This challenging and exciting text gives an insight into the real changes that are necessary to give our modern day built environment both 'sustainability' and 'survivability'.

The book is based on the premise that climate change is going to happen and its impacts on our lives are going to be far worse than generally expected. Sue Roaf argues that many modern buildings are not only 'unsustainable' in themselves but are also having a catastrophic effect on the global climate.

In a unique argument, she illustrates that the only way we can hope to survive the following century in fact is if we not only begin to radically reduce CO2 emissions from our buildings and stop building climatically disastrous building types but also build only the buildings that can survive in the changed climates of the future.

Throughout the book, traditional and modern building types are used to: explain the history and impacts of climates past, present and future on buildings; set the scene in terms of the history of building development of where we are now and where we are going in terms of sustainability and survivability of buildings; develop two main scenarios of future building development with the 'business as usual' model and the 'survival plan' model, and to make a list of recommendations based on the two scenarios of what actions should be taken by architects, planners and engineers as well as local and national governments, businesses and ordinary people in ensuring the true sustainable nature of the built environment. >from *Adapting Buildings and Cities for Climate Change. A 21st Century Survival Guide* by Sue Roaf, David Crichton and Fergus Nicol. ISBN: 0-7506-6099-6. Published December 14, 2004

Energy-inefficient houses help to suck up the 50% of the entire US energy demand. The 50% that goes into powering buildings.

related context
> living beyond our means: natural assets and human well-being. millennium ecosystem assessment report. march 30, 2005
> peaking of world oil production: impacts, mitigation and risk management by robert l. hirsch, roger bezdek and robert wendling. published by the u.s. department of energy. february , 2005
> state of the world 2005. january 14, 2005
> iraqi homes show u.s. how to build. february 4, 2005
> climate change: message from the artic indigenous peoples. december 21, 2004
> oil peak: the most pivotal challenge facing modern civilization. june 23, 2004
> hassan fathy. "how do we go from the architect/constructor system to the architect-owner/builder system? one man cannot build a house, but ten men can build ten houses very easily, even a hundred houses. we need a system that allows the traditional way of cooperation to work in our society. we must subject technology and science to the economy of the poor and penniless. we must add the the aesthetic factor because the cheaper we build the more beauty we should add to respect man."

imago
> will buildings stop to fart?

comments

I have heard that 70% of the energy consumption is in industry, along with (commercial, goods) transport and another significant part in 24% over- illuminating shops, bussines offices and urban landscapes...

being so true...

what is the point in reducing the energy consumpiton of housing a 50% which at best may only have a 10% impact in the global energy bill?

so...

do they tell us to safe energy so they can use more?

who are they?

how much we are they?

it is nice to make efficient cars... but it is evil to keep facturing cars and incessantly renewing the cars population... with microchips, carbon fiber, flat screens and all the rest...

..purifiing the silicon crystals for the solar cells may cost more energy than that the cell provides during its conventional life-time...

so?

posted by victor at april 8, 2005

U.S.A. Sectoral Share of Energy Consumption (2003E): Industrial (33%), Transportation (27%), Residential (22%), Commercial (18%)

Information contained in this report is the best available as of January 2005.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/usa.html

posted by josep at april 8, 2005