How do we dramatically
cut down on greenhouse
gas emissions,
lessen our dependence
on fossil fuels and become
more energy-efficient without
arguably wrecking the
economy?
So far, no one’s come up
with a viable answer, largely
because we keep looking at
global warming from the
same angle. The result is
tunnel vision—we keep
missing the forest for the
trees with remedies like cleaner cars, fewer smokestacks,more renewable
energy sources. Each is necessary,
but solves only part
of the problem.
What we need is a paradigm
shift in the way we
view energy consumption.
It’s architecture—
residential, commercial
and industrial buildings and their construction
materials—that account for nearly
half of all the energy used
each year. And it’s the architects who hold the key to turning down the global thermostat..........
