The construction industry's role in the current climate crisis is deeply concerning: spanning material production, construction, and building operations, the sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. At the same time, urban populations are growing at historic rates, and when looking at the development of large cities—which are major energy consumers—it seems that reducing the discipline's impact relies on small-scale community and individual initiatives rather than broad political and professional actions.
History shows us various local techniques and materials that have proven sustainable over time through the efficient use of resources that require no heavy industrial processing and eliminate the need for long-distance transportation. In some cases, at the end of their life cycle, materials like adobe and timber can even be returned directly to the environment.
