Sustainability By Design: A Subversive Strategy For Transforming Our Consumer Culture

Book Review - Sustainability by Design - Professor John R. Ehrenfeld

Yale University Press ISBN: 974-0-300-13749-1
Reviewed by Gerald B. Ansell, PhD.

Professor Ehrenfeld's lifelong experience in Engineering/Product Design and Philosophy at MIT ensure that his book, Sustainability by Design, is the most impeccable, rigorous, scientifically and philosophically based contribution towards truly comprehending, and possibly achieving sustainability ("to Flourish"*) on this planet I have ever encountered.

In the early chapters he educates his readers about the easily recognizable global material and energy imbalances that are currently preventing this from happening. A brief list includes: the insatiable demands by an ever increasing world population for an unsustainable energy supply, climate change, particulate matter and human generated gases spewing into the atmosphere, hunger, poverty, global security, soil erosion, dwindling supplies of drinking water etc.

By distilling the essence of other great philosophers and sociologists works' such as Descartes, Fromm, Heidegger, Maturana and many others the author brilliantly and systematically guides his readers towards a deep, frequently difficult questioning, contemplation and final comprehension of how, during its evolution, the human race has been systematically and increasingly been brainwashed into constantly "Wanting" and "Having" more and more materialistic possessions as opposed to considering less and less what it truly and realistically "Cares" about or "Needs". As a result mankind has, without interruption, moved away from a sustainable coexistence with practically every other eco-component on the planet. It and they are therefore no longer "Flourishing". Since most of these components are interdependent for survival, the human race must relinquish its role as nature's dominant rival and take drastic steps to ensure that it's past, continuing and planned "Non-Flourishing" drivers are revised, and when necessary, introduce Governmental, Industrial and the Citizens Adaptive Governance ("Doers") for all of our planet's components to "Flourish" simultaneously.

Ehrenfeld discusses ongoing "Adaptive" policy actions which have for example brought about the manufacture of the two-button toilet flush. Its design disrupts a user's (President, Peasant, King, Queen, Fireman, Terrorist, Child’s etc.) lifelong habit and causes them to stop and make a decision (high volume or low volume water flush). This induces a needed questioning ("Presencing") as to why we want to use more or less water. As a result, for a split second, this connects the flusher DIRECTLY to the natural world and the pressures upon it. Other examples include car speedometers that indicate mpg the driver is getting at his chosen driving speed. Yet another is the growing presence of magnetic door opening keys in hotels/motels that must be used to switch on electrical power within the rented room.
It is obvious that Professor Ehrenfeld has only given a) broad overview of what is probably Mankind's most complex problem and b) some workable and acceptable remedies - not just temporary "Fixes". However, within its 215 pages are also found a treasury of reference material for the "World's Doers" to lay-out an "Adaptable" plan of action for the upcoming generation of sustainable solutions. The book requires focus and concentration on its complicated themes. Fortunately these qualities are usually found in those who are also concerned about "Flourishing" here on Earth. It is a must read for all the above-mentioned "Doers".

* the use of " " throughout the article indicate the introduction of Ehrenfeld's definitions of items discussed.

Dr Ansell is a Materials Scientist who has spent 55 years working as a Research Scientist, Program and Organization Manager and Teacher in Great Britain and the USA. He has co/authored 50 technical publications in the open refereed literature, 3 patents and 15 plus letters and editorials related to sustainable energy, related national security aspects and economic policy in local and regional newspapers. He is a consultant on Sustainable Energy Policy.