Nature Guiding Green Building

Builders, architects and designers are increasingly looking to nature for guidance as they try to build greener and more sustainably.

1 minute read

May 4, 2009, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"A small but growing number of architects, building engineers and scientists who design building products are looking to animals and plants for inspiration to address the challenge of being kind to the Earth while retooling the manmade environment."

"Wild creatures have been adapting to their natural worlds longer than us and may have answers to the riddle of building shelter while conserving resources. And avoiding pollution. And slowing down the burning of coal and oil for electricity and so many modern comforts."

"...The Biomimicry Institute wants to hear from architects, building engineers and developers, and asks: What are the problems keeping the greenest buildings from becoming even greener?"

"'Is it insulation in buildings? Is it roofing?' Allen asks. 'What are the most pressing concerns that we feel the natural world could offer the best solutions on?'"

FULL STORY: Nature's success (despite us) inspires green-building mimics

Thursday, April 30, 2009 in The Oregonian

Architecture Energy Environment World Sustainability Green Building Biomimicry View More

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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