LIVING MACHINES

ECO MACHINES




LIVING MACHINES

JOHN TODD ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

SUSTAINABLE CITY

SUSTAINABLE CITY LINKS

BIOREMEDIATION

BIOREMEDIATION LINKS

RAIN GARDENS

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

BIOMIMICRY

BIOMIMICRY LINKS

PERMACULTURE

LIVING MACHINES LINKS

LIVING MACHINES RESOURCES



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SECTION 1



LIVING MACHINES




Living Machines are a form of biological wastewater
treatment designed to mimic the cleansing functions
of wetlands.


They are intensive bioremediation
systems that can also produce
beneficial by-products such as

methane gas,

edible and
ornamental plants,

fish.

Aquatic and
wetland plants,

bacteria,

algae,

protozoa,

plankton,

snails,

clams,

fish

and other organisms
are used in the system
to provide specific
cleansing or trophic
functions.



In temperate climates, the system of tanks, pipes
and filters is housed in a greenhouse to raise the
temperature, and thus the rate of biological activity.

The initial development of living machines is generally
credited to John Todd, and evolved out of the bioshelter
concept developed at the now-defunct New Alchemy Institute.


An eco-city should
function in the
same way as a natural
ecosystem.



LIVING MACHINES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_machines



OCEAN ARKS INTERNATIONAL
http://www.oceanarks.org/



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SECTION 2



JOHN TODD
ECOLOGICAL DESIGN




Building the next generation of natural systems for the treatment of
wastewaters and the remediation of degraded water bodies.

Ecological design uses sunlight, biodiversity and natural processes to
create clean water with the byproducts of natural gases and biological
material.

Ecological design repositions wastewater treatment at the heart
of public space and allows people to experience the life-creating
properties of treated water.



John Todd Ecological Design
http://www.toddecological.com/



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SECTION 3



SUSTAINABLE
CITY




A sustainable city, eco-city is a city designed with
consideration of environmental impact, inhabited by
people dedicated to minimisation of required inputs
of energy, water and food, and waste output of heat,
air pollution - CO2, methane, and water pollution.

A sustainable city can feed itself with minimal
reliance on the surrounding countryside, and power
itself with renewable sources of energy. The crux
of this is to create the smallest possible ecological
footprint, and to produce the lowest quantity of
pollution possible, to efficiently use land; compost
used materials, recycle it or convert waste-to-energy,
and thus the cities overall contribution to climate
change will be minimal if such practices are adhered to.

It is estimated that around 50% of the world’s population
now lives in cities and urban areas[citation needed].
Essentially these large communities are unsustainable, but
they provide both challenges and opportunities for
environmentally-conscious developers.

In order to make them more sustainable, building design
and practise, as well as perception and lifestyle must
adopt sustainability thinking.



Sustainable City
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_city



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SECTION 3A



SUSTAINABLE
CITY
LINKS




The Barbara Hardy Centre for Sustainable Urban Environments
http://www.unisa.edu.au/barbarahardy

Bicycle City
http://www.bicyclecity.com/

Ecocity Builders
http://www.ecocitybuilders.org

Ecocity Summit 2008 media site
http://www.ecocitymedia.org

The Ecocity web forum
http://www.ecocityforum.com/

Terrain.org
http://www.terrain.org/



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SECTION 4



BIOREMEDIATION




Bioremediation can be defined as any process that
uses microorganisms, fungi, green plants or their
enzymes to return the natural environment altered
by contaminants to its original condition.

Bioremediation may be employed to attack specific
soil contaminants, such as the degradation of
chlorinated hydrocarbons by bacteria. An example
of a more general approach is the cleanup of oil
spills by the addition of nitrate and/or sulfate
fertilisers to facilitate the decomposition of
crude oil by indigenous or exogenous bacteria.



BIOREMEDIATION
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioremediation



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SECTION 4A



BIOREMEDIATION
LINKS




Bioremediation of soils
http://www.avecom.be

Bioremediation (Toxic Cleanup)
http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/categories/index/environment/toxic.php


Bioremediation Discussion Group (BioGroup)
http://www.bioremediationgroup.org

Contaminated Land
http://www.claire.co.uk

Phytoremediation
http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/phytoremediation



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SECTION 5



RAIN
GARDENS




A rain garden is a planted depression that is designed
to absorb rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas
like roofs, driveways, walkways, and compacted lawn
areas.

This reduces rain runoff by allowing stormwater to soak
into the ground (as opposed to flowing into storm drains
and surface waters which causes erosion, water pollution,
flooding, and diminished groundwater). Rain gardens
can cut down on the amount of pollution reaching creeks
and streams by up to 30%.

Native plants are recommended for rain gardens because
they generally don't require fertilizer and are more
tolerant of one's local climate, soil, and water
conditions.

The plants — a selection of wetland edge vegetation,
such as wildflowers, sedges, rushes, ferns, shrubs
and small trees — take up excess water flowing into
the rain garden.

Water filters through soil layers before entering
the groundwater system. Root systems enhance
infiltration, moisture redistribution, and diverse
microbial populations involved in biofiltration.



RAIN GARDENS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_garden



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SECTION 6



ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION




Anaerobic digestion is a process in which microorganisms
break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.

The process is widely used to treat wastewater sludges and
organic wastes because it provides volume and mass reduction
of the input material.[1] As part of an integrated waste
management system, anaerobic digestion reduces the emission
of landfill gas into the atmosphere.

Anaerobic digestion is a renewable energy source because the
process produces a methane and carbon dioxide rich biogas
suitable for energy production helping replace fossil fuels.

Also, the nutrient-rich solids left after digestion can be
used as fertiliser.



ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
http://en.wikipedia.org/Anaerobic_digestion



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SECTION 7



BIOMIMICRY




Biomimicry is a relatively new science that studies nature,
its models, systems, processes and elements and then imitates
or takes creative inspiration from them to solve human problems
sustainably.

In her 1997 book, "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature"
author Janine M. Benyus introduces biomimicry, presents
examples, and explains why the field is important now. She
writes, "Our planet-mates (plants, animals and microbes) have
been patiently perfecting their wares for more than 3.8
billion years ... turning rock and sea into a life-friendly
home. What better models could there be?"



BIOMIMICRY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimicry



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SECTION 7A



BIOMIMICRY
LINKS




Bioinspiration Biomimetics
http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/bioinsp

Biomimicry Institute
http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/

Biomimicry Guild
http://www.biomimicryguild.com



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SECTION 8



PERMACULTURE




The word permaculture, coined by Australians Bill Mollison
and David Holmgren during the 1970s, is a portmanteau of
permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture.

Through a series of publications, Mollison, Holmgren and
their associates documented an approach to designing human
settlements, in particular the development of perennial
agricultural systems that mimic the structure and
interrelationship found in natural ecologies.

Permaculture design principles extend from the position that
"The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our
own existence and that of our children".



PERMACULTURE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture



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SECTION 9



LIVING MACHINES
ECO MACHINE
LINKS




Aiken Center Eco Machine
http://www.uvm.edu/rsenr/enews/pdfs/AikenInterns/Aiken%20Center%20EcoMachine.pdf

CIESIN
http://www.ciesin.org/

ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
http://www.ecological-engineering.com

Eco Machine
https://www.eomega.org/omega-in-action/key-initiatives/omega-center-for-sustainable-living/eco-machine%E2%84%A2

Eco Machines
http://www.oceanarksint.org/?id=eco-machines

Eco-Machine wastewater management
https://asknature.org/idea/eco-machine-wastewater-management/#.WHhlkjEizn8

Enviro Education
http://www.EnviroEducation.com

THE GREEN CENTER
http://www.fuzzylu.com/greencenter/index.htm

In Context
http://www.context.org/

LIVE JOURNAL
http://www.livejournal.com/

Living Designs Group
http://www.livingdesignsgroup.com/

Living Machines
http://www.rain-barrel.net/living-machine.html



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Living Machines, Inc.
http://www.livingmachines.com/

NEW ALCHEMY
http://www.fuzzylu.com/greencenter/list.htm

Rainwater Harvesting Guide
http://www.rain-barrel.net/

OCEAN ARKS INTERNATIONAL
http://www.oceanarks.org/

WHOLE EARTH MAGAZINE
http://www.wholeearthmag.com

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
http://www.whoi.edu/

The world's most beautiful wastewater treatment plant
http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/omega-center-sustainable-living-eco-machine-living-building-water-treatment.html



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SECTION 10



LIVING MACHINES
RESOURCES




Agriculture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture


Energy conservation systems/devices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_conservation


Green roofs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_roof


HUMANURE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanure


Public transport
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport


Renewable energy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy


SUSTAINABLE CITY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_city


Sustainable design
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_design


Sustainable urban drainage systems SUDS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_urban_drainage_systems


Transition town
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_town


Xeriscaping
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeriscaping


Zero-emission transport
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-emission_transport


Zero-energy building
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-energy_building



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WATER

ZERO WASTE

ZERO WASTE AGRICULTURE



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