Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies

The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, informally called CRS, is a small residential, classroom, research, and dining facility at Cal Poly Pomona. Based on regenerative principles of sustainable design and sustainable agriculture the center offers both a minor and a Master of Science in Regenerative Studies. Masters theses generally consist of students researching and implementing an element or elements of sustainability through Regenerative (also known as Cradle to Cradle) principles.

Mission Statement

"Taken from LCRS website"

"The mission of the Lyle Center is to advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and community outreach. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature.

Located on 16 acres (6.5 ha) within the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Center researches and demonstrates a wide array of regenerative strategies, including low-energy architecture, energy production technology, water treatment, organic agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable community development.

The Center is administered by the College of Environmental Design, and offers a Master of Science in regenerative studies as well as a minor program at the undergraduate level. Faculty are drawn from departments across campus, creating a unique interdisciplinary learning environment."

History

The CRS was conceptualized in the late 1970s by John T. Lyle, professor of landscape architecture from the university's College of Environmental Design. In 1992 the facility was built, and by 1994 the center housed 20 students for the first time.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Center was designed by Dougherty + Dougherty Architects, LLP in conjunction with a team of University Staff from an array of interdisciplanary Colleges and Programs on the campus. Other portions of the Center were designed by a local architecture and landscape firm, the Claremont Environmental Design Group (CEDG).

The center conducts numerous sustainable and agricultural practices, including photovoltaic cells, solar hot water cells, student community gardens, wind turbines, permaculture practices. Rooms are designed to moderate temperature and humidity with passive solar building design techniques, rather than unnecessary air conditioning. The buildings are primarily made of concrete, farmed cedar wood panels and metal roofs of copper.

The Center is currently managed by department chair Kyle Brown and Juan Araya.

See also

* Appropriate technology
* Cradle to Cradle
* Sustainable development
* Sustainability

Sustainability: Anaerobic digestion • Appropriate technology • Biodegradable plastic • Biofuel • Economics of biodiversity • Ecovillage • Energy conservation • Environmental design • Energy development • Environmental technology • Low-carbon economy • Permaculture • Recycling • Renewable energy • Sustainable agriculture • Sustainable design • Waste management • Water

External links

* [http://www.csupomona.edu/~crs Cal Poly Pomona Center for Regenerative Studies]

* [http://www.powerfromthesun.net/jtlylecenter.htm People, Place, and Solar Responsibilities] , an overview about CRS

* [http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC35/Lyle.htm]