THE PRICE OF COMFORT: HOW LANDSCAPE AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CAN REDUCE HUMAN DEPENDENCE ON CLIMATE CONTROL

In the development of modern sustainable construction there has been a focus on technological solutions. One of the most effective ways to diminish one's carbon footprint is through reducing residential energy consumption. A simple yet overlooked component of residential energy reduction is to better acclimate people to their local environments. Since the advent of engineered climate control in the mid-20th century, the majority of Americans have “forgotten” how to live with their local climate conditions. This study examines from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives how acclimation via landscape and architecture design interventions can reduce residential energy use. Within a variety of climates in California, it conducts a cost-benefit analysis of reducing enclosed residential square footage to quantify the savings in construction and energy costs. These monies could then be spent on ecologically-appropriate outdoor rooms that fulfill the functional and spatial requirements of the...