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Article: Sustainable Design Aims for Energy-Efficient Buildings: Goals Include a Decrease in the Consumption of Resources.
- Article from:
- San Diego Business Journal
- Article date:
- December 10, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 CBJ, L.P. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Since 1940, we have used as much of the earth's mineral resources as all of humanity's previous generations combined.
Sustainable design is an approach to building that protects the natural environment and creates healthy indoor spaces. Although sustainable design is currently enjoying resurgence in popularity, some of the best examples date back to past civilizations.
For example, the cliff dwellings of the Southwest feature high mass walls that temper the transfer of heat and cold as well as south-facing orientations, that optimize sunlight in winter while providing solar shading in the summer.
These sustainable design strategies -- high mass ...