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Product Description
Starting from first principles and using the practical experience of developing sustainable communities cost–effectively, One Planet Living cuts through the confusion. It presents a clear and simple framework that will allow students, developers, surveyors, engineers, policy–makers, architects and planners to structure their thinking. It will no doubt be the standard introductory text for design professionals and the development and planning industry.
From the Author
Can we take deep green concepts about building sustainable communities to the heart of our economic mainstream? From practical experience, we know we can - and do it in a way which can be cost-effective, delivers higher levels of health and happiness and, as a property developer myself, a better product to offer the customer.
I write this from my home in the BedZED eco-village in South London, completed in 2002. We are in another cold spell - yet our home remains warm with minimal heating. Two car club cars are parked outside which means I don't own a car for everyday use. I feel insulated against rises in oil prices and safe because of the strong community spirit. My neighbours are ordinary people, not necessarily green fanatics. Not everything has worked yet it is, truly, a great place to live.
It has been an amazing journey. We have monitored everything from greenhouse gases to financial costs and social indicators. We have learned some hard lessons. Our most important lesson perhaps is that to truly create communities we must look at our whole ecological footprint and to think as much about green lifestyles as green buildings - the software of sustainability as well as the hardware. Communication is as important as measuring carbon, and success will depend on how all aspects of sustainability are brought together coherently.
This book describes BedZED and the next step in our journey, working with leading developers and municipal authorities around the world to apply the One Planet Living framework. The book is both a story and, hopefully, a guide. I am grateful for the opportunity to share our learning and that of our partners.
Pooran Desai, February 2010
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Architectural goodness,
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This review is from: One Planet Communities: A Real Life Guide to Sustainable Living (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
I don't know whether I should write a review or a thesis on Pooran Desai's 'One Planet Communities A Real-life Guide to Sustainable Living.' Firstly the book itself is very well constructed with a definite narrative progression embracing his ambition, actual physical realities, reflection and further enquiry.
Now the going gets tough. Do I continue with my personal response to his ideas or do I consider the book as it hits the public domain? Well, I enjoyed reading it and making some four pages of notes and thoughts in the process. Maybe that is all you need to know? No. The author is also a player. Oxbridge educated and got his architectural designs built. And he lives the buildings he helped design. Connection is important. What he has done is to also construct a language. A language which enabled him to sell to China because their culture resonates with the language of 'one planet living.' Three words, simple concept. Some humans lifestyles would equal a need for three planets if transposed to every human, some humans have a lifestyle equal to half a planet required if transposed to every human. Must admit I couldn't really get excited about that but certainly do understand how useful it could be. I see it all as pollution. The words and language may have changed over the years but waste is waste and it just doesn't feel right to have rubbish. What I did get excited about in his book was his stress on happiness. Indeed the whole of chapter eight is plonked right in the middle of the book as: 'Health, happiness and multiple benefits of green space.' Brilliant. One line in particular had me dancing in my mind: 'mixing income groups is important.' Real life and very welcome. All around me I see segregation. Naïve intentions. Stupidity. He did not need to explain it to me but he did and very well. I hope we can all understand that blinkered consumerism does not make you happy. That fuelling the gap between rich and not so rich is demoralising for everyone, though it may not be admitted. Pooran Desai has refrained from emotive procrastination and articulated a way of being which is literally built from the ground up. Or you could carry on regardless. Heartless. Unhappy. There is a table of ten 'one planet' principles, however. With number one as: Zero carbon and number ten as: Health and Happiness. I was tempted to supplement my review with ten of my own, directed specifically at upgraders like myself but I think I'll stick with highly recommending that this book should be read and then breathed.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mainly for planning professionals,
By James B. Spink "Jim" (Kent, UK) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: One Planet Communities: A Real Life Guide to Sustainable Living (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Programme (What's this?)
I must be honest and say that I have not sat down and read this book from cover to cover! It is rather technical, aimed mainly at planning professionals, but is presented in such a way that it is easy to dip into for the more casual reader with an interest in ecological issues. As well as offering green alternatives to the way we live today a lot of the ideas and technology featured also turn out to be good money savers too.
Pooran Desai is well regarded in sustainable living circles, and is co-founder of the environmental organisation the BioRegional Development Group, and coined the term one planet living. The book presents a fairly positive outlook for the future, if we are all prepared to modify our lifestyles to some extent. To get an idea of the books philosophy check the Wikipedia article on the BedZED project. This explains how the books principles have been used in practice and that its ideas are achievable; it is also the author's home. More a book for students, architects and city planners it will still be of interest if you have more than a passing interest in green issues. If you have read the Wikipedia article you will get an idea of the books appeal to you personally. I will rate it with five stars for its target audience, but purchase with caution unless it really appeals - there are many less technical books on green issues you may prefer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A positive future!,
By
This review is from: One Planet Communities: A Real Life Guide to Sustainable Living (Paperback)
One Planet Communities offers something that seems to be in very short supply - strong analysis of the problems we face, followed by well considered, wide ranging solutions that understand and deal with the holistic nature of the issues. Even more impressive is the fact that the author has put many of these solutions into practice himself (with the help of others) and provides honest feedback on the success or otherwise of these projects. Through this experience, the author has worked out that while the sustainability of individual projects is important, it is the systems and communities in which they operate that are really key to ensuring our future on this planet. In order to share his learnings in a way that can most help others, Pooran Desai has developed a framework for groups and communities that will help them develop patterns for working that fit within the one planet that we actually have to live on. The book is easy to read and contains great information in a format that enables its easy assimilation. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to create a positive place for themselves in the future.
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