Hope and Inspiration

I thought McDonough and Braungart's book was one of the most refreshing pieces of literature and idea about dealing with environmental degradation and climate change. I appreciate these authors as two people who aren't "environmentalists" (architect and chemist) but care about the environment and what's happening. They have seen in their lives the pointlessness--and harmfulness--of cradle-to-grave products and instead of writing about a coming anarchy as resources are depleted and so forth, they offer hope. They don't just say, "we have to stop doing X, Y, and Z," they are already trying new and innovative ways to deal with the problems facing the planet today. What I liked most is their belief in 'eco-effectiveness' instead of 'eco-efficiency'.

Having said that, however, I can't imagine every corporation jumping on board to have open spaces and birds and sunshine inside of offices. I think that is a bit away from happening on a massive scale, as it would take pretty progressive thinking businessmen/CEO's to revamp their entire structures thusly. Unless it was the law that all buildings had to be eco-effective.

Which is ultimately the most effective way to get solar or wind power buildings and energy sources. McDonough and Braungart's ideas and hope for the future are great and inspiring, but I have a little bit of skepticism that those ideas will be enacted unless the federal government gets on board and also sees the hope and inspiration in eco-effectiveness instead of eco-effeciency.