[2] The other major contributor was a New England ecological research center, called The New Alchemy Institute, which conceptualized the PEI Ark.
The goal of the New Alchemy institute was to study non-violent and non-lethal methods to secure the future of humanity as stated by one of the project's participants.
[2] The New Alchemy institute also gathered together intellectuals and activists from ecological and economic movements to promote and work on the PEI Ark Project.
Precedents and inspiration for the Ark building were sourced from E. F. Schumacher's Small is Beautiful, Amory Lovins "soft energy paths" concept, and Buckminster Fuller's Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth.
The social trends that created the interest in green architecture like the Ark; included the youth movements in the 1960s, the global activism in the 1970s, and the ongoing tension of the Cold War.
A public discussion began about human environmental impacts, and food production drove the concept for the Ark, which was meant to demonstrate the viability of alternative energy and sustainable living practices.
The Ark was repurposed multiple times in the next decade, as a restaurant, community center, bed and breakfast, and motel.
[6] (- 13) Solar panels that would be used to collect the sun’s energy that would be stored and used, a wind turbine that would generate electricity to be stored and used as addition electrical source, a rock and water heat storage system was used for heat exchange (was located in the basement), insulation heavily fortified the walls and roof system, south facing windows, ultraviolet and infrared-permeable glazing was used on the greenhouse windows, windows located on the greenhouse side that were angled in a way to reflect more winter sunlight onto the solar panels.
The resulting design properties enabled the individuals who inhabited the building to engage in the ecosystems of their living environment as a new means of lifestyle.
In addition to this greenhouse space, there were also large containers (water tanks) which housed fish that were used to farm as another source of food.
And the tank water which consisted of the byproducts (excrements) of the fish and other organic matter was used as another source of nutrients to aid plant growth.