Page 66 - Green Builder May-June 2020 Issue

www.greenbuildermedia.com/building-science-central

SMART CITIES

Smart Green Building

in the Age of a Pandemic

Human health has become the world’s No. 1 issue.

BY TERRY BEAUBOIS
IRST OF ALL, I hope that everyone reading this is healthy
and that your family members are healthy, as well. I do
know people who are directly affected by health issues
currently. I reside in Santa Clara County, Calif., one of
the hardest-hit areas in the U.S. and I’ve been sheltering
F in place since February. Ready to work.
Up until now, the building industry in the multi-county San With the arrival of
Francisco Bay Area has been limited to “essential” projects, such as the New Normal,
airports and highway construction. It has just been announced, that green builders will
many construction projects will be allowed to proceed now, includ- need to be
smarter and more
ing residential projects. creative to get
We all are waiting to see how the recovery and return to business their jobs done.
as usual proceeds in the different parts of the world. In the U.S.,
this will differ by state and local jurisdictions for your area. We all CREDIT:XAVIERARNAU/ISTOCK
know that countries and people worldwide are well aware of the
seriousness of this significant global crisis and that it is impacting
all industries, including residential and commercial building.
professionals and clients will continue during this time and after
ONLINE MEETINGS AND CLASSES BECOME THE NEW NORMAL the coronavirus concerns are over.
During this period of time, where everyone has been forced to use
online communications—some for the first time—I’ve been in online SMART CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES, AND HOMES
meetings of educators at universities and major corporations, and in A university-level class that I have taught in-person annually at
contact with members of the building industry. Everyone is looking Stanford University has just been selected to be one of the courses
forward to returning to normal, and many people are looking forward offered online later this this year. My lecture in that course is about
to continuing the benefits that the increased use of online has pro- Homes, Towns & Villages and University Campuses, and explores
vided. Many people are envisioning a reduced need for commuting how “smart city” concepts, including green building, can be applied
in the future or even continuing to work from home in full-time in to the many non-urban areas throughout the world. We have taught
jobs that would allow for this. variations of this class online for two years at other universities, so
Education systems and training systems are already increasing we are more prepared than many to “online our class.” For many in
their online activities to continue their educational activity during education at all levels, the new requirement of teaching online is a
periods where campuses are closed and students have been sent major shift for teachers and the students, all now in their homes
home. This includes college programs for building industry profes- teaching and learning remotely. One result will be more educational
sionals, such as architects, engineers and construction professionals, and professional continuing education classes, and training more
as well as the educational training programs for jobs in building widely available online in the future.
industry trades.
In addition to education, this is true throughout the building indus- THE ENVIRONMENT RESPONDS
try as well. Many building projects in design phases continue as Some side effects of this pause in normal activities have included
professionals use online technology to communicate and collaborate things such as the water in the canals in Venice, Italy, which are now
remotely—so much so that the term “Zoom fatigue” has entered running much clearer than ever. There are people in India who can
common use. Increased use of online communications between now see the Himalayas clearly for the first time in 30 years, due to

60 GREEN BUILDER May/June 2020 www.greenbuildermedia.com

5/21/20 4:11 PM
60-61 GB 0520 Smart Cities.indd 60 5/21/20 4:11 PM
60-61 GB 0520 Smart Cities.indd 60