Sam Wittman:
Near
the English town of Sutton is a housing development unlike any other, where one
can see pedestrians and bicyclists travelling the well-lit streets rather than
high-consumption cars, where the roofs are covered in onyx black solar panels,
and where plants are not treated as unwelcome foreigners. This is the
Beddington Zero Energy Development, or BEDZED, a Zero Net Energy complex of
houses, apartments, and workspace found in England, where inhabitants attempt
to reduce the footprint they produce on the world’s environment, utilizing
innovations like solar panel roofs, “Living Machine” wastewater cleaners,
clever solar heating using strategically placed windows, and producing most
energy used in the complex by utilizing the remains of plants that grow in the
development that would ordinarily be sent to landfills. Use of cars is also
discouraged in order to reduce the amount of energy consumed, with streets and
sidewalks paved to encourage pedestrian or bicycle travel and discourage travel
by car, as well as a carpool program for those who need to drive to work,
school, etc. The complex itself is constructed from recycled or reused
materials, most of which originated within 35 miles of the development in order
to reduce the energy expended on transport. Personally, I would like to live in
BEDZED, as although is produces little waste and consumes little energy, the
brilliant and innovative design by the architects has created a practical area
to live and work in comfort and harmony with nature.
The Venus Project:
The Venus Project is a concept of not just a
city, but of a global society based on changes to the modern city, envisioned
by Architect Jacque Fresco, and currently being funded and researched for
implementation. The Project uses developing technology and architectural
innovations to create a city without competition for resources or energy, and a
resource-based economy in which there are no currencies or monetary value, and
all resources are seen as one’s inheritance. Fresco also calls for an end to
corporations and governments in the society he envisions. The prototype cities
are circular and implement solar panel roofs and other means for energy that
allow the city to coexist with the nature it is built on and not harm the
natural environment. While I like the idea of sustainable communities with
futuristic technologies used to create sustainability, I think his economic
system is flawed and relies too heavily on the abolition of currency to create
social change. While it is appealing to believe that people will be free to do
whatever occupation they please without worrying about finances, one must
realize that there always has to be labor for menial jobs.
Bullitt Center:
In downtown Seattle, an office building is under
construction that will change the way that cities think about making business
eco-friendly. Called the Bullitt Center, it is being spearheaded by one of the
cofounders of Earth Day, Denis Hayes, who claims that the building will be
completely energy neutral and will last 250 years, compared to the 40 year
lifespan of other modern office buildings. The wastewater will be treated in
the basement and the sewage will be shipped elsewhere to be used as compost.
Rainwater will be captured and stored in an enormous underground cistern, and
other water will be kept in geothermal locations deep underground in order to
regulate temperature. The roof will have solar panels on the roof that will
store excess energy generated in the summer and use in the winter when there
will be less Sun and more energy consumption. In addition, in lieu of parking
space, only bike racks will be available to encourage pedestrian transport
rather than high consumption car use. I would definitely like to live in the
building, because it is functional, as well as environmentally friendly, and
energy neutral, in addition to the building’s long life, which would ensure
that construction, renovation, or demolition of the building would not put me
out of a job.
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