Essential Concepts
- Biomimicry
According to Janine Benyus, "Biomimicry is innovation inspired by nature, looking to nature as a teacher." Biomimicry is the realization that humans are not the only innovators on this planet--other species have been living, surviving, and learning here for 3.8 billion years. Ninety-nine percent of the species that have ever lived on Earth are extinct, because they were not innovative enough. The one percent that is with us now, however, have stood the test of time. And they've done it all without needing a single drop of oil, coal, or uranium. They have sustained themselves, not by destroying their surroundings, but by adapting to them, and even enriching them--fertilizing the soil, cleaning the air and water, producing oxygen.
Biomimicry is about asking one simple question: What would nature do? Instead of asking: What is the least toxic cleaner I can use? we should be asking: How does nature stay clean? Our namesake, the lotus, is nearly impervious to dirt, due to a rough surface that doesn't allow dirt to stick to it, and channels water in such a way as to effectively wash away any dirt that remains. Clever biomimics have managed to recreate this effect in a facade paint called Lotusan.
The natural innovations are all around us once we begin to look--the hummingbird migrates 600 miles non-stop over water on 2.1 grams of nectar! Spiders and crickets make silk 5 times stronger than steel--naturally, inside their bodies, at room temperature!
By looking to nature for natural, non-toxic solutions to our problems, we can begin to free ourselves of the quest to be less bad, and put ourselves on the road to becoming good - productive members of the community Earth.
Nature is Beautiful
More Information
For more information about Biomimicry, check out the Lotus Live Guide to Biomimicry.
Books About Biomimicry
- Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine Benyus
- Nature's Operating Instructions: The True Biotechnologies Ed. by Kenny Ausubel
- Wild Solutions: How Biodiversity is Money in the Bank by Andrew Beattie and Paul Ehrlich
- Cradle to Cradle
Related Books
- Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.
- The Gaia Hypothesis
Related Links
- Gaia Hypothesis (Wikipedia)
- The Hannover Principles
Summary of the Points Laid Out in the Hannover Principles
- Insist on rights of humanity and nature to co-exist.
- Recognize interdependence.
- Respect relationships between spirit and matter.
- Accept responsibility for the consequences of design.
- Create safe objects of long-term value.
- Eliminate the concept of waste.
- Rely on natural energy flows.
- Understand the limitations of design.
- Seek constant improvement by the sharing of knowledge.
The Full Document
- Hannover Principles:
William McDonough's design principles for sustainability.
- Natural Capitalism
Radical Resource Productivity, Biomimicry, Flow of Services, and Restoration of Natural Capital
Related Books
- Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins.
This book has aptly been described as being, to this day and age, as The Wealth of Nations was to the Industrial Revolution. An essential for anyone who wants to be successful in and beyond the second industrial revolution. Book available in free pdf form here.
- Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins.
- Natural Step
Related Links
- Natural Step (Wikipedia)
- Seventh Generation
One of the guiding principles of the Iroquois Confederacy (a democratic coalition of Native American tribes) was: "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." How much better would the world be for our children and ourselves if we all lived that way?
- Solving for Pattern
Wendell Berry...
- Sustainable Development
The The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as: "the ability of humanity to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
- Triple Bottom Line
People, Prosperity, Planet
Equity, Economy, Environment
- Whole Systems Thinking
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." ~Albert Einstein
Other Writings
- Foreword to Japanense Sustainable Design Guide (Lovins 1994)
Musings on "green design."
Contributors: Nick
References: Living Green: Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability
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