Article 9: Sustainable and Regenerative Spaces
by Dhruv Raina – Seeker, Environmental Engineer
On average, we spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors 1 where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations 2 . In the U.S. we improved our outdoor air quality as it impacted our scenic vistas in our National Parks and public health with the enactment of the Clean Air Act of 1963. Unfortunately, we made the air quality in our ashrams, our homes, and places of work worse by making them airtight for energy conservation and introducing
chemicals that are invisible to the human eye but affect our daily lives. Remember the new home smell or a new furniture smell, it is nothing but volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from the materials used to manufacture these products. Additionally, our buildings have a direct effect on the climate with buildings contributing to 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions (Figure 1).
Therefore, the buildings we live, work, play and pray in have a direct impact not only on the earth’s climate but also our mental and physical well-being. Research has found that employees or students who work in buildings where fresh air is adequately circulated and distributed are more productive and healthier than those who work in poorly ventilated spaces 3 . Our homes,
workplaces, temples, schools, and centers are sacred spaces that enable us to fulfill our responsibilities. So what if these spaces could be regenerative like nature, giving more than they consume? The September Prthvi Sevasanga workshop will present a case for buildings as healing environments – for humanity and for Our Mother. Be sure to join us!
1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1989. Report to Congress on indoor air quality: Volume 2. EPA/400/1-89/001C. Washington, DC.
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1987. The total exposure assessment methodology (TEAM) study: Summary and analysis. EPA/600/6-87/002a. Washington, DC.
Action to Implement
Post your reflections & observations in the comments section below ⬇️
🌱 September 2022: This month, review the Green Building list & commit to 1 simple and 1 challenging item to implement in your community/center.
Past Months Action to Implement
🌱 August 2022: This month, read the Prthvi Seva Guide & commit to at least one practice to make your center/community more sustainable.
🌱 July 2022: This month, take a closer look at your travel impacts:
🔢 Estimate the carbon emissions of your mode of travel, lodging, food, and purchases
🙋🏻♀️ Commit to making one change to reduce your carbon footprint
🌱 June 2022: This month, take a closer look and identify your food waste as:
🍌 food prep scraps
🍽️ plate waste (unfinished food)
🤦🏻♀️spoiled or unwanted foo
🌱 May 2022: Implement the following actions.
- Reduce food Packaging.
- Learn about local and seasonal foods.
- Support a local grower & shop at Farmer’s Markets.
🌱 April 2022: Sahasra Vrksha Sankalpa – As a CommUnity, bring your heart and hands to the ground to plant 1000 trees together. Track and share here.
🌱 March 2022: Contribute to the health of our planet and the health of beings by doing the following:
Each day take inventory of what goes in the trash.
Identify the most common item.
Find an alternative that eliminates this waste.
🌱 February 2022: Implement the following and encourage others to follow:
- Unplug chargers when not in use
- Use the ‘Energy Saver’ mode on phones & laptops
- Use cold water for laundry & line dry
🌱 January 2022: Identify 3 actions you do that help the environment and 3 actions that harm it
September PS Workshop
