Accessory dwelling units in Minnesota
Accessory dwelling units provide additional living space separate from the main house. You could use the unit as additional housing for extended family members to give them both privacy and […]
Sustainability
How fish overcame the tragedy of the commons
The tragedy of the commons occurs when individuals acting in their own interest cause widespread harm. It can take the form of overuse of common resources, or of air- or […]
Indigenous fire management
Growing up in California, I remember summer as fire season. Every year the vegetation in the hills around us would dry out. Then it would take just one careless camper […]
Sustainability is good engineering
Engineering has always been about the wise use of resources. Traditionally, the profession focused on resources in the microeconomic sense. That is, the economic interests of the owner, employer, or […]
Yellow dirt: the environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project
Through my work on several National Academy of Sciences committees I’ve come to appreciate the lasting effects on tribal lands—and the peoples who lived there. Several sites around the United […]
Can we restore coral reefs?
Coral reefs are home to a vast diversity of marine life. Like rainforests, they act as “lungs” for the planet, providing 70% of our oxygen. They’re dying out, so we […]
Saint Regis Tower
At 101 stories, the Saint Regis Tower in Chicago is the world’s tallest building by a woman architect, Jeanne Gang. Previous blogs have discussed the work of women architects—both contemporary […]
Material Change report aids in responsible sourcing
Responsible sourcing is the human-rights aspect of supply chains. The idea is that it’s not enough to follow ethical practices within your own business. You also need to ensure that […]
Passive radiative cooling saves energy
As we’ve discussed previously, keeping spaces cool in summer takes a lot more energy than heating them in winter. And some things—such as food and vaccines—must stay cold to remain […]
Managing the water footprint in construction
We’ve discussed the carbon footprint of concrete previously. However, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases aren’t the only environmental effects of construction. Making the best use of scarce resources is […]