first draft DLG EDAP for your perusal!
char...@homecall.co.uk
first draft DLG EDAP for your perusal!
TRANSITION TOWN LEWES
DREAM LIFE GROUP
Energy Descent Action Plan
(first draft April 2008)
The Dream Life Group :
The Dream Life Group was formed to research the steps local residents
can take to transition their urban lifestyles and neighbourhoods
towards greater sustainability, resilience ( or self-reliance) and
positive integration.
The present situation in Lewes:
At present the majority of the existing homes in Lewes require
eco-renovation in order to reduce their energy/fossil fuel use and
water use. There is little ‘official’ support or guidance for groups of
residents to live more sustainably through sharing resources such as
land, renewable technology, equipment, transport, waste recycling
facilties etc - or to become more resilient socially by sharing skills,
activities, decision-making etc.
The Vision :
Living in a Transitioned Lewes would involve applying permaculture
principles and ethics to redesign our homes, use of land and ways of
relating to each other and the environment.
Buildings would be designed to use less energy, to use renewable
energy, and to recycle water and waste.
Pooling and sharing of gardens and other productive growing land would
be widespread to maximise food production whilst other communal spaces
would be designed around pedestrian/community use rather than the car.
Co-housing adaptations to existing building types or housing
developments based around sharing key resources would be the normal
model.
Residential areas would therefore be more diverse providing ways of
living affordably, working locally/from home and encouraging communal
activities such as meetings, celebrations and street markets.
Existing projects that have inspired us, examples from around the world
include: -
• ‘San Mateo Eco Community’ in San Francisco using existing apartments
• ‘Ashley Vale’ community in Bristol using a self build development of
a brown field site
• ‘Earthsong’ community in Aukland using urban infill
The Action Plan:
Options for putting Transition Dream Life Group vision into practice
include:
• Eco-renovate existing properties
• Find or build an eco-home or eco-development
• Create communal use for local facilities eg land, transport,
renewable technology etc.
We intend to research and develop guidelines for these options that the
residents of Lewes could use to inspire and plan their own ‘Dream
Life’ projects.
Specific areas we will cover include: finding Land or a suitable
Property; learning all about Planning Permission; Financial
considerations; Legal frameworks; and decision making and social
dynamic frameworks.
The Dream Life Project:
As part of the Dream Life Groups it is intended that we will try to
create a sustainability designed and managed low energy housing
development on the urban fringe. By illustrating how to share renewable
micro-power generation, heating, waste & water management, organic
garden and work space etc - using permaculture principles, we will be
providing a ‘model’ example of 21st century sustainable living that
will inspire others.