工業綠建築發展

Foreword

A quick, unscientific internet search will yield a plethora of sustainable concepts, data, and discussion but very little detail of the underlying foundation. Much of the so-called research is often based on generalized examples, personal observations, or a single case study. The need for rich documentation that supports sustainable philosophies, ideologies, and individual beliefs and encourages individual action is readily apparent in the field but the contributions are not documented. Buildings are awarded the plaques and recognition comes to the organization as a whole. The real drivers remain individuals who change the way they think, act, and teach others. This means that opportunity abounds for students, teachers, employees, scientists, building facility professionals, and corporate, government and spiritual leaders to contribute to the advancement of sustainability.

The first of two basic tenants to achieve progress on the path to sustainability is that contributions, be it in the form of ideas or physical activities, flow freely from all people regardless of “perceived” or labeled expertise. It is so easy in the search for solutions to turn to the experts rather than allow for a creative solution to evolve from an entire team, corporation or community. Some of the most outstanding green building projects today have not been about the “building” but about the “community” that resulted from listening to each other. What is needed is real collaboration in idea-generation, design approaches, and management techniques.

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An environment, be it at work, school, or home, must be created that encourages consideration of all ideas. It does not “just happen.” Discussions that flow in these comfortable environments produce integrated solutions to complex problems often springing from unlikely combinations of sources. All successful sustainability projects—which in and of themselves are complex and complicated—require the best thinking and best efforts of all. Green school projects can be the models as the teams push to integrate sustainability with green campuses, all led by individuals in many stations of life.

Today there is evidence that individuals at home and institutions world-wide are making progress toward turning the global ship toward sustainability. Many people are realizing that all actions must be considered as being taken by global citizenry, the second of the basic tenants. Individual activities—positively or negatively—do have a global impact on people, plant, and profit. Every culture knows the action of a family working together changes everything. Communities have the same impacts; the difference is scale.

Under the pressure and in the rush of daily life, it is easy to miss the “big picture” as survival or making progress is paramount. When overwhelmed, focus on the goal of sustainability often becomes blurred, even for corporations and communities. Around the world, lessons learned today seem to be coming from those individuals and organizations that are going back to the basic tenants. They take a deep breath, find time to listen and, ultimately, learn and teach globally.

A universal moment of discovery seems to be happening through the exploration of mankind’s ancient leaders and their progress—toward survival for themselves and their families while putting building blocks in place for the future. It was not called green or sustainability but their intentions, hearts, and maybe even discussions were in the same place as the green champions of today. When everyone takes steps from their current foothold, global understanding, knowledge, and some day wisdom will result. Evidence that is possible is every where.