So, what is an EcoVillage?

Hi again!
This week’s topic is: “So, what is an ecovillage?”

When I first started attending some of Altair’s meetings, I had no idea! I started to look into the concept and do some research. I quickly learned there are many types.

Broadly speaking, the goal of an EcoVillage is to live more sustainably. The term "sustainability" is used to indicate programs, initiatives, and actions aimed at the preservation of a particular resource. However, it actually refers to four distinct areas: social, ecological, cultural, and economic – known as the four pillars of sustainability. All four are present in an ecovillage.

Beyond that: Some ecovillages are spiritual, some focus on farming, some seek to improve the quality of life in an urban neighborhood. Many have a population of around 50-250 individuals, but there are no definite population guidelines; some are smaller and some are larger. You can learn more about ecovillages here.

An aerial view of the Dancing Rabbit EcoVillage in Missouri (they grow most of their food here on 280 acres!)

Altair plans to have around 30 homes with 60-70 individuals. To achieve living more sustainably, Altair has an extensive list of ideas, including following the Passive House model (which you can read about here), resource sharing (including electric cars), energy conservation, solar hot water, solar photovoltaic arrays for electricity, using recycled materials for construction, and more! Its vision and values are detailed here.

An example of Ecovillage housing in Ithaca.

One of the ways Altair will be living more sustainably is by following the Cohousing model. Next week’s blog post will be discussing the Cohousing concept. Stay tuned!