Thesis Draft April 12, 2006 Commonplace Ecovillage and the Ecological Footprint by Jessica Aird Commonplace Ecovillage and the Ecological Footprint by Jessica Aird

Thesis Question What is the ecological footprint of an individual living in the Commonplace Ecovillage Niagara? What technological aspects (infrastructure) and lifestyle choices can be adopted to reduce the footprint?

Ecovillages According to the Global Ecovillage Network: “ Ecovillages are urban or rural communities of people, who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life. To achieve this, they integrate various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, green production, alternative energy, community building practices, and much more ” (GEN, 2005). According to the Global Ecovillage Network: “ Ecovillages are urban or rural communities of people, who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life. To achieve this, they integrate various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, green production, alternative energy, community building practices, and much more ” (GEN, 2005).

Ecological Footprint  Sustainability indicator that measures biologically productive land area required to sustain a given population indefinitely (Global Hectares).  This method will be critically assessed in thesis discussion  Sustainability indicator that measures biologically productive land area required to sustain a given population indefinitely (Global Hectares).  This method will be critically assessed in thesis discussion

 Accounts for all wastes produced from consumption (incl. CO 2 ).  Calibrated to include indirect commercial and public expenditures  Average Canadian EF is 8.8 Ha (Redefining Progress, 2006)  Due to trade most EF’s are not located in one area, and are usually not local  Accounts for all wastes produced from consumption (incl. CO 2 ).  Calibrated to include indirect commercial and public expenditures  Average Canadian EF is 8.8 Ha (Redefining Progress, 2006)  Due to trade most EF’s are not located in one area, and are usually not local

Calculating EF’s  Calculated using a spreadsheet: Fossil Fuel CroplandPastureForestBuilt up land Fisheries Food Housing Transportation Goods Services Waste

Profiles  3 lifestyle profiles used for modeling  Average Impact (Stats Canada)  Modest Impact  Low Impact  Modest and Low Impact profiles are derived from national averages or RD averages  3 lifestyle profiles used for modeling  Average Impact (Stats Canada)  Modest Impact  Low Impact  Modest and Low Impact profiles are derived from national averages or RD averages

Average Impact Individual  This person consumes average amounts of consumer goods and eats an average amount of food (as per Statistics Canada data). This profile is intended to represent the average Canadian lifestyle, and impact this lifestyle has on an individuals ecological footprint.  Food: This person consumes food as per Stats Canada food consumption data. This includes regular meat consumption and foods that are imported, and foods that are processed and packaged.  Transportation: This person travels regularly by car for leisure, to work, and to shopping. Public transit, cycling and walking is rarely a method of transportation. All the distance traveled (as per the distance traveled survey by NRC) is done by car.  Goods: This person uses all goods needed as well as some luxury items. He/she is not concerned with the manufacturing of the goods.  Waste: This person recycles regularly, but puts a lot of recyclables in the garbage.  This person consumes average amounts of consumer goods and eats an average amount of food (as per Statistics Canada data). This profile is intended to represent the average Canadian lifestyle, and impact this lifestyle has on an individuals ecological footprint.  Food: This person consumes food as per Stats Canada food consumption data. This includes regular meat consumption and foods that are imported, and foods that are processed and packaged.  Transportation: This person travels regularly by car for leisure, to work, and to shopping. Public transit, cycling and walking is rarely a method of transportation. All the distance traveled (as per the distance traveled survey by NRC) is done by car.  Goods: This person uses all goods needed as well as some luxury items. He/she is not concerned with the manufacturing of the goods.  Waste: This person recycles regularly, but puts a lot of recyclables in the garbage.

Modest Impact Individual  This is a realistic lifestyle for an environmentally minded individual living in Niagara. This profile is made to represent someone who would live in the Commonplace Ecovillage, and make environmentally minded choices.  Food: Mostly vegetarian, but with modest meat consumption (once or twice a week). Eats mostly local organic and free range foods, and rarely exceeds calorie requirements. This person eats some non-local foods, such as kiwi fruit, pineapple, and oranges, but all food that can be purchased locally will be.  Transportation: Cycles and walks when weather permits, uses public transit when weather is bad. Takes vacations once a year by airplane, and drives to several vacation destinations. This profile includes a hybrid vehicle.  Goods: Tries to purchase only what is needed, and buys environmentally sustainable products whenever possible. Tries to buy locally made goods.  Waste: This person recycles at the Niagara goal of 65%.  This is a realistic lifestyle for an environmentally minded individual living in Niagara. This profile is made to represent someone who would live in the Commonplace Ecovillage, and make environmentally minded choices.  Food: Mostly vegetarian, but with modest meat consumption (once or twice a week). Eats mostly local organic and free range foods, and rarely exceeds calorie requirements. This person eats some non-local foods, such as kiwi fruit, pineapple, and oranges, but all food that can be purchased locally will be.  Transportation: Cycles and walks when weather permits, uses public transit when weather is bad. Takes vacations once a year by airplane, and drives to several vacation destinations. This profile includes a hybrid vehicle.  Goods: Tries to purchase only what is needed, and buys environmentally sustainable products whenever possible. Tries to buy locally made goods.  Waste: This person recycles at the Niagara goal of 65%.

Low Impact Individual  This is an uncommon, but achievable lifestyle for a person living and working in the Niagara region. For the purposes of the ecological footprint analysis this profile will demonstrate the affect that extreme lifestyle changes will have on a person ’ s overall footprint.  Food: Vegetarian who eats local organic foods, but maintains proper health.  Transportation: Walks or rides bike to shopping and groceries, travels very little, and usually by public transportation. Allowances are made for a couple vacations within Ontario, and one trip via airplane per year, but no vehicle is owned  Goods: Buys locally made products as much as possible. He/she buys only what is needed and has few luxury items. This person tries to buy clothing and other items from second hand sources.  Waste: This person goes above and beyond the Regional waste diversion goal and recycles 95% of the waste in this section of the spreadsheet.  This is an uncommon, but achievable lifestyle for a person living and working in the Niagara region. For the purposes of the ecological footprint analysis this profile will demonstrate the affect that extreme lifestyle changes will have on a person ’ s overall footprint.  Food: Vegetarian who eats local organic foods, but maintains proper health.  Transportation: Walks or rides bike to shopping and groceries, travels very little, and usually by public transportation. Allowances are made for a couple vacations within Ontario, and one trip via airplane per year, but no vehicle is owned  Goods: Buys locally made products as much as possible. He/she buys only what is needed and has few luxury items. This person tries to buy clothing and other items from second hand sources.  Waste: This person goes above and beyond the Regional waste diversion goal and recycles 95% of the waste in this section of the spreadsheet.

Green Technologies  Includes in the housing portion of the spreadsheet for the ecovillage models  Wind or Solar power  Green building techniques (straw bale)  On site greywater treatment  Composting Toilets  Includes in the housing portion of the spreadsheet for the ecovillage models  Wind or Solar power  Green building techniques (straw bale)  On site greywater treatment  Composting Toilets

Food  Cropland, fisheries, pasture  Fossil fuels  Vegetarian choices and local foods can reduce the footprint in this category.  % of total EF  Cropland, fisheries, pasture  Fossil fuels  Vegetarian choices and local foods can reduce the footprint in this category.  % of total EF

Housing  Fossil energy to build and run household  Forest products for building  Lifespan of 40 yrs is assumed  Energy lost in conversion of fossil energy to electricity (70%)  19-41% of total footprint  Fossil energy to build and run household  Forest products for building  Lifespan of 40 yrs is assumed  Energy lost in conversion of fossil energy to electricity (70%)  19-41% of total footprint

Transportation  Fossil fuels used to build vehicles (15% additional energy) and roads/airports/bridges (35% additional energy) considered  Built up land for infrastructure considered  9-21% of total footprint  Fossil fuels used to build vehicles (15% additional energy) and roads/airports/bridges (35% additional energy) considered  Built up land for infrastructure considered  9-21% of total footprint

Goods  Includes waste and byproducts associated with the manufacture and use of goods  Built up land required for manufacture and disposal included  11-18% of total footprint  Includes waste and byproducts associated with the manufacture and use of goods  Built up land required for manufacture and disposal included  11-18% of total footprint

Services  Affects fossil fuel and built up land  Insurance - Energy to rebuild homes, medical insurance not considered  Water/Sewer/Garbage - Only garbage considered  11-13% of total footprint  Affects fossil fuel and built up land  Insurance - Energy to rebuild homes, medical insurance not considered  Water/Sewer/Garbage - Only garbage considered  11-13% of total footprint

Waste  Fossil energy and built up land are affected  Energy required to transport and recycle or incinerate garbage  Energy saved by recycling  Built up land used for disposal (landfills)  7-15% of total footprint  Fossil energy and built up land are affected  Energy required to transport and recycle or incinerate garbage  Energy saved by recycling  Built up land used for disposal (landfills)  7-15% of total footprint

Methodology  Household Ecological Footprint Calculator V. 3.2, 2003 is being used (Redefining Progress)  Modeling will be done to analyze impact areas  Based on modeling analysis recommendations will be made on ecovillages and sustainability  Household Ecological Footprint Calculator V. 3.2, 2003 is being used (Redefining Progress)  Modeling will be done to analyze impact areas  Based on modeling analysis recommendations will be made on ecovillages and sustainability

Results Ecological Footprints of the various profiles Very low Impact Moderate Impact Average Impact Ecovillage Regular Housing

Results - Top Three Impact Areas

Average Impact in Ecovillage

Moderate Impact in Ecovillage

Low Impact in Ecovillage

Average Impact Urban

Modest Impact Urban

Low Impact Urban

Discussion  Ecovillage was marginally better  Lifestyle changes made large difference in EF  Housing, Transportation, and Food were the big footprints  Footprint concept can be applied to people who are not living in an ecovillage  Ecovillage was marginally better  Lifestyle changes made large difference in EF  Housing, Transportation, and Food were the big footprints  Footprint concept can be applied to people who are not living in an ecovillage

Discussion - Food  Eat more meat alternatives  Canada Food Guide  “field to fork” policy (OFA, 2006)  Niche farming - Organic, Specialty herbs, Free range products  Organic Food  Eat more meat alternatives  Canada Food Guide  “field to fork” policy (OFA, 2006)  Niche farming - Organic, Specialty herbs, Free range products  Organic Food

Discussion - Housing  R-2000 certification - expand to all new homes  CHMC, NRC, Enbridge home retrofitting loans  Technologies used in an ecovillage are similar to R-2000  R-2000 certification - expand to all new homes  CHMC, NRC, Enbridge home retrofitting loans  Technologies used in an ecovillage are similar to R-2000

Discussion - Transportation  Increased public transportation use reduces footprint  GTA farecard makes public transit more convenient (MTO, 2005)  Poor fuel consumption increases footprint - SUV’s and Trucks are bad  Increased public transportation use reduces footprint  GTA farecard makes public transit more convenient (MTO, 2005)  Poor fuel consumption increases footprint - SUV’s and Trucks are bad

Discussion - Drawbacks  Weak in housing category because of ecovillage technologies  Natural gas and propane use  Building materials not accounted for  Doesn’t account for Organic food  Doesn’t account for compost program  Weak in housing category because of ecovillage technologies  Natural gas and propane use  Building materials not accounted for  Doesn’t account for Organic food  Doesn’t account for compost program

Discussion - Advantages  Accounts for embodied energy  Easy to use, and works well for standard situations  End units are easy to understand  Can be used to measure progress or to make a sustainability plan  Accounts for embodied energy  Easy to use, and works well for standard situations  End units are easy to understand  Can be used to measure progress or to make a sustainability plan

Discussion - Footprint  Not ideal for measuring sustainability of an ecovillage  Good for measuring EF when standard technologies are being used  Potential application for home use  Good educational tool  Not ideal for measuring sustainability of an ecovillage  Good for measuring EF when standard technologies are being used  Potential application for home use  Good educational tool

Application - The Nature Challenge  1Reduce home energy use by 10%  2Choose an energy-efficient home & appliances  3Don't use pesticides  4Eat meat-free meals one day a week  5Buy locally grown and produced food  6Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle  7Walk, bike, carpool or take transit  8Choose a home close to work or school  9Support alternative transportation  10 Learn more and share with others  1Reduce home energy use by 10%  2Choose an energy-efficient home & appliances  3Don't use pesticides  4Eat meat-free meals one day a week  5Buy locally grown and produced food  6Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle  7Walk, bike, carpool or take transit  8Choose a home close to work or school  9Support alternative transportation  10 Learn more and share with others David Suzuki Foundation, 2006

Future Research  Test same principles on a larger scale ecovillage  Is the technology more significant?  Can food footprint be further reduced by farming on-site?  An economic analysis of the technology as well as the lifestyle  Can we save money living this way?  What are the low-cost ways to reduce the footprint?  Test same principles on a larger scale ecovillage  Is the technology more significant?  Can food footprint be further reduced by farming on-site?  An economic analysis of the technology as well as the lifestyle  Can we save money living this way?  What are the low-cost ways to reduce the footprint?

References  Canada Food guide for Healthy Eating, 2004  David Suzuki Foundation, The Nature Challenge. Accessed April,  Lenzen, M. & Murray, S. A., A modified ecological footprint method and its application to Australia, Ecological Economics, 37(2), 229 – 255.  Natural Resources Canada, private vehicle use survey, 1996  Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Premier ’ s Opening Remarks to the 2006 Agri-Food Summit February 8,  Wackernagel, Mathis., Monfreda,Chad., Deumling, Diana., Dholakia, Ritik., Household Ecological Footprint Calculator V 3.2, Redefining Progress, California.  Wackernagel, M., Yount, D.J., 2000, Footprints for Sustainability: The Next Steps. Environment, Development, and Sustainability, 2,  Wackernagel, M. & Rees, W., Our Ecological Footprint: reducing human impact on the earth (Philadelphia, PA, New Society Publishers).  Canada Food guide for Healthy Eating, 2004  David Suzuki Foundation, The Nature Challenge. Accessed April,  Lenzen, M. & Murray, S. A., A modified ecological footprint method and its application to Australia, Ecological Economics, 37(2), 229 – 255.  Natural Resources Canada, private vehicle use survey, 1996  Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Premier ’ s Opening Remarks to the 2006 Agri-Food Summit February 8,  Wackernagel, Mathis., Monfreda,Chad., Deumling, Diana., Dholakia, Ritik., Household Ecological Footprint Calculator V 3.2, Redefining Progress, California.  Wackernagel, M., Yount, D.J., 2000, Footprints for Sustainability: The Next Steps. Environment, Development, and Sustainability, 2,  Wackernagel, M. & Rees, W., Our Ecological Footprint: reducing human impact on the earth (Philadelphia, PA, New Society Publishers).