Whose idea was it to build our modern buildings out of glass? Floor to ceiling windows may provide a beautiful view but they force building owners and managers to install highly energy consuming heating and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) to regulate against sunlight or lack of. No wonder buildings account for as much as 40% of total energy consumption. Before the emergence of plate glass in the 1930s, buildings tended to be constructed with thick walls and small windows, which while insulating well, did not allow for adequate ventilation and depended on interior daytime lighting. Now, as we move into a smart, energy-efficient era, our buildings’ outer layer, or skin, is due an upgrade. Some in the sector are looking to biology for an answer. “What I propose is that our building skins should be more similar to human skin, and by doing so can be much more dynamic and responsive,” says Doris Kim Sung, a […]