Physiological NEeds Dive In

Human Physiological Needs: What It Takes to Sustain a Healthy Life

Understanding human physiological needs is essential for creating environments and systems that support well-being and sustainability. These needs are not just about survival—they’re about maintaining a balanced, efficient, and health-promoting lifestyle. Below, we break down these core requirements and the infrastructure that supports them.

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The Foundations of Human Physiology

All sentient beings require energy to live—to think, move, regulate temperature, and maintain internal systems. In humans, energy primarily comes from the oxidation of food using the oxygen we breathe. Food is broken down into essential nutrients that serve both as fuel and as building blocks for the body. Blood, composed mostly of water, distributes this energy and nutrients throughout the body.

Maintaining a body temperature around 37°C is ideal: it’s warm enough to protect against fungal infections, but cool enough to avoid the need for excessive food intake. The body uses water (through sweating and transpiration) to regulate this temperature. Water and nutrients that are not used must be expelled, and the brain requires regular rest for memory processing and recovery. Avoiding toxins and harmful microorganisms is also fundamental to preserving health.

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Level One Needs: The Basics of Daily Survival

Breathing

Humans inhale approximately 11 m³ of air per day, which corresponds to around 0.5 m³ of pure oxygen as 5% of the inhaled oxygen is consumed. This continuous oxygen intake is essential for cellular respiration and energy production.

Light

Light is not just practical—it’s psychological. It helps us navigate, provides a sense of safety, and supports mental health by stimulating serotonin production. While daylight is naturally available, artificial light is needed after sunset for well-being and productivity.

Eating

A balanced diet providing 2,000 kcal/day (roughly 8,300 kJ/day) is typically required. This equates to about 500 g of dry food per day, or 400 kcal per 100 g. Meeting this need depends on food production systems capable of providing diverse and nutritious crops.

Drinking

Humans need about 2 to 2.5 liters of water daily, with around 1 liter typically consumed through food. That’s roughly 1 m³ of water per person per year. Hydration is essential for every bodily function, including temperature regulation, digestion, and waste removal.

Rest

Regular, high-quality sleep is vital for brain function and overall recovery. Ideally, this takes place in a calm, soft environment. Silence and comfort not only improve rest but also enhance focus and mental clarity.

Health Support

Good health enhances quality of life and improves the body’s resilience to illness and injury. Access to preventive care, medicine, and recovery tools is essential.

Environmental Conditions

Temperature and humidity play a critical role in maintaining health. Stable, moderate conditions reduce energy expenditure and help prevent illness. Adequate humidity supports comfortable breathing and healthy skin while still allowing for effective perspiration.

Toileting and Cleaning

Cleanliness improves comfort and drastically reduces disease risk. Efficient waste removal and regular hygiene practices (including body, clothing, and living space cleaning) are essential. However, over-cleanliness can reduce immunity, so a balanced approach is recommended.

Relationships, Goals, and Activities

Social interaction, purpose, and movement are key to emotional health. These needs require time, freedom, education, and access to transportation and safe, stimulating environments.

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Food: How Much Land Does a Person Need?

To sustain one person’s annual energy needs, about 1,000 m² of cultivated land is required. For example, average rice yields exceed 2,000 kg/ha or 200 g/m². These figures are consistent with yields seen in high-efficiency agricultural regions like France.

Agriculture also relies on nutrient inputs, which can be sourced via mining or (preferably) through waste recycling. Efficient food production demands automation, specialized tools, energy, skilled labor, and knowledge transfer. Harvested food must then be processed—washed, cooked, stored, and distributed—all of which benefit from industrialization.

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Water: Quantity, Efficiency, and Recycling

On average, around 100 liters/m² or 0.1 m³/m² of rainwater falls on land annually. This can be enough for crops, especially when using smart irrigation methods like Oyas, which minimize waste and target water delivery to roots.

In the worst case, 100 m³ of water per person per year might be required for agriculture. Personal water use (about 1 m³/year) can be partially recycled. For example, about half evaporates and re-enters the environment. Domestic water use (toileting, showering, cleaning) varies based on infrastructure and can often be optimized and recycled with the right systems in place.

Efficient water usage—along with recycling, storage, and distribution—depends on industrial infrastructure, energy, and ongoing education.

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Environmental Control: Shelter and Comfort

Maintaining optimal indoor conditions requires structural protection (roofs, walls) and systems for heating, cooling, or insulation (like clothing or HVAC). A semi-closed building typically offers the best environmental control. Mobile shelters (cars, buses) extend this protection outdoors.

Plants in indoor environments improve humidity and air quality. Controlled exposure to varying outdoor conditions helps the body build resilience and adapt to environmental changes.

Needs: Clothes (cotton, synthetics), roof, walls

Nice to have: Air conditioning

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Toileting and Cleaning: Hygiene with Balance

Cleanliness supports longer, healthier lives. Personal hygiene, clean clothing, and sanitary living spaces reduce exposure to pathogens. However, over-cleaning may weaken natural immunity, so a balanced approach is advised.

Access to water and waste disposal systems is critical. Waste materials often contain valuable nutrients and should be recycled whenever possible. Cleaning agents should be safe, effective, and easy to produce without harming health.

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Rest, Focus, and Connection to Nature

Daily rest and calm environments support cognitive recovery and emotional regulation. Separate spaces for sleeping (bedrooms) and thinking (offices) enhance productivity and well-being.

Outdoor environments, especially green spaces, offer psychological and physiological benefits. Ideally, people should have:

• A small nearby area for daily access

• A medium-distance area for variety

• A larger nature space for occasional deeper immersion

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Relationships, Goals, Entertainment, and Effort

Strong social bonds thrive in safe, stimulating environments. Dedicated spaces like meeting rooms or social hubs (cinemas, sports arenas, theaters) foster meaningful interactions. These require thoughtful infrastructure and planning.

Education and knowledge sharing can happen in person or online. In-person experiences are often richer but require more energy and time due to transportation. A hybrid approach offers flexibility and efficiency.

Home-based entertainment offers relaxation without the need for transport. With proper equipment, this can be highly rewarding.

People generally need access to one activity space at a time. Considering a variety of options, 200 m² (about 1/3 of a football field) per person is a realistic estimate for entertainment and recreational space.

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Health Support: Tools and Knowledge for Well-being

Illness and injury are inevitable, but with the right tools, medicine, and knowledge, their impact can be minimized. Dedicated healthcare facilities and trained professionals are key to maintaining a high quality of life.

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Level Two Needs: The Infrastructure Behind Survival

Raw Materials

Gathered through mining or recycling, raw materials must be processed before use. These form the basis for everything from clothing to electronics.

Industry and Processing

Transforming raw materials into usable products requires energy, water, people, infrastructure, and space. Efficient industry boosts the availability of tools, infrastructure, and food systems.

Transportation and Distribution

Efficient movement of people, goods, and materials is essential. Roads, railways, and sometimes flights are used to balance speed and energy efficiency. Wildlife protection should be considered in infrastructure planning. Storage systems for food, goods, and energy also play a crucial role.

Administration

Governance, financial systems, and service coordination ensure that needs are met efficiently and fairly. Political structures help manage resources and societal priorities.

Energy

Energy powers everything—from personal comfort to industrial processes and transportation. It can be harnessed directly from the sun, Earth’s core, or indirectly via wind, water, or biomass. Gathering and distributing energy effectively is critical for every aspect of modern life.