Green Buildings and Communities

摘要

@@ The Problem and Opportunity The design and construction of buildings are critical to our energy future and to the quality of human life. The average North American spends 90% of the time indoors, 5% in vehicles, and only 5% outdoors1. We construct buildings to improve our relationships to family, work, community and place, yet they often do the opposite. The built environment uses 40% of the energy we use2 and modern so-called energyefficient, sealed buildings often waste energy, reduce ventilation rates and promote asthma (which has doubled in North America since the 1980s).