This month’s curated articles reflect an urgency among thought leaders who recognize that the cards are on the table and the stakes are high.
TOUGH GREEN LOVE
The Washington Post Magazine published a feature on architects Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, the husband-and-wife duo behind the influential vacation town of Seaside, Florida. Three years ago the couple stepped down from day-to-day management of their Miami-based firm to focus on redefining sustainable design. In short, they say it's too late to simply try to mitigate climate impacts by reducing carbon emissions. "What Duany and Plater-Zyberk want to see instead is a tougher, more urgent type of green architecture that works to ensure our built environment can stand up to the next century of climatic assaults," wrote David Walter.
In The Washington Post Magazine (2,600 words)
A New Gold Standard for Green Architecture
EURO CHIC IS IN THE HAUS
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said this month she will set up a "new European Bauhaus" to help give a "distinctive aesthetic" to the climate transition needed in the built environment and consumer goods. The editorial board at The Financial Times, warned of the dangers in mixing art and politics, but also recognized the idea might be just what's needed to inspire businesses and households to embrace the necessary costs and behavior changes. “Ms von der Leyen has spotted that smart design and aesthetic innovation have a role to play in making both the economic and the cultural transformations we face go more smoothly,” they wrote.
In The Financial Times (550 words)
A New European Bauhaus for a Green Transition
SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT...
Jason F. McLennan, founder and board member of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) published a long article in his firm's quarterly magazine laying out the five requirements for a design assignment that could halt and reverse the worst of humanity's impacts on the planet. In order: decarbonize everything; ban all single-use plastics and red list chemicals; conserve all remaining biodiversity; terraform the planet; and vote for love. "This list is by no means a comprehensive accounting of all that needs to be done to heal the planet, but by addressing these five big things we will accomplish a massive sea change for the better," he wrote.
Excerpted in TrimTab (1,700 words)
Humanity’s Grand Design Assignment: 5 Big Things to Save Life as We Know It
Better Late Than Never
In February 2009, I published an editorial on SustainableBusiness.com, bemoaning the slow adoption of promising smart grid technologies. Georgia Power had recently installed an AMR meter on my house and called it a “smart meter,” even though it was only capable of reporting billing data. “[W]hen will I get one of these Internet-connected devices that monitors the energy use of my appliances, tells me how to cut costs and allows me to integrate my own power sources with the grid?” I asked. Well, nearly a dozen years later, some U.S. homeowners are finally gaining access to home energy management (HEM) tools via their utilities. We developed this article with Powerley, explaining how their software and hardware solutions are helping some residential utility customers adjust to the increased energy burden caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Utility Dive (1,000 words)
Home Energy Management Is a Lifeline
Free Download For You (PDF)
21 Green Building Publications That Want Your Articles
Includes descriptions, rankings and tips on submission
RESOURCES
Bill Browning and Catherine Ryan of Terrapin Bright Green published a long-awaited biophilic design guide with RIBA.
The Canadian Standards Association published a report produced by Arup, analyzing the high-rise modular construction industry.
Schneider Electric released a white paper on the next generation of building management systems (BMS).
Three market reports were released this month that may be of interest:
Zero-energy Buildings Market Report by Technavio
Green Buildings Materials Market by Technavio
Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings Market Report by Industry Research
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Please take care of yourself and your neighbors.
Bart King
