06 06 11 Low Impact Living

One of the things we love about the bioshelter is how little impact it has on the world around it. Built into the mountain, it draws heat from the earth. With a south-facing wall of windows, it draws heat from the sun, which shines directly onto a great thermal mass situated directly in the solarium. Drawing its water from rain and snow, it does not need a well. And using composting toilets, it does not need a septic system.

It does have both a ceramic wood stove (old technology, but very clean and very efficient) and a gas boiler for supplemental heat in the winter, both of which do put out small amounts exhaust into the air. There is also a drain to allow the cistern to overflow (clean water only) when we get too much precipitation. And I will blog on how the urine separator works on a different day. However, there is very little that flows out of the house into the environment.


This low impact design marks a very different approach to living than most construction in North America. Until recently most homes in America were designed primarily with the human residents in mind and with relatively little concern for the earth or the other living things nearby. Americans have been especially slow in thinking about the affects that our septic and sewer runoff has on the environment.


When I was in Seattle two weeks ago I learned that the bay in front of Seattle has absorbed so much caffeine from sewer runoff that caffeine shows up in measurable quantities in the fish caught there. This, of course, is a telling indicator of the dietary habits of Seattleites. Just as telling, though, is the fact that fluoride and other drugs (like prozac!!!) are showing up in measurable quantities in the ground water of much of North America. Our generation often seems to be blind to the impact our outflow has on the world today, and on the future of all living things.


It is not clear to me how a culture so affected by the Judeo-Christian tradition has allowed itself to be so short-sighted. Maybe it was a blind assumption that an easier life today will automatically provide an easier life for future generations. If so we were mistaken. Living for an easier life for today without estimating the cost for the future sounds rather selfish given the environmental impact we see. Indeed, the faith tradition out of which I come is consistent in its call for a wide and long view of all aspects of life.


  • When God established the people of Israel, Abram and Sarai learned that the blessing is for them and for their descendents for all time.
  • They were also told that they were to be a blessing to the nations, not just to themselves (Genesis 12:3b);
  • The prophets made it clear that establishing societies of justice is essential for people of faith, and that God’s judgment against them will come if they do not care for the poor, the downtrodden and the land that God gives them (Amos 2:6-8, Amos 6:1-6);
  • When Jesus came as Savior, he began with teachings, healings and miracles for the Jews. But after an encounter with a Syrophoenician woman, Jesus immediately provided those same teachings, healings and miracles in the non-Jewish nations beyond Israel’s bounds (Mark 7).

Living to participate in patterns of life that provide for all, including providing into the future, is essential for people of faith, who have been taught that right relationships is what true spiritual life is all about.


It is gratifying to see some of the many moves currently being explored toward better home building. Still, a deeper change is needed. Ultimately, it is not technology that will save us. Ultimately, salvation is about a change of heart—a change in how we see ourselves. Improving the general visceral awareness of being in relationship with God and all creation is essential, both for the good of individuals, and for the wellbeing of all.


Of course, I don’t know of any sure-fire method of bringing this kind of change to our world. What Cindee and I can do is live our own lives as well as we can, and encourage people to dialogue with us about what they are learning and doing, regarding living with a long view of things.

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