested for retention to be used throughout the year. And water re-claimed from the rivers and other natural sources will be treated biologically so that it is safe for consumption. Also the wastewater will be converted into odor-free drinking water with the help of living machine technology.

The buildings will be designed so that the natural environmental and climate elements can be fully exploited. At least 70 per cent of the waste will be recycled or composted. Project leader Sabeer Bathia is pretty sure that for every high-tech employment introduced, three low wage or informal sector jobs will be created. The city design is made by the Berkeley Group for Architecture & Planning.

http://www2.arch.ced.berkeley.edu/courses/arch201_nanocity/?page_id=93

www.nanocity.in

*Ecovillages in Sri Lanka*

Sarvodaya

'It is not as much what we do to alleviate rural poverty

 but the way in which we do it which makes us so

effective and sustainable

– through the active participation and

engagement of the villagers themselves.'

The Sarvodaya Movement, which exists now for more than 40 years, represents 15.000 traditional villages in 34 Sri Lankan districts, and is as such the biggest Global Ecovillage Network member.

Sarvodaya is dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of rural Sri Lankans.

This grassroots movement is founded by a Sri Lankan schoolteacher in 1958. Their philosophy is based on Buddhist-Gandhian philosophy and they work across all ethnic and religious communities. They are 'dedicated to the sustainable empowerment of people through self-help and collective support, to non-violence and peace.'

www.sarvodaya.org 

*Masdar City - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates*

'sustainability capital of the Middle East'

On February 9, 2008, the first stone has been laid of Masdar City, a new ecocity built in an area of 6 square kilometers near Abu Dhabi city, United Arab Emirates. Masdar City will be the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free metropolis. The city is a design of Norman Foster and Partners, and is part of the Masdar Initiative, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted investment in the exploration, development and commercialization of future energy sources and clean technology solutions.

"Masdar City’s electricity will be generated by photovoltaic panels, while cooling will be provided via concentrated solar power. Water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination plant. Landscaping within the city and crops grown outside the city will be irrigated with grey water and treated waste water produced by the city’s water treatment plant." www.masdaruae.com

The street plan and the implantation of the city are designed to take advantage of the cool sea breezes, while a perimeter wall around the entire city will protect buildings from the hot desert air and noise from the nearby Abu Dhabi airport.

Because no cars will be allowed in Masdar city, people will get around through an electric light-rail system that will be linked to the center of Abu Dhabi city and to the nearby airport.

There will also be an automatic transport system with 'personal rapid transport pods' (PRT's). These PRT's are electrically propelled an can be somewhat compared to a horizontal elevator. According to Khaled Awad from the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, you just have to tell where you want to go, and the pod will bring you to your destination. Besides, facilities like banks and stores will be within walking distance.

Masdar City will be completed and fully functioning in 2015. The city will house about 1500 businesses and 50.000 residents and will be home to international business and top minds in the field of sustainable and alternative energy.

Already in 2009 the Masdar Institute or Science and Technology (MIST) will open. The MIST is a non-profit, independent faculty and research centre for sustainable energy and technology that is established with the assistance of the world renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, director of WWF International's One Planet Living initiative, the MIST must become the eco-equivalent of Silicon Valley.

Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud also states that "Abu Dhabi is embarking on a journey to become the global capital of the renewable energy revolution. Abu Dhabi is the first hydrocarbon-producing nation to have taken such a significant step towards sustainable living. 
Masdar is an example of the paradigm shift that is needed. The strategic vision of the Abu Dhabi government is a case study in global leadership. We hope that Masdar City will prove that sustainable living can be affordable and attractive in all aspects of human living – from businesses and manufacturing facilities to universities and private homes.

And Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Masdar Initiative, says: “Masdar City will question conventional patterns of urban development, and set new benchmarks for sustainability and environmentally friendly design – the students, faculty and businesses located in Masdar City will not only be able to witness innovation first-hand, but they will also participate in its development.

www.masdaruae.com (“Masdar City” to be flagship of WWF One Planet Living Program Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 13 January 2008 )

*Green Kibbutz in Israel*

The Green Kibbutz Group of Israel "is composed of kibbutz communities that have expressed a desire to change their planning in order to become environmentally sustainable." The group would like to see "an active environmental committee on every kibbutz, dealing with internal issues. In addition it is important that kibbutz communities reach out to their surroundings, acting as guardians of their immediate environment and putting environmental issues on the agendas of their local councils." (...) "The vision is one of a strong and vital network of sustainable communities throughout Israel. The first major project of the group took place in April 1996, in the form of a PermacultureDesign Foundation Course giving a framework for environmental education and change."

http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/creativeEcology/articles/greenKibbutz.htm

Kibbutz Lotan, a young holistic community situated in the Arava Desert in the South of Israel, is affiliated to the Green Kibbutz Group. Kibbutz Lotan was established in 1983 "by graduates of the Reform Jewish youth movements from Israel and overseas." They came together "to create a community based on a modern liberal approach to Judaism that strives to fulfill values of equality between the sexes, equality in work, and genuine communication between people." Their economy is "based on date plantations, dairy, tourism, holistic health center, field crops, mariculture and various professions held by members who work outside of the kibbutz."

http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/

In 1986 the Lotan Center for Creative Ecology was founded by a handful of farsighted bird enthusiasts. The Center is one of the most active environmental organizations in Israel and aims to maximize creative ecology experiences "through responsible environmental activism for the benefit of both wildlife and people" such as:

- Proactive protection of wildlife and habitats;

- Education and promotion of environmental values;

- Support of eco research;

- Guiding and teaching excellence;

- Environmentally sensible programming of workshops, seminar and eco experiences.

http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/creativeEcology/mission_statement.htm

*EfficienCity*

EfficienCity is a virtual ecocity that is created by Greenpeace to clarify the possibilities of sustainable, renewable energy. This climate friendly city generates its own electricity and heating without being dependent on coal and nuclear power. EfficienCity shows the way to an environment-friendly and more secure future. The animation is based on existing examples of pioneering projects that are fighting against climate change and are enjoying a decentralized energy supply. The virtual city can be visited at:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/efficiencity/index.html

*How the Ecova-fund can help developing an eco-world*

By validating the basic economy and the ecosystem, and converting the current value of both into money, as proposed in this project, the Ecova Fund will have at its disposal all the necessary resources to start - even on the short term - a profound ecological transformation of our living and production areas, and to establish right away new ecocity and ecovillage projects all over the world.

These resources will also have to be partly invested in research and development, concerning both the ecological adaptation and transformation of existing villages and cities as well as the implantation of new ecoquartes, ecovillages and ecocities, and concerning the necessary change over to sustainable and safe renewable energy, and sustainable organic agriculture, cattle-breeding and food production.

At the same time existing eco-projects and traditional ecovillages can be optimally supported and protected.

The Ecova research and development program will also include the search for adequate solutions for the possibly serious impact of a climate change and of the human disruption of the ecosystem.

During a first stage, this program can create worldwide massively new employment opportunities.

Author and Copyright: Rafaël Staelens, Belgium