Vishaan Chakrabarti: A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity | TED Countdown

Summary

The speaker, an architect, discusses the looming population boom and the need for sustainable housing solutions. They propose a 'Goldilocks' scale of two- to three-story buildings as an ideal balance between housing density and renewable energy potential. These structures, made from local materials, could be equipped with solar panels and battery systems for energy efficiency, promoting walkable, equitable communities that reduce carbon footprint and support mass transit.

Takeaways

• 🌍 By 2100, the world's population is expected to reach almost 11 billion, which is 3 billion more than today.
• 🏗️ To accommodate this growth, approximately 2.4 trillion square feet of new built space is needed, equivalent to adding a New York City every month for the next 40 years.
• 🌳 The speaker, an architect, suggests that new housing could potentially be carbon-negative, offsetting more carbon than it produces.
• 🏙️ Existing cities are looking towards clean energy grids for hope, but the transition is slow due to issues like transmission lines and nuclear energy politics.
• 🏡 Net-zero single-family homes are feasible with current technology, especially in sunny climates, but they can be expensive and lead to sprawl.
• 🌿 The speaker advocates for 'Goldilocks' scale housing — two to three-story buildings — as a sustainable and beautiful solution that balances the need for housing and roof area for solar panels.
• 🔋 This housing can be constructed with local materials like wood or brick, have solar panels, and incorporate state-of-the-art battery systems for energy storage.
• 🌡️ It can also feature advanced heating and cooling systems that use thermal storage to manage energy use more efficiently.
• 🚌 If implemented, this housing model could support mass transit, create dense but green neighborhoods, and reduce the need for car-oriented sprawl.
• 🌱 The 'Goldilocks' framework could compost waste, provide affordable housing, and integrate socially and racially diverse communities.
• 🌟 If globally adopted, this model could house all 11 billion people using a landmass equivalent to the size of France, leaving most of the planet for nature and agriculture.

Q & A

What is the projected world population by 2100 according to the United Nations?

The United Nations projects that the world population will reach almost 11 billion people by 2100.

How much additional space is needed to house the projected population growth?

To house the additional population, about 2.4 trillion square feet of new built space is needed, equivalent to adding a New York City every month for the next 40 years.

What is the concept of 'carbon-negative' housing?

Carbon-negative housing refers to structures that offset or sequester more carbon than they produce.

Why is it challenging to build carbon-negative towers at the moment?

Building carbon-negative towers is challenging because they are energy-intensive to construct and operate, have limited roof area for solar power, and are often made from materials with high embodied energy like steel and concrete.

What is 'mass-timber construction' and how does it relate to sustainable building?

Mass-timber construction is a technology that allows for the building of tall towers using environmentally friendly and fire-retardant wood that acts as a carbon sink. However, it is not yet widely adopted.

What is the 'Goldilocks' scale of housing mentioned in the script?

The 'Goldilocks' scale refers to two- to three-story housing that sits between single-family homes and skyscrapers, offering a balance between the number of people it can house and the amount of roof area needed for solar power.

Why are the current suburban townhomes considered unsustainable?

Current suburban townhomes are considered unsustainable because they are often cheaply built, not walkable, and do not support mass transit, leading to car-oriented sprawl and environmental degradation.

How can the 'Goldilocks' framework contribute to solving the housing problem while being environmentally friendly?

The 'Goldilocks' framework can provide affordable, communal, and equitable housing that is built with low embodied energy materials, can support solar panels, and is dense enough to support mass transit, thus being both climate-friendly and socially beneficial.

What are the potential benefits of implementing the 'Goldilocks' framework in cities?

Implementing the 'Goldilocks' framework in cities can lead to carbon-negative, transit-rich, and dense housing that supports mass transit, reduces the need for cars, and leaves room for green spaces, thus improving urban sustainability.

How does the speaker envision the deployment of the 'Goldilocks' framework in different cities like New York and Calcutta?

The speaker envisions deploying the 'Goldilocks' framework in a way that adapts to local materials and cultural expressions, resulting in carbon-negative, transit-rich, and joyful places to live in both New York and Calcutta.

What is the significance of the statement that if all 11 billion people lived at the 'Goldilocks' scale, it would use up a landmass equivalent to the size of France?

This statement highlights the efficiency and sustainability of the 'Goldilocks' scale, showing that it's possible to house the entire projected global population while using a relatively small land area, leaving the majority of the planet for nature and agriculture.