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Beginning Urban Ecology :

Beginning Urban Ecology :. What is an ECOSYSTEM ? An area where living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) things interact through energy flows. Biotic : a fancy word for living thing (plants and animals) Abiotic : a fancy word for non-living things. What are the non-living things?.

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Beginning Urban Ecology :

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  1. Beginning Urban Ecology: • What is an ECOSYSTEM? • An area where living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) things interact through energy flows. • Biotic: • a fancy word for living thing (plants and animals) • Abiotic: • a fancy word for non-living things

  2. What are the non-living things? • Every ecosystem has the same 4 abiotic, or non-living things. • We’ll refer to these as The L.A.W.S

  3. What are the non-living things in an ecosystem? • The L.A.W.S • LAND • AIR • WATER • SUNLIGHT

  4. Is this an ecosystem?

  5. POD: Urban Ecology • What is an ecosystem? • What are the LAWS? • What do the words biotic and abiotic mean? • Chat with your table about your answers to last night’s homework.

  6. Let's talk about the homework… • If the non-living things in two ecosystems are different, then the living things will be different. • Yes? No? Defend your answer. • Let’s talk about #6, 7,8 and 9 from your homework… • What do these words mean? • “Green” • Sustainable • Efficient • What does all this have to do with our project?

  7. Urban Ecology (what the heck is that?)

  8. Let's break it down: • Urban: City • An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures. • Ecology: The study of ecosystems. • So what’s Urban Ecology? • The study of urban ecosystems! • How biotic (especially humans) and abiotic things interact in cities. • How urban development effects the environment. • Creating environmentally sustainable urban areas.

  9. What does “GREEN” mean?

  10. Sustainable • General Definition: Able to maintain at a certain level indefinitely. • Non-mumbo jumbo: Using stuff so it doesn’t run out. • Example Sentences: • Circle breathing is a technique used by musicians to sustain notes indefinitely. • On my salary it is not sustainable for me to eat at expensive restaurants every night. • We can sustain the turning of a hydro generator as long as the water source is flowing. • Using fossil fuels at our current rate is not sustainable.

  11. What does “sustainable” have to do with our project? • SUSTAINABILITY: • A method of using a resource so it will not be depleted. • Human activity that uses nature's resources at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally. • Non-mumbojumbo: using stuff so it doesn’t run out.

  12. Efficient • General Definition: Capable of producing desired results especially without waste. • Non-mumbojumbo: NOT wasting time, energy, money etc. • Example Sentences: • Molly is always on task and meets deadlines. She is an overall efficient worker. • A bicycle is an efficient machine that uses minimal human energy to create movement. • Replacing ball bearings in a skate board maximizes efficiency. With new ball bearings the rider uses less energy to create motion. • It is inefficient to turn on your air conditioner and leave windows and doors open.

  13. So what does “efficient” have to do with our project? • EFFiCIENCY: Not wasting time or energy. • The ratio of the useful energy delivered by a machine compared to the energy needed to operate it. • In other words: • Efficiency = useful energy delivered energy needed to operate

  14. What is “Green Building” ? • Green Building is SUSTAINABLE and EFFICIENT building! • More specifically Green Building is… • The practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water and materials. • Reducing building impacts on human health and the environment.

  15. Basic Principles of Green Building • Use of natural materials • Efficiency • On-site generation of renewable energy • Reduce environmental and human health impact • Reduce waste (during building and during inhabitance)

  16. Green Building Methods (you are going to research these!) • Solar power (photovoltaic) and solar thermal • Passive solar design • Green roofing • Permeable surface use (reduction of rainwater run off/ renewing groundwater sources) • Grey water collection and recycling • Compost toilets • Straw bale • Cob • Cordwood • Adobe • Earthship • Bamboo • Permaculture

  17. Alternative transpertation options… • Biodiesel as a fuel/ Converting cars to use it • Hybrid cars • Electric cars • Ethanol as fuel • Hydrogen Fuel Cells

  18. Why should we do this? • According to the Worldwide Institute, building demolition, construction and renovation constitutes as much as 40% of raw material use, 40% of materials sent to landfills, and buildings consume as much as 40% of energy generated. • Why else? Who cares?

  19. Sounds great for The Earth but…is “Green Building” going to look cool? • Awesome straw bale and cob example: • http://www.potkettleblack.com/natbild/sarahtree/index.html

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