SUSD0003 Week 2: Reflection on TED talk

Amory Lovins: A 40 Year Plan for Energy

From that short lecture I realise that there is actually nothing stopping us from ditching fossil fuels and switch completely into green energy. In fact, it is our best interest in every possible way to do so.

I studied a a few courses of economics back in Undergrad. I understand that every rational decision is made towards the best possible option when compared to all that are available. Therefore if an option is not attractive enough, one way to make that the best one is to add economic incentive, a reward.

Switching to sustainable green energy is already the most logical solution to the growing problem of climate change and pollution. However there seems to be a perceived notion that it is expensive or economically not viable to do so. According to Lovins, this is a huge mistake. I agree that green energy is both the best option in terms of planetary well being and business profits. The hitch seems to be that the business benefits are not widely known or visible.

Therefore part of the solution is to make that economic benefit much clearer or even even more attractive by giving certain benefits to those who switch or at least reduce using fossil-fuel based energy sources. Even when the upfront cost is higher, the wider public must be educated that in the long run it is green energy that will save more money. In addition to that, we also need to integrate efforts towards sustainability more. It is clear that the results are better if different sectors work and consult each other.

SUSD0003 Week 1: My ecological footprint

After taking the WWF footprint calculator and hearing through the first lecture introducing the concept of sustainability I realise that I am part of the problem that contributes to the current climate change crisis.
With my lifestyle, even as a thrifty student, I need approximately 3.4 Earths in order to sustain it. Even after I make the pledge to half the amount of meat products I consume I still need 2.7 Earths as the screenshot shows:

I often get the ideas and motivations that as an architect I have the power to change the world. But what is the point of that if I cannot change myself. The concept that design can fix or at least lessen climate change is not completely delusional, it just needs a lot of work and perhaps a new way of thinking.
But first, I realise that I have to change myself first to even stand a remote chance of changing the world.