8A - Solving the Problem

My product is to provide more sustainable alternatives to commonplace products to reduce climate change effects. My solution to decrease climate change is to have products and architecture with lower carbon emissions. This could be applied to governments, corporations, smaller businesses, and the common person; so everyone. The level of importance differs between the different sectors because of scalability (governments and big corporations could naturally have a larger impact by switching to sustainable buildings and products).

Different solutions/products:

1. From my interviews I found that the first important step to reduce climate change is to make more people actually aware of the problem. Most of my interviewees were not aware of the scale of climate change and the “close” effects it will have on us (most feel like it does not directly affect them yet). So a solution is to actually SPEAK UP and advocate for this problem. We don’t want big corporations, much less the government we are to fully trust to repress the problem.
2. After advertising the problem, there are very simple steps to reduce climate change that could be done from your home. Reduce energy waste, “winterize” your home to prevent hot air from coming in and keep a cool environment without air conditioning, etc.
3. Invest in sustainable products instead of common more wasteful products. Take some time to google the next time you want to buy something to see if there is a more sustainable option (mainly for larger products such as cars, electronics…) 
4. Sustainable architecture: instead of hiring a normal architecture that doesn’t have a big focus on sustainability. There has to be a relationship between functional and environmentally friendly. They are highly energy and water efficient, comfortable and could even have a positive impact on the environment. This one I feel could have a very large impact on our environment because of the large scale of it. You are removing something wasteful and could substitute it for something that could be even environmentally rewarding. 

I want a diverse portfolio of products that could provide scalability to the consumer. For example a business/government with more money could invest in larger projects (such as the architectural ones) and a common person with average money would invest time and effort into smaller projects (such as lowering emissions in their household). 

Everyone should invest time into promoting climate change dangers, because as seen in my interviews that is the area that lacked the most, and I would say the most important to be able to take advantage of an opportunity. I think if more people were aware they would switch their products to sustainable ones. As an example, newer generations are more involved and active in environmental health because of growing sustainable trends (plastic ban).

Bank of America
Insulated floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light

Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building
Elevators that generate electricity when descending

This website (with the attached photos) is very interesting. It shows various buildings with different sustainable practices that have been implemented in architecture. I chose the two above because it shows both a government and a large corporation implementing sustainable practices. This should serve as a role model and promotion to help the environment.