Updates from the Sage Mountain Center

Sustainable Living

"People cannot maintain their spiritual roots and their connections to the past if the physical world they live in does not also sustain theses roots." — Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language

Sustainability can be defined as a material or energy source which, if managed carefully, can provide at current levels indefinitely. Sunlight energy is sustainable. Wind energy is sustainable. They require no input, and merely need to be channeled to support human necessities. When we talk about sustainable living we are referring primarily to the components that make up our homes, and communities. Sustainable living also includes our consumption, recycling, and disposal habits.

The construction and operation of our present conventional houses is one of the most energy-intense activities humans engage in. With little thought given to the materials that go into our homes we are unknowingly perpetuating a linear process of life--taking, using, discarding-- instead of a cyclical, sustainable process which bares in mind where a material originated and where it will return to. The sustainable process should perpetuate, if not enhance it's starting point

The principles of sustainable home design ask us to consider efficient energy and resource use at every stage of the home-building and operating process: choice of materials, landscaping, water, air, disposal, electrical systems, transportation of materials, construction, site selection, planning and design elements. Ideally, a "green" building is one that is built in harmony with the sun and the land. It requires little fuel to heat or cool, operates on little or no outside electricity, and is healthy to live in.

Remember: even though very few of us can live a 100% sustainable lifestyle, we can begin immediately by taking small steps now. Changing light bulbs to compact fluorescent, adding more insulation to our homes, sealing up air leaks around windows and doors, replacing inefficient appliances, orienting our structures to utilize sunlight, etc.-- by using energy and materials as efficiently as possible, we slow the consumption of non-renewable resources, like oil, natural gas, propane, coal, and so on. This immediately curbs the rate at which we put pollution into the atmosphere, landfills, and surface and ground water. You will also save money by taking these steps.

Feel like an adventure into the mountains of Montana to see solar electricity, solar hot water, wind generation, year-round greenhouse, straw bale/cordwood building technologies, and an environment designed to nurture the spirit? We offer scheduled tours to groups and individuals, tailored to your specific interests. E-mail us at smc@sagemountain.org or call (406) 494-9875 to arrange a time. Tours last about 1.5 hours and cost $10 per person. Click here for directions on how to find us. An all-wheel drive may be needed if the road is muddy or icy. Feel free to call ahead for road conditions.