From a global perspective, why make changes in how housing is built?
Across a variety of regions, world cultures, and demographics people need more affordable housing. Conventional houses in developed and developing nations alike are expensive to build and expensive to maintain. Conventional buildings are subject to damage from earthquake, fire, and vermin. The footprints of conventional buildings keep reducing the surrounding ecosystem viability. A continuous increase in CO2 and related emissions can — and must — be reversed. Of global concern, it is estimated that one-third, or more than 2 billion of the worlds people, are living today in significantly substandard housing. If uncorrected these slum/shantytown residents will increase to 6 billion people, or two-thirds of the then worlds people, in 20 years. Virtually all substantial population growth is expected to occur in developing nations with the highest percentage having either no housing or inadequate housing. As the number of people escalates, efficient use of energy, water, and land for huma
