SAFFRON Group has had ongoing, discussions about the “words” used to express complex concepts such as our vision & purpose and even more importantly how to go about “measuring” these concepts.
When the term Triple Bottom Line (TBL) was adopted in 2007 by the United Nations it was hailed as a new standard of measurement. People, Planet, Profit seemed a huge leap. Graphics were produced, seminars given and monitoring systems were put in place to track these 3 criteria. Soon afterward others added a 4th element to the newly formed Quadriple Bottom Line and included Spirituality as a fourth leg of the table. I always felt that there was still something missing and although I embraced the spirit of the concept, questioned it’s ability to grow favor and actually evolve.
As the program developed , sub-categories of tracking were also implemented for the overlapping of each element (Bearable, Equitable, Viable) which all also overlap onto the nucleus of “Sustainability”.
From a High Performance Design/Build viewpoint, Sustainability is a point of Neutrality (“100% less bad” – Wm. McDonough) What we strive for is Regenerative Design and a “Living System” that requires the inhabitants to mindfully participate with nature to co-evolve the whole system. I sure like that word “co-evolve”. It opens a lot of doors to exploration and experimentation on so many fronts. It’s also kind of hard to screw up “evolution”, so it becomes more R&D than anything else. Bill Reed and his group at Integrative Design Collaborative have an excellent graphic for this system and have been true leaders in this field for a very long time. http://www.integrativedesign.net/trajectory.htm
Adding Spirituality to the equation seems to add support and framework to a formula that can now reach beyond “metrics” and into the Real Bottom Line we all want to cash in on at the end of the day. Our Life’s Purpose. This is the core of SAFFRON.
I was once asked to put together a program for medium sized commercial buildings that would track among other things, energy usage and other assorted facilities related criteria. It was a bit of a no-brainer and I came up with hardware/software that field personnel could tap into a hand held database and track any given project from design through occupancy (eventually remotely from a central location) with all the data stored for future projects. This exercise got me thinking about how myopic these criteria were in the big picture of things. Sure, a building owner can reduce his energy costs and hopefully offer good air quality, but is this all there is to a “facility”. This has always been my issue with the LEED (USGBC) rating system, it’s a great start – but there is so much more that is needed.
What if Homes, Neighborhoods, Organizations, Corporations, Cities, States, Countries, Planets actually had in place a support system that could actually measure your “Life’s Purpose” with you and really support you in achieving all you wish to be? You could actually Co-Evolve with others as different threads of visioning in a larger fabric of purpose. All the while being fully supported along a shared path. These core concepts of being and purpose can be tracked and measured quite simply once the purpose is stated and the vision embraced. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to even “want” to begin and take the “first step”.
Western media scoffed at Bhutan suggesting a “Happiness Index” for their countrymen. Perhaps it hit too close to home and (as is often the case) the “resistance” was in fact the answer.
We have the existing technology to create and maintain “Living Buildings” and easily track the “metrics” involved in their construction and use for the future. We can easily instill the “kaizen” methodology of constant improvement for the next generation of structures at very little cost.
SAFFRON Group has had a Core Development Model that addressed these elements from inception. We are committed to developing what we call “Living Proof” that will track and store data under four key indexes that measure positive CONTRIBUTION as opposed to usage.
Global
Regional
Community
Personal
Just as a medical center will draw in sick people, a metric that gauges positive contributions will attract mindful individuals who will want to create mindful homes in mindful communities with mindful companies and on and on…………. I am not suggesting Utopia. In fact the majority of the existing population will reject this all flatly.
What I am suggesting is a step-by-step program whereby individuals begin today to just ask themselves one question:
“What is my life’s purpose” ?…………………………………and we’ll go on from there.
