Sustainability Technology at the Most Local Levels
At the Level of the Body
As Human beings, we are living within a highly technological and sophisticated piece of equipment, the physical body. Knowing how to use this technology is key to gaining the utmost benefit and satisfaction from it; and, as with any piece of equipment, maintenance is necessary to increase longevity and ensure proper working order of the constituent parts. Yoga as a technology, addresses both the proper use and maintenance of the body. Sustainability of the mind-body machine demands an awareness and refinement of the bio-processes that inform daily life. Yoga is an ancient technology and is known to increase strength, flexibility, emotional stability, and the capacity to think critically; which leads to better decision making, and, in turn, to better health.
At the Level of the Home
A healthy home (much like a healthy body) generates the energy it needs to be self-supporting. Now consider the health of the home. Expanding on the notion of local sustainability, we can turn our attention to the very buildings we occupy on a daily basis. Sustainable practices are a wonderful way to begin developing the “health of our home”. For example: harvesting solar energy, composting, water harvesting, and urban gardening are but a few of the ways we can reduce our carbon footprint while simultaneously building a stronger relationship with our local ecosystem. Building “green” or retrofitting a current structure to include sustainable technologies may unfamiliar, but it is the way of the future. New "green" building technologies are being introduced to harvest energy from the very structure for use within the building, itself. By capturing natural and clean energy there is a reduction of reliance on and consumption of fossil fuels. Building responsibly is as important for the health of our planet as living responsibly is for the health of our bodies. In real terms, by adding solar panels to the roof of our facility, SRI has been able to generate more that 100% of the energy it consumes on a monthly basis, with the surplus being sold back into the energy grid for use elsewhere.
At the Community Level
When our community members are sustained and healthy, healthcare costs are immediately reduced, and the entire community benefits.
Cost of Prevention < Cost of Treatment = Decreased Healthcare Costs
