Ecological Sustainable Design Tool: The Sustainable Development Matrix Ethosolution
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We just finished our ethosolution feature on a great ecological sustainable design tool called the Sustainable Development Matrix. What the Sustainable Development Matrix is is a comprehensive green development strategy proposed by Sustainable Land Development International (SLDI) for ecological sustainable design for business and land development best practices implementation. We have featured this system as an ethosolution idea because the Sustainable Development Matrix provides a structure for a triple-bottom-line (people, planet and profit) ecological sustainable design tool that is:
- Both sustainable and holistic in its approach
- Simple and applicable to virtually any project, product, or development
- Designed with a “Pass it Forward” philosophy that is cohesive with our own open source foundation
ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
The Sustainable Development Matrix ecological sustainable design tool is founded on a belief that for anything to sustain itself over time, it must optimize or balance each of the following human needs:
- Utility – the “satisfaction,” “incentive,” “desire,” or “pure state” that is to be attained.
- Effectiveness – doing the “right” things with accuracy and completeness.
- Efficiency – achieving the lowest possible input/output ratio.
At its most basic level, sustainable development incorporates these instructions through the broad concepts of People, Planet and Profit. Profit represents the utility to be attained; Planet represents efficiency and the understanding of limited resources; People represents the opportunity for effectiveness. To embody these instructions visually, the Sustainable Development Matrix is represented as a three-sided fractal geometric figure called Sierpinski’s (equilateral) Triangle. Beginning with “The Whole” being “Sustainable Development,” the matrix visually represents green development strategy penetration deeper and deeper into all aspects of project decision-making.
As the matrix goes deeper, the basic instruction of optimizing/balancing utility, efficiency and effectiveness continues to replicate itself. Within the Profit triad for example, utility is manifested through the Create Value principle, efficiency through the Eliminate Waste principle, and effectiveness through the Recognize Interdependence principle. Similarly, the Planet triad is comprised of a Model Nature principle to represent utility, an Energy Flows principle for efficiency, and a Humans and Nature Co-Exist principle for the effectiveness requirement. The People triad includes a Quality of Life principle for utility, a Share Knowledge principle for efficiency, and an Accept Responsibility principle for effectiveness.
Click Image to Visit the Sustainable Development Matrix Ethosolution Page
- Read a complete summary of this tool in our ethosolution feature of the Sustainable Development Matrix
- Here is the link to the complete Fractal Frontier – Sustainable Development Trilogy along with their request to share your reflections and experiences with the original authors, so they may in turn also share them with others to help achieve a sustainable future for us all even faster.
