Small Self-Sustaining Community - Term Paper Example

Certain principles will be put into consideration when setting up a community which is sustainable and self sufficient. All the stakeholders including government, business people, locals and infrastructure should be put into consideration when coming up with the plan for the project. Engagement and collaboration between stakeholders will result into a holistic, long term and long lasting plan. The community must exist for future generations by not exhausting water, air, land and other ecological resources, which support the existence of that community.

As a planner I will put into consideration the needs of all the professionals who will move in to work in the community, plus the needs of the locals. This will include daily activities such as going to school, work and accessing recreation facilities. The plan will nourish social integration. Transport and businesses will be put up in close proximity with one another. Transport systems will therefore be crucial to aid movement. There will be rapid rail system in place and scheduled bus services.

All this transport systems will run on green energy. Since residents do not have to travel long distances, there will be no need for them to use personal cars, hence saving on fuel and in the end less harm to the environment in form of global warming. Residents will be able to walk and cycle, transport means which saves on energy. Greening of the community will be a priority, therefore green landscapes, balcony and roof top agriculture will be a common practice. Education of the community on environmental preservation will be a enhanced to enable this shift to sustainability.

The buildings that will come up will be energy efficient for example correct insulation and solar power installation. Housing will shift from suburbs which lead to deforestation to high density buildings within the town centre to ease movement. Solid waste management will be a priority. The four Rs for example reducing and recycling will be put into consideration, this will minimize on the waste generated and that is released into the environment by the community. Composting of kitchen waste which is biodegradable will be a major way of managing waste; this is a natural process of organic waste decomposition.

The end product is then used for growing of organic food instead of using chemical fertilizers which are harmful to the environment. The process of collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of waste will be handled in an ecologically friendly way to minimize pollution. Sewerage is another waste product that should be handled with care. This is because of the risk it poses to the health of the community and ecology if not handled with care. This waste presents an opportunity for treatment of the waste water which will then be used for other purposes for example irrigation in food growing.

Employment opportunities will also be created in the process hence improvement in living standards. Care will however be taken to ensure that this water does not get into contact with clean drinking water because it would lead to contamination. Clean energy production and use will be a major component in the design of the city. Going green in terms of energy use is no longer an option., there should be a shift from use of non renewable energy sources to renewable sources of energy, for example hydroelectricity, geothermal energy and tidal energy.

Energy to be used in the community wil