Protein^®

A few weeks ago, we asked if you would help us imagine what comes after green, to imagine the sustainable society that we both need and want to live in. Many of you responded with clever, inventive and thought-provoking ideas for building that world. Some of you called for a world where no one went homeless or hungry, where no one had to fight in senseless wars and where no one suffered abuse. Others called for an end to institutions and infrastructure as we know them, suggesting more functional and sustainable alternatives to our transportation, education, economic and waste systems.

And although each idea presented an imaginative and inspiring vision, we (as promised) have selected our favorites. Our choices were made because they are possible, positive, innovative and concrete. So without further ado, here are the winners:

Imagine no mines.
Imagine a world where all the mineral resources we will ever need as a society have been extracted, and circulate perpetually in the economy, being endlessly transformed from finished goods into raw materials, and back again, with nothing input except renewable energy. This is a world of increasing material efficiency, and static population, in which standard of living is not defined by quantity of materials consumed. Buildings are de-constructed and re-assembled. They are designed with this in mind. Acid mine drainage is a thing of the past, and the mountaintops of West Virginia have regrown their deciduous veneer. Landfills are systematically emptied, and the copious resources placed within them by previous generations are re-organized into their useful constituent parts.

Posted by: Zane Selvans

Imagine no roofs.
Imagine using all of that precious space to create verdant nature in the city, recreational opportunities, and gardens to grow organic food. No longer will cities be vast swatches of hardscape that produce a heat island effect. No longer will stormwater be directed via downspouts and storm drains to pollute the rivers and oceans. Exciting new communities in San Francisco seen here and here and in China plan to transform the previously underutilized space on top of buildings into sustainable systems and usable space.

Posted by: Ryan Lehman

Imagine no streetlights.
Imagine being able to see stars in the city--real stars, great gauzy swathes of stars, not the feeble two or three we can see now. Imagine the feeling of being small you get in the country because you can see so much; you can feel your place in the universe.

In addition to obscuring stars, light pollution is linked to depression, unhappiness and lowered productivity. It also confuses migrating birds and animals. And--several studies have shown that lighting does not reduce crime, it just helps the criminals evaluate their targets more easily.

Posted by: Ruben

If you are enjoying reading these, please check out all the initial entries from the Worldchanging Team and community on the original Imagine What Comes After Green post.

As an organization that loves to collaborate and trade thoughts and ideas, we would like to recognize everybody who took the time to submit their ideas. Thanks, everyone, for your continuing support of the Worldchanging community!

Design credit: Morgan Greenseth
Help us change the world - DONATE NOW!
(Posted by WorldChanging Team in Features at 1:30 PM)