Sustainable Future | Design Charrette

While no one can certainly predict the future we can make educated judgements based on current trends. With current societal trends failing our global, we must take a step back and reassess our activities and the path humankind has apparently chosen. We need to make changes in order to better our existence, our health, and the health of our planet. We must aim for universal sustainability.

Discussing sustainability during class led to some interesting discussions about how to achieve sustainability (through green energy solutions, waste management and of course education); however one that remains strong to me is the idea of a hedonistic approach.

When we think of a truly sustainable word we often think in order to achieve sustainability we must sacrifice our quality of life for the good of the planet; however technology shows plenty of potential regarding the movements to sustainability.

Microsoft offers a concept surrounding technology and how it can have a positive effect on out move to sustainability:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KnIJoHibiQ

We can use technology to aid our path towards our own sustainable goals while at the same time solve current global challenges. Technology can keep people aware of our current unsustainable habits, and allow us to set our own goals and monitor our progress.

The idea that we can advance global sustainability through technology is one that I am sure everyone would like to witness. We are a modernising world and we simply cannot start going backwards. While sustainability is indeed important, educating people and motivating them will not work whilst their mindset centres the idea that their lives will become worse; that they will miss out. The technology is there, and it is steadily improving; we must embrace it.

With this in mind, we have considered the future of Woodfordia and explained the following setting:

"In the year 2050 Woodfordia has become prosperous, sustainable, harmonious, secure and just. It has become a sustainable community; and as a result of this transformation from an underutilised section of rural property into a thriving self-sufficient society, it has become a world leader in sustainability knowledge and wisdom.

It has been developed into an institution for a sustainable lifestyle; exporting sustainable community-knowledge to the rest of the world; which has become a key concern in the twenty-first century economic base."