Vishaan Chakrabarti: A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity | TED Countdown

TED2 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.
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