LIVING BUILDING
by Blu Affleck
Living Buildings: The built environment accounts for over 39% of the global annual carbon emissions. Imagine buildings that are ‘grown’ rather than ‘constructed’ and then continue to grow throughout the buildings life: Continuously absorbing carbon and releasing oxygen Absorbs solar energy into growth via photosynthesis, Naturally shades spaces with seasonal leaf growth The plants evaporative actions naturally cool the spaces Leaves collect and filter air pollution and absorb the sound Biodiversity including flowers and fruit Wellbeing associated with a closeness to nature and the natural world Maintained with the waste organic material including the leaves being collected and recycled for either compost or an energy source using anaerobic collectors Living Buildings not only decrease the huge environmental costs of the built environment but has the potential to nullifying the impact altogether. Finally creating a truly sustainable form of development.
