Building a Self-Replicating Model for Global Sustainability
At One Community, we are creating patterns of positive change to regenerate our planet and build a world that works for everyone. Our all-volunteer team is focused on developing sustainable solutions for food, energy, housing, education, economics, and social architecture. By openly sharing the complete process, we aim to inspire a global collaboration of teacher/demonstration hubs, all working towards “The Highest Good of All.”
Together, we are evolving sustainability practices and fostering global stewardship to promote fulfilled living and lasting progress. Our physical location will serve as the first of many self-replicating teacher/demonstration communities, villages, and cities to be built around the world. This is the story of our journey, chronicled through over 12 years of weekly video updates and written posts.
Patterns of Positive Change Through Highest Good Housing
One of the cornerstones of our work is designing Highest Good housing – artistic, beautiful, and sustainably built homes that are more affordable, space-efficient, long-lasting, and DIY-friendly. This process began over a decade ago with the creation of our Earthbag Village, the first of seven villages to be built as part of our open-source model.
Our team of engineers, architects, and designers have meticulously documented every step, from the vermiculture toilet designs to the 4-dome home layouts. Adil, our resident engineer, has been instrumental in optimizing the vermiculture toilet system, conducting finite element analyses to ensure its structural integrity and functionality.
Akshit, an architectural designer, has overseen the evolution of the Earthbag Village plans, refining the CAD drawings and 3D models to enhance clarity and precision. Mechanical engineers like Anil, Joseph, Karthik, and Yagyansh have collaborated to address design challenges, testing solutions and iterating on the vermiculture toilet and load-bearing structures.
Avery, Michaela, and Prarthana have brought their expertise in MEP coordination, code compliance, and site planning to finalize the Earthbag Village’s interior layouts. This holistic approach ensures that each home meets the highest standards of livability, sustainability, and buildability.
Designing Global-Sustainability Systems Through the Duplicable City Center
Alongside the Earthbag Village, we are also developing the Duplicable City Center – a LEED Platinum certified, self-sustaining community hub that can feed 200 people, provide laundry for over 300, and serve as a beautiful, resource-efficient centerpiece.
Mechanical engineer Arnob has led the structural engineering for the City Center’s modular hub connectors, optimizing the design through finite element analysis and collaborative problem-solving. GIS technician Chris has mapped out the City Center’s location within the broader permaculture design, integrating it seamlessly with the surrounding villages.
Architectural engineer Faeq and designer Nika have meticulously crafted the interior layouts, from the eco-kitchen to the dormer window installation plans. Structural engineer Tasmia and mechanical designer Umema have analyzed the City Center’s resilience under varying snow loads, ensuring it can withstand extreme weather events.
These efforts demonstrate our commitment to designing global-sustainability systems – integrating renewable energy, water harvesting, waste management, and community-centric spaces into a scalable, replicable model. The Duplicable City Center serves as a blueprint for transforming urban environments into vibrant, sustainable hubs.
Cultivating Highest Good Food Systems
Another vital component of our work is the Highest Good Food initiative, which aims to establish diverse, nutritious, and locally grown food systems. Our botanical garden model supports biodiversity and provides a foundation for self-sufficient, community-based food production.
The core team has developed comprehensive tools, equipment, and material lists to support the establishment of hoop houses, aquapini, and walipini structures. These passive greenhouse systems extend growing seasons, protect crops, and enhance yields, all while minimizing environmental impact.
Landscape architect Purva has designed integrated outdoor spaces that merge food-producing ecosystems with community gathering areas. Mechanical engineer Jay and nutritionist Syahrina have explored advanced climate control strategies and menu implementation tutorials to optimize growing conditions and food distribution.
Highest Good Energy for Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability
Parallel to our housing and food initiatives, we are also developing Highest Good Energy solutions that promote self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability. This includes solar, wind, and hydropower systems that can power our villages and city centers.
Project manager Panambur Rachan Rao has spearheaded the cost analysis and layout planning for these renewable energy systems, ensuring they can reliably meet the energy demands of our growing communities. Administrative assistant Viktoriia has researched the most sustainable lighting options to incorporate into the Duplicable City Center’s design.
Environmental engineer Yi-Ju has contributed her expertise in stormwater management and hydropower system design, aligning our energy solutions with LEED and other sustainability standards. These efforts are critical in our mission to design global-sustainability systems that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and integrate clean, renewable sources.
Highest Good Education for Lifelong Learning
One of the cornerstones of our work is the Highest Good Education component, which offers learning opportunities for all ages, tailored to individual needs and exceeding traditional education standards. This includes the development of the Ultimate Classroom – a sustainably built, modular learning environment.
Structural engineer Brian and graduate engineer Apoorv have collaborated on the detailed engineering and construction plans for the Ultimate Classroom’s foundations, floors, and wind load analysis. Their work ensures that this innovative learning space meets all safety and performance requirements.
This holistic educational approach is a vital part of our efforts to design global-sustainability systems. By empowering individuals with practical, applicable knowledge, we aim to foster a new generation of global stewards who can continue replicating and improving upon our sustainable models.
Designing Global-Sustainability Systems Through Highest Good Society
Underpinning all of our initiatives is the Highest Good Society approach, which is founded on the principles of fulfilled living, community, and making a positive difference in the world. This ethos guides our administrative team, software developers, graphic designers, and other volunteers as they collaborate to advance our mission.
From the core team managing the weekly progress updates to the data analysts and software engineers working on the Highest Good Network, each contributor plays a vital role in designing global-sustainability systems. They ensure our open-source platforms, communication channels, and visual assets effectively support our community-driven initiatives.
Our Administration Team, led by Muhammad Huzaifah and Sneka Vetriappan, oversees the seamless coordination of volunteer efforts, web development, and software integration. The Graphic Design Team, managed by Zuqi Li, creates visually compelling assets that enhance our brand identity and convey our sustainability-focused message.
The Highest Good Network software, developed by our dedicated teams of software engineers, serves as the backbone for managing and measuring our progress in designing global-sustainability systems. This collaborative platform enables us to track our social architecture, construction, production, and maintenance processes with unparalleled transparency and accountability.
Conclusion: Inspiring a Global Movement for Positive Change
Through over 12 years of weekly video updates and written posts, we have chronicled our journey in creating patterns of positive change and designing global-sustainability systems. From the meticulous engineering of our Highest Good housing to the holistic planning of our Duplicable City Center, each initiative reflects our commitment to establishing replicable, scalable models for sustainable living.
By openly sharing our process, we aim to inspire a global movement of teacher/demonstration hubs that can replicate and expand upon our work. Our vision is to empower communities worldwide to take charge of their own sustainability, empowered by the open-source tools and knowledge we have painstakingly developed.
As we continue to evolve and refine our approaches, we invite you to join us in this transformative endeavor. Together, we can design global-sustainability systems that regenerate our planet, foster thriving communities, and create a world that works for everyone. Visit https://jointactionforwater.org/ to learn more and get involved.
