Self-sustainability
Encyclopedia
A system is self-sustaining (or self-sufficient) if it can maintain itself by independent effort. The system self-sustainability is:
Self-sustainability is considered one of the "ilities" and is closely related to sustainability
and availability
. In the Economics literature, a system that has the quality of being self-sustaining is also referred to as an autarky
.
be a random variable that denotes the steady state number of external entities on which the system depends. Let 
be the probability that the system depends on 
external entities, 
. Then, the system self-sustainability, 
, is 
.
2. Let
be the expected time during which the system is self sustaining from time 0 up to time 
. Then, the system self-sustainability is the steady state fraction of time in which it is self-sustaining, 
exists whenever an entity can survive or continue its activities without external assistance. Autarky is not necessarily economic. For example, a military autarky would be a state that could defend itself without help from another country.
applies to the future maintainability of one’s self-sustainability and indeed one’s existence. Many believe that more self-sustainability guarantees a higher degree of survivability. But just as many oppose this, arguing that it is not self-sustainability that is essential for survivability, but on the contrary specialization and thus dependence.
Consider the first two examples presented above. Among countries, commercial treats are as important as self-sustainability. An autarky
is usually inefficient. Among people, social ties have been shown to be correlated to happiness and success as much as self-sustainability.
To achieve self-sustainability, one should not depend on anything produced by the modern world. The following are ways one could do to achieve self-sustainability:
1. Reduce gas consumption
2. Reduce the use of electricity
3. Reduce the use of air conditioners and heating
4. Be self sufficient with food, options such as growing your own vegetables can always help.
5. Become less dependent on money
- the degree at which the system can sustain itself without external support
- the fraction of time in which the system is self-sustaining
Self-sustainability is considered one of the "ilities" and is closely related to sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
and availability
Availability
In telecommunications and reliability theory, the term availability has the following meanings:* The degree to which a system, subsystem, or equipment is in a specified operable and committable state at the start of a mission, when the mission is called for at an unknown, i.e., a random, time...
. In the Economics literature, a system that has the quality of being self-sustaining is also referred to as an autarky
Autarky
Autarky is the quality of being self-sufficient. Usually the term is applied to political states or their economic policies. Autarky exists whenever an entity can survive or continue its activities without external assistance. Autarky is not necessarily economic. For example, a military autarky...
.
Formal definition
1. Let be a random variable that denotes the steady state number of external entities on which the system depends. Let be the probability that the system depends on external entities, . Then, the system self-sustainability, , is .2. Let
be the expected time during which the system is self sustaining from time 0 up to time . Then, the system self-sustainability is the steady state fraction of time in which it is self-sustaining, Political states
AutarkyAutarky
Autarky is the quality of being self-sufficient. Usually the term is applied to political states or their economic policies. Autarky exists whenever an entity can survive or continue its activities without external assistance. Autarky is not necessarily economic. For example, a military autarky...
exists whenever an entity can survive or continue its activities without external assistance. Autarky is not necessarily economic. For example, a military autarky would be a state that could defend itself without help from another country.
Labor
According to the Department of Labor of the state of Idaho, an employed adult shall be considered self-sufficient if the family income exceeds 200% of the Office of Management and Budget poverty income level guidelines.Peer-to-peer swarming
In peer-to-peer swarming systems, a swarm is self-sustaining if all the blocks of its files are available among peers (excluding seeds and publishers).Self-sustainability and survivability
Whereas self-sustainability is a quality of one’s independence, survivabilitySurvivability
Survivability is the ability to remain alive or continue to exist. The term has more specific meaning in certain contexts.-Engineering:In engineering, survivability is the quantified ability of a system, subsystem, equipment, process, or procedure to continue to function during and after a natural...
applies to the future maintainability of one’s self-sustainability and indeed one’s existence. Many believe that more self-sustainability guarantees a higher degree of survivability. But just as many oppose this, arguing that it is not self-sustainability that is essential for survivability, but on the contrary specialization and thus dependence.
Consider the first two examples presented above. Among countries, commercial treats are as important as self-sustainability. An autarky
Autarky
Autarky is the quality of being self-sufficient. Usually the term is applied to political states or their economic policies. Autarky exists whenever an entity can survive or continue its activities without external assistance. Autarky is not necessarily economic. For example, a military autarky...
is usually inefficient. Among people, social ties have been shown to be correlated to happiness and success as much as self-sustainability.
To achieve self-sustainability, one should not depend on anything produced by the modern world. The following are ways one could do to achieve self-sustainability:
1. Reduce gas consumption
2. Reduce the use of electricity
3. Reduce the use of air conditioners and heating
4. Be self sufficient with food, options such as growing your own vegetables can always help.
5. Become less dependent on money
See also
- AvailabilityAvailabilityIn telecommunications and reliability theory, the term availability has the following meanings:* The degree to which a system, subsystem, or equipment is in a specified operable and committable state at the start of a mission, when the mission is called for at an unknown, i.e., a random, time...
- List of system quality attributes
- Self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency refers to the state of not requiring any outside aid, support, or interaction, for survival; it is therefore a type of personal or collective autonomy...
- SurvivalismSurvivalismSurvivalism is a movement of individuals or groups who are actively preparing for future possible disruptions in local, regional, national, or international social or political order...