[Ted Talk] The business logic of sustainability by Ray Anderson

resource: https://www.ted.com/talks/ray_anderson_on_the_business_logic_of_sustainability



At his carpet company, Ray Anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional "take/make/waste" industrial system on its head. In this talk in a gentle, understated way he shares a powerful vision for sustainable commerce.
There has been a conflict between keeping green considering social and economic benefits.
We have reached, or at least very nearly reached, the point at which use of sustainable practices is the most profitable solution for a wide range of companies. More and more I'm driving past factories with solar panels or wind turbines on the roof. As the scale of the renewable energy manufacturing industry increases (i.e. more people are making solar/wind products, thus price falls) so it becomes more and more cost effective for businesses to make the investment. I think that a change of focus is needed in order to arrive at a sustainable industry reality. One of those changes, a fundamental one, is mentioned in Mr. Ray Anderson's talk. Profit must not be the driving variable of the equation. Furthermore, if in order to turn a profit a business has to operate in such a manner that harms the environment, then it's not a profitable business at all, and couldn't really be called sustainable either because while it may be making money now, it is depleting the resources of tomorrow.

[Ted Talk] How to build with clay and community by Diébédo Francis Kéré

resource: https://www.ted.com/talks/diebedo_francis_kere_how_to_build_with_clay_and_community

In this TED Talk, Aga Khan Award-winning architect Diébédo Francis Kéré explains how to build a community with clay. With his firm Kéré Architecture, the Burkina Faso native has achieved international renown by using local building materials and techniques to engage and improve local expertise. Earlier of this blog has mentioned the LEED system cannot be applied in certain regions such as rural Africa. It is one of Africa's major challenges, the lack of stone with which to build. Techniques that allow Africa to take advantage of the abundance of clay, is nothing short of a miracle. Native structures in West Africa are beautiful, very carefully and skillfully built. However they are not able to withstand the punishing rainy season and often last only a few years. This is a major breakthrough for rural communities in West Africa, provided the techniques can be shared and implemented elsewhere. Like this example certain areas requires specific consideration of local condition and environment to seek for solution of building to be sustainable. This is an inspiration talk to continue to find local solutions to our local challenges and bring innovation and creativity to the forefront of our education system. The materials he uses in his buildings are easy to get , cheap and very accessible which is important to the success of the projects .

[Ted Talk] Hedonistic Sustainability by Bjarke Ingels

resource: http://www.ted.com/talks/bjarke_ingels_hedonistic_sustainability

In this video Bjarke Ingels shares his enlightened view on Hedonistic sustainability, challenging the misconception that one must give up a portion of their comfortable lifestyle in order to live sustainability. Ingels counteracts that delusion with examples that illustrate the possibilities of sustainable buildings and cities increasing life quality. He encourages architects to embrace their expanded roles of becoming “designers of ecosystems” by creating a world where our presence is not seen as detrimental to our environment through the integration of our “consumption patterns and leftovers” into our natural world.

I do agreeBjarke got this point that we should design the environment not just simply add the cool features or gadgets of sustainability in the buildings. However to live sustainably we’ll need to upend certain energy/political power structures (oil/weapons manufacturers/conservatives – for example) that are very wealthy and who’s leaders live incredibly lavish and therefore wasteful lifestyles. While it’s true that average people’s lifestyles would probably be overall better (more healthy and enjoyable) if sustainability were more common, the rich people who build buildings and who run our planet would have to sacrifice a fair amount of their luxurious lifestyles (including ridiculous things they even take for granted at this point like 4th homes) in order to pay for these better buildings and better cities for the rest of us.

GREEN BUILDING 101: Materials and Resources Part 1—Sustainable Building Supplies Read more: GREEN BUILDING 101: Materials and Resources Part 1—Sustainable Building Supplies | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

resource: http://inhabitat.com/green-building-101-materials-and-resources-part-1-sustainable-building-supplies/



This article serious introduces choosing material wisely and ensure the those you select are a part of the whole picture of sustainable home. These are the very ingredients that go into a building, and choosing them wisely makes all the difference in terms of the overall impact of the structure throughout its life.
Here are come check list to choose appropriate sustainable material;

• Sizing up your home
• Framing the argument
• Looking local
• Durability is desirable
• Environmentally preferable product
• Waste management

However, there is no evidence (other than manufacturers’ claims) that pre-fab uses less material than site built construction. The waste that is generated is concentrated in one location, but I have yet to see anyone substantiate the claim that there is less of it. Also, in the long term, replacing panels can be much more resource intensive than patching drywall. Prefab is great in a lot of ways, but I think the sexiness of it has a lot of people disregarding the efficiency of stick framing; it doesn’t get more modular than that. Not to mention that pre-fab is pretty much the most site in-sensitive building type, and the least local. It is still great piece to read and be aware of selection of suitable materials for house.

[Ted Talk] A reality check on renewable by David Mackay

resource: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_mackay_a_reality_check_on_renewables

In this pragmatic talk, David Mackay, information theorist and computer scientist, tours the basic mathmaics that show worrying limitation on our sustainable energy options and explains why we should pursue them anyway.
This talk is thought-provoking. Many of us have come to believe that biomass/renewable are the long-term solutions to the renewable conundrum we are in. The information and mathematical calculations provide compelling arguments that a paradigm shift will be needed to sustain our continued population growth and consumption patterns. To wit, if we continue with our current patterns (increasing population, increasing longevity, accrued use of resources, in the east and continued heavy use in the west, a tipping point will (or already has) occurred.

Journey to the Center of New York: Can Design “Cure” Our Cities?

resource: http://www.archdaily.com/219084/journey-to-the-center-of-new-york-can-design-cure-our-cities/

This article discusses medicalized language in design to force  healthiness in design to revitalize the idea of being green. It introduces urban renewal project in NY City 'High Lane' and 'Delancey Underground'.

High lane success as a public, meeting space where people connect and itself harmonize with urban fitting. 

The Delancey Underground urges us to reclaim these old, “sick” places as “healthy” and valuable, to see their potential as innovative, “curative” public spaces.

Design can persuade us to make choices which are beneficial to our health. But this isn’t about the curative properties of ‘good’ design, it’s more about the negative qualities of apathetic design. If I use, pass through, live or work in a space where the designers were more like apathetic planners, it sends a message that makes me want to put less effort into bettering myself. After all, if the designers didn’t really care about how much enjoyment I would get out of a space, they didn’t care about me. And if they don’t care about me, why should I care about myself? Putting effort into a space, into a city, and drawing attention and focus towards those spaces does the opposite, if designed to dissuade those negative behaviors. If using the stairs is more pleasant than an elevator then I will walk to my office instead. The message conveyed by anonymous designers who will likely never meet me, who still took the time to think about my experience with a space is a message that says I matter and that I am worth caring about. And suddenly, I have a reason to care *for* myself. The curative property comes in caring about a space and the people who use it.

Michael Green presents ‘The Case for Tall Wood Buildings’

resource: http://www.archdaily.com/220779/michael-green-presents-the-case-for-tall-wood-buildings/

Co-author Michael Green explains, “To slow and contain greenhouse gas emissions and find truly sustainable solutions to building, we must look at the fundamentals of the way we build – from the bones of large urban building structures to the details of energy performance. We need to search for the big picture solutions of today’s vast climate, environmental, economic and world housing needs.”

I personally thought this article was very relevantly important to me since as a group research project our group has chosen to discuss about potential of timber as sustainable construction material. The study introduces a new construction model for tall buildings known as ‘Finding the Forest Through the Trees’ (FFTT). This structural solution utilizes mass timber panels – solid panels of wood engineered for strength through laminations of different layers – to achieve a much lighter carbon footprint than the functionally equivalent concrete and steel systems.It’s an interesting concept. The idea is that the trees as they grow, absorb the carbon dioxide. If they’re cut down, the wood will hold the carbon forever, until it decomposes or is burnt. If it’s burnt, it gets released back into the atmosphere, but if it decomposes, most of it goes back into the soil. So essentially, it really does work as a carbon sink, and is actually carbon *negative*, better than carbon neutral. As for mass harvesting of trees, this report is out of BC where they have a strong sustainable forestry industry.

[Ted Talk] The route to a sustainable future by Alex Steffen

resource: https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_steffen_sees_a_sustainable_future

I do agree that people need to live smaller, closer and work harder to provide food, water and shelter for the greater good. Great examples from developing world but democracy is a very poor example of sustainability. But we should be careful and acknowledge the gap between theory and practice. Also I am not highly convinced by the argument that high density leads to higher sustainability. If every person in the world had 1 acre and worked from home then couldn't we all be self sufficient? The uglier solution is to limit population increases. All the resources needed to resolve the major problems on the planet have been available for years, but the will to change political and economic priorities of society have not. As a result, increasing global wealth has been accompanied by increasing global poverty. And even though leaders may have good intentions, their efforts to implement change are constrained by the existing system.  I believe that technology and design are a part of the solution, but the even larger part of the solution is social changes, because social change can happen more rapidly

China Unveils Plans to Build an 8,000-Mile High-Speed Underwater Railway Line to America Read more: China Unveils Plans to Build an 8,000-Mile High-Speed Underwater Railway Line to America | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

resource: http://inhabitat.com/china-unveils-wacky-idea-to-build-an-8000-mile-high-speed-underwater-railway-line-to-america/

China plans to build an 8,000+ mile railroad (sounds plausible) connecting China, Russia, Canada, and the U.S. that includes a 125 mile undersea tunnel spanning the Bering Strait! The plan was announced in China’s state-run newspaper, the Beijing Times, and apparently Russia is already on-board with the plan. While it would be nice to travel from China to America in two days without setting foot in a single airport, engineers around the globe are skeptical.

I personally find this idea interesting and seeing the potential of new transportation system. I think it would be much better then shipping for passengers. While ships or boats are always useful, I don’t believe it is possible to create a ship that’ll move fast enough to get thousands of passengers across the sea in just 2 days time. Not to mention, the economic and environmental tolls ships have. Granted this project would cost way more money then trying to come up with faster ships, this project’s costs would primarily be on the labour side of things which ultimately means that it would actually benefit our economy rather then hurt it and if they designed the system properly then the affects on the environment wouldn’t really be that bad.

Capture the Rain / H3AR

This is interesting proposal awarded a special mention for 2010 eVolo skyscraper competition. This project comprised of a system of gutters to catch as much rainfall as possible.  The water captured and processed by the building may be used for flushing toilets, feeding washing machines, watering plants, cleaning floors and other domestic applications. Initially, in designing the tower, the students focused on shaping and modelling the surface of the roof to optimize the rainwater collected.  Yet upon working with the roof system, the students developed the skin treatment to make the building transform into a cohesive rain collecting machine.
I think is a very good design concept. I certainly believe such can be a residential building and the water catchment is a very good alternative for water consumption. I just hope the façade concept will capture rain water as the design shows.
Still a great concept and i like the form. However, storing the water in a basin at the bottom of the tower will require a lot of additional energy to pump it back to up for use on higher floors. Retaining it closer to the top (as it looks like may be the case for the water in the catchment on the roof) will allow for gravity to do the work. 

Why LEED Doesn’t Work in Rural Africa and What Will

resource: http://www.archdaily.com/375906/why-leed-doesnt-work-in-rural-africa-and-what-will/

Recently my friend back in Korea who took bachelor degrees of Architectural studies in UNSW together has contacted me. While we were catching up he mentioned he is taking this course to receive LEED certification and tells me it is a big trend all around the world. Hmm..is it? While I had this doubt in my mind I found an interesting article about LEED does not work in some areas and why.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and has become the most recognized standard for “green” building in over 30 countries worldwide. LEED is a point system that grades buildings throughout design, construction and performance. However, many more of the points are simply irrelevant or financially irresponsible. In some cases, adherence to these credits can actually be detrimental to project success and community prosperity. When considering rural development in Africa, the needs and standards of construction must shift not simply to a new geographical and cultural context, but to one of development needs and capabilities. Energy standards must first recognize the importance of electricity itself a major step forward. What Africans want is to develop. Therefore they need energy that can be produced on an industrial scale. Like clean coal burning, oil production and electricity. I suggest that we should start first by allowing them to achieve this instead of imposing them our environmental propaganda. 

(image showing existing kitchen rennovated with new roof and fuel efficient wood burning stove; Courtesy of Charles Newman of Afritekt)

[Ted Talk] We can recycle plastic by Mike Biddle

resource: https://www.ted.com/talks/mike_biddle

Although I concede that he is taking correct steps towards proper recycling, by sorting by type and grade, and palletizing the material which allows greater latitude for production, he fails to mention the biggest problem with recycling plastic: needing virgin plastic. When plastic is recycled it has become exposed to both macro and micro stresses, for example being stretched or exposed to UV rays. This breaks down some of the molecular bonds within the plastic, and even re-melting and re-forming the material does not allow it to retain all of the characteristics that it once held. You may think that this is not that big of a deal, a plastic bag that's not a s strong only means you double-bag it right? Consider all of the things in your life that you would not like to fail: the PVC pipe that connects to your facet, fittings in your car... The truth is the plastics end up becoming objects with less inherent value, because other additives must be included into the recycled objects in order to make them stronger...