The buzz word of the year seems to be "GREEN." You can't turn on the news or any other channel without hearing talk of global warming and environmental responsibility. The truth be told architects and designers have been dealing with this subject for 50+ years even if it fell on deaf ears and before that it was unheard of for a building not to interact with the environment. It was pure necessity. But for the majority of the consumer population it was a non issue until celebrities decided to get on board. This made it cool to be "GREEN" although most people haven't a clue what being green means. They think if they have all the so called "GREEN" products in their 300,000 SQFT mansion it's ok for them to have such a large foot print. Let's not forget the cost to maintain the life style they are accustom to. Never mind that the fossil fuels that are consumed to heat their pool because they have bamboo floors. What about the cost of getting the bamboo from Asia to America. For the fuel consumed just in shipping alone, you would be better off recycling old hardwood floors but those are not considered so "GREEN".
So why the rant? Well I think it's appropriate for people to understand what it takes to have a zero emission home. Everything has to be considered from the products used to the size and method of construction. So how about one in the Antarctic? Well thats just what the Princess Elizabeth Station claims to be. And where more fitting than in one of the few places that is relatively pristine.
http://www.antarcticstation.org/
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