The book starts with the clear values that motivated and guided the project’s members: sustainability, co-operativism, equality, social justice and self-management. It outlines how they were driven by challenges and concerns over the need to respond to climate change and energy scarcity, the limits of the ‘business as usual’ model of pro-growth economics, and the need to develop resources so that communities can determine and manage their own land and resources. The author’s story is interspersed with vignettes on topics such as decision making, landscaping, finance and design.
The book summarises academic debates on the key issues that informed the project, and gives technical data on energy and land issues as well as practical ‘how-to’ guides on a range of issues such as designing meetings, budget planning and community agreements. Low Impact Living provides clear and easy to follow advice for community groups, practitioners, government, business and the development sector and is heavily illustrated with drawings and photographs from the architectural team.
Paul Chatterton is a writer, researcher and campaigner. He is Reader in ‘Cities and Social Change’ in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds where he cofounded the ‘Cities and Social Justice’ Research Cluster and the Masters programme in ‘Activism and Social Change’. He has written extensively on urban issues and movements for social and ecological justice. More information on his work can be found at www.paulchatterton.com.