In a rapidly changing planet where global warming represents the biggest challenge ever faced by the civilization of mankind, humans across the globe must unite to find solutions by using their creativity and ingenuity. As the leader of the free world, and the world's largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions, the United States inherits a great responsibility to lead the way in finding resolutions to the climate crisis. Unfortunately, the last three decades offered little in the way of U.S. government action on the subject. The interests of big oil and coal took precedent over the increasing scientific evidence and growing, world-wide consensus of the existence and dangers of global warming. Conversely, local and state governments took the lead on working to find solutions to climate change by investing in their communities and renewable energy. During the same time, developing countries around the world showed the possibility of a transition to clean power sources and that by empowering their people, economies can prosper without sacrificing the environment in which they live. Meanwhile, design professionals from all over the world continue to show brilliance in the creation of sustainable spaces in which to work and live. The following work details some of the projects and ideas helping to make the world a more sustainable place.
People often call energy the “Achilles Heel” of America and the pursuit of clean and renewable forms of energy becomes more important everyday. The midwestern United States possesses the potential to supply 150% of the power demands in America through wind energy, a fact not taken lightly by small-town governments across the area (2). The farming-based midwest suffered economically in recent decades as corporate farms bought out local farmers and big cities lured away the younger generations, but the communities of the region found a new cash crop: harvesting the wind. As state governments offered tax incentives, citizens organized groups of people to support locally- owned, wind farms. The concept took off so fast that major wind turbine companies opened factories in the region, further stimulating the economy. The program exemplifies a trifecta of environmental protection, economic development, and clean, low-cost, long-term energy. Communities across the country should use this success story in developing their own energy and economic plans.
Other communities recognize the importance of energy in improving their standards of life. In developing countries, though, this energy often comes from sources that compromise the environments in which its users live. For the people of Bangladesh, what started as a simple idea from one man became a thriving “economic tree”, from which many offshoots and branches provide renewable energy and improved living standards. Dr. Mahammud Yunus felt the potential of his countrymen could grow exponentially if they only possessed the means by which to empower themselves. Yunus applied the concept of micro-lending, in which smaller amounts of money are loaned to start businesses and then paid back over time at very low interest rates, and opened a lending institution called the Grameen Bank (2). The success of the venture exceeded anything Yunus ever imagined, empowering citizens, stimulating businesses, and eventually bringing him a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. The work of Dr. Yunus shows that investing in people offers an infinite return on the original loan.
In addition to pollution and emissions from energy sources, buildings and automobiles also contribute huge amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. In America, buildings consume 40% of our energy, release 50% of our emissions, and take up about 25% of our landfill space from their construction and consequent waste (1). The need for energy-efficient and sustainably designed buildings becomes more important everyday. Architects like Ken Yeang and Werner Sobek respond to this demand and show that building greener allows for healthier environments, as well as monetary savings. Through his work with lightweight and recyclable building materials, Sobek proves the possibility of human progress without damage to the natural environment. By spending more time on the design phase of a project, Yeang's buildings save up to 80% on energy costs through intelligent design ideas, such as elevators that only run when they sense a person approaching (1). The interconnected relationship between man and nature provides the foundation from which Yeang's work builds upon. Another designer pushing the limits of how we create things, William McDonough, also focuses on integration with the natural world. His co-authored book, Cradle to Cradle, revolutionized the way industries make their products. Rather than viewing the manufacturing process with the current “cradle to grave” mentality, in which resources become products and end up in the landfill, McDonough prefers a closed cycle, in which products either assimilate safely back into the earth or find new life within the industrial loop. He constantly asks himself and others, “How do we love the children of all species for all time?”(1).
The automobile industry would do themselves a favor by asking McDonough's question. After a century of technological advancements and great scientific discoveries in many fields, the average car in America gets less miles per gallon than Henry Ford's Model T in 1908 (2). In fact, more electric vehicles than their gas-powered counterparts roamed the roads of the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century(2). While practically every other industry moved progressively forward in the 1900's, the automobile manufacturers seemed to take a step back. Although most of this stagnation results from the lobbying power of the oil and auto industries, the American public shows little interest in demanding more efficient cars. The rising cost of petroleum stimulates demand for possible alternatives to today's gas-guzzling SUV's. The technology for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles already exists, but the incentive for automakers to build them does not. American voters must pressure their government officials to pursue more efficient cars that release much less, if any, carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We must also take steps to reduce our carbon footprints by driving less and changing our patterns of such extreme consumption. A grim, polluted future awaits us if we fail to make such changes.
Of course, the real problem may not be the cars themselves, but rather the oil they run on. The country of Brazil realized, after the oil and energy crisis of the 1970's, that using oil to fuel their cars and economy provided some obvious drawbacks. The first deals with depleting reserves and rising prices of oil worldwide, while the second stems from the political instability of many oil-producing countries. Brazil made a connection with a resource already growing in many parts of the country: the sugarcane plant. In a process similar to making beer or wine, Brazilians began fermenting huge amounts of sugarcane to produce ethanol, a bio-fuel. Meanwhile, the Brazilian government worked with automakers to design and build engines to run on ethanol instead of gas. The result of these efforts provides one of the greatest stories of sustainability in modern times, and one that could benefit the U.S. tremendously. You would be hard-pressed to try to buy gasoline in Brazil; the entire country runs off either ethanol or a gasoline-ethanol mix (2). More importantly, Brazil grows their own fuel and relies on zero oil imports from unstable countries.
The current climate crisis poses many challenges but also offers the chance for resolution and cooperation on a global level. While other countries invested in the research and development of alternative energies during the last decade, the current administration in Washington, D.C. chose to sit back and continue to subsidize the oil industry. In response to the lack of federal support, states, businesses, and individuals in America seized the opportunity to show that eco-friendly choices offer economic rewards. On a global level, the embrace of new technology and a focus on empowering the people within communities provides hope for the future. In the U.S. and abroad, small-scale projects continue to show promise for large-scale applications. Great minds from all over the world continue to push the limits of design and prove that our greatest, renewable resource may be our ingenuity.
Bibliography: 1.Design e²: The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious. Dir. Tad Fettig. DVD. PBS Home Video, 2006.
2.E₂ Energy: The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious. Dir. Tad Fettig. Narr. Morgan Freeman. DVD. PBS Home Video, 2007.
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