A Proposal

Below is a brief overview of the proposed timeline for establishing better building practices for low-income markets. It is worth noting that these various stages are not understood in a binary sense. All are happening all of the time in varying degrees. Instead, this overview highlights the projected seasons of emphasis. This proposal does not seek to impose any particular solution upon a given community, but rather to provide practical information to help inform ongoing decision making processes.

Research & Innovate (Years 1-3)

Our aim is to establish sustainable, climate resilient buildings for poor people that are market competitive. In order to achieve that goal we need to devote our attention towards developing a holistic grading rubric to assess the true value of structures and test conventional practices against alternatives.

Understanding all of the ways that structures impact both our natural and built environments is the first step to building sustainably. Testing the results of various materials and methods proves pointless if the set standards run counter to the well being of individuals, communities, and the natural environment. In that light, developing a holistic set of metrics to evaluate both the short-term and long-term impacts of a structure is vitally important. By first reliably understanding the impact of buildings on our lives, we can then begin the rather straightforward work of understanding the building materials and methodologies that provide the most positive impact.

Sample Set of Metrics

Initial Construction

• Financial Costs

• Environmental Costs

• Timeline

• Skillsets

Stress Events

• Self-conditioning (loss of power)

• Recovery (generational abandonment)

• Resilience (natural disaster)

Focusing research efforts on holistic performance within real world contexts grounds results in practical applications and serves as the foundational source of the study. Creating a field lab where dozens of variably-controlled cottages are closely monitored for performance allows us to gather data in real time within real world conditions. The exterior walls of a building are its most defining feature and greatly influence all metrics. It makes sense then to begin by building identical test houses with variations only in the external wall system to allow for responsive testing methods, with a plan to test additional components in the future.

Partner & Implement (Years 3-7)

After establishing the initial field lab and communication tools, the next stage begins by developing relationships with universities, research institutes, industry leaders, suppliers, developers, and community leaders. Providing tools to inform the decision making process of lower-income projects leads to more stable communities. Helping to establish effective solutions across the more marginalized demographics propels adoption by the affluent sections of society as well.
Proactively aligning market forces with healthier, long-term practices allows the whole of society a meaningful measure of breathing room to tackle other climate change concerns. Achieving this reality hinges upon the ability to partner with outside organizations and work together to produce lasting solutions.

Universities & Research Institutes - Are ideally suited to partner in establishing satellite test sites. Using the main field lab as a ready model and example, schools can contribute greatly to the research without having to establish a program all on their own. A whole host of joint research projects and cross pollination are quite feasible. Our findings at the field labs can help calibrate existing energy models and provide the grounds for the development of better modeling systems. This approach allows research to begin accounting for the differences in regional climates, vernacular practices, materials, and labor.

Industry Leaders & Suppliers - Allow us to further understand the potential impacts of our findings in terms of holistic building evaluation. Connecting with folks in these sectors provides the basis to begin seeing the initial and projected costs of committing to better building practices. Organizations ranging from brick manufacturers to humanitarian non-profits all have crucial roles to play in implementing better systems. 


Developers & Community Leaders - Perform the most crucial role in establishing better building practices. Properly understanding the needs and concerns of an area’s place-makers is vital to cultivating lasting positive change.

Promote & Practice (Years 6-15)

As additional field labs take root in other regions and partnerships with key industry and governing entities mature, shifting to an emphasis on promotion and support is a natural transition. The successful implementation of pilot programs and case studies across the country and world serve as the necessary footing to launch open campaigns seeking to reach and inform early adopters and begin long term conversations about sustainable building practices. If the early partnerships were learning to ride a bicycle with training wheels, this stage takes off the training wheels and runs alongside providing encouragement.



The particular avenues of promotion are worth considering, but only closer to a target date when the social landscape is known. For now, it is sensible to merely leave space in the back of our minds to slowly develop public relation ideas and continually feel out the best means of communication. Likewise, considering the best forms of support is best reserved for later down the road. 





A campaign primarily focusing on small scale, local interactions will likely prove the best long term vehicle for convincing change. Engaging in a handful of key, large scale public discourses is sensible, but those should never overshadow the importance of local, personal connections.