I thought that the last two chapters of Cradle to Cradle were the best and most inspiring, focusing on what we should be doing in industry and in our daily lives to be more eco-effective. The concept of nourishing the earth and not just sustaining it is a novel one but also a one that should have been obvious to us (look at the rest of the planet). Perhaps that is the "good versus bad" concept that we were bumping up against in The World Without Us. The question should not be "is what we are doing bad for the earth?" but rather "how does what we are doing promote life (of all things) on earth?". And even with this concept Cradle to Cradle avoids "isms" and recognizes the importance of Economy and Equity in designing products (fractal tile page 150).
The redesigning of the Ford plant using experts different sectors and backgrounds reminded me a lot of SMC. Being "undisciplinary" in addressing problems or engaging ideas is crucial to this redesign effort.
If someone could help me understand the heating and cooling system that they described on pages 134-135 that would be much appreciated, between distractions while reading and my inability to visualize it I could use some help on that front.
I think an interesting idea for a next assignment might involve creating a proposal for a landscaped area at Lehigh using only native plants and materials that are eco-effective. Though it is a small and easy step I think this type of assignment (as a group project perhaps?) would be a proactive step.
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