Vishaan Chakrabarti: A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity | TED Countdown
TED・7 minutes read
The speaker discusses the need for sustainable housing solutions to accommodate a growing global population by 2100 and highlights challenges faced by current cities in achieving this. They propose a "Goldilocks" scale of two- to three-story housing using local materials and state-of-the-art systems as a feasible and sustainable solution for future urban development.
Insights
- The speaker emphasizes the necessity of clean energy grids for sustainable housing and highlights the challenges current cities face in achieving this goal, pointing to various obstacles in the way.
- The concept of a "Goldilocks" scale of two- to three-story housing emerges as a promising solution for future urban development, offering sustainability, affordability, and support for mass transit while reducing environmental impacts and promoting communal, equitable living.
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Recent questions
How many first cousins does the speaker have?
The speaker has 50 first cousins.
What is the projected world population by 2100?
The world is projected to have almost 11 billion people by 2100.
What type of housing is viable with existing technology?
Net-zero single-family homes are viable with existing technology.
What construction method holds promise for sustainable tall towers?
Mass-timber construction holds promise for sustainable tall towers.
What scale of housing could provide a sustainable solution?
A "Goldilocks" scale of two- to three-story housing could provide a sustainable solution.
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Summary
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Sustainable Housing Solutions for Future Urban Development
- The speaker has 50 first cousins and believes the world will have almost 11 billion people by 2100, requiring 2.4 trillion square feet of new built space.
- Clean energy grids are crucial for sustainable housing, but current cities face challenges in achieving this due to various issues.
- Net-zero single-family homes are a viable option with existing technology, particularly in sunny climates with solar panels, although they can lead to car-oriented sprawl.
- Skyscrapers are not yet carbon-negative due to their energy-intensive construction and operation, but mass-timber construction holds promise for sustainable tall towers.
- A "Goldilocks" scale of two- to three-story housing could provide a solution, utilizing local materials, solar panels, and state-of-the-art systems for sustainability and affordability.
- This housing model, when integrated into cities, supports mass transit, reduces environmental impacts, and offers communal, equitable housing, presenting a feasible and sustainable solution for future urban development.
