Vegetation blankets can be used to create green roofs, but they aren’t limited to just that. A vegetation blanket consists of a layer of fiber covered in a substrate on which plant life can live; with various plant species growing on it.

There is no reason why vast parking lots must be covered entirely by pavement. Besides being a heat-trap, paved surfaces disrupt local ecology and cause serious problems with rainwater runoff. Fortunately there is a sensible alternative. Known as grass pavers, these honeycomb-shaped connected pavers (which can be made from recycled plastic), provide the foundation of your driveway or parking lot, allowing grass to grow through and water to be absorbed.

I have already mentioned many of the newly emerging technologies from the field of biomimicry , but the building technologies developing from the simplest of creatures, the sea sponge, deserve particular attention.

We’ve talked about straw bale constructions here before, so we know this is a realistic form of construction. They don’t blow down as easy as the storybooks say, and the houses are quite beautiful. But is it really safe? Isn’t straw highly flammable? What about earthquakes? There is actually evidence to suggest straw-bale accommodations are SAFER than current methods of home design.

Cob is an ancient building technology being rediscovered for today’s green home. A gob is a clump of dirt and fiber that can be tossed from builder to builder on a cob work site. If throwing mud isn’t enough, try squishing it between your toes. Cob is traditionally made by mixing sand, clay, straw, and water with bare feet in a labor-intensive yet rewarding process for the do-it-yourselfer.

Termites build elaborate and highly effective ventilation devices. Swarms of bees communicate without centralized control. Nature works harmoniously all on its own, so why not let it be the primary inspiration for technological design? This concept is the foundation of biomimicry, the science of using nature as the basis for technological design. AskNature, a project of The Biomimicry Institute, provides fascinating examples of real-world technology inspired by nature.

A net zero energy home produces its own electric power and is efficient enough that it actually produces more than it consumes, resulting in no overall electric cost. These models of efficiency are not just limited to new construction. Older buildings can often be upgraded to peak efficiency. With the addition of renewables, they become net zero energy buildings.

Imagine a self-sustaining dwelling that seems to have a life of its own—sheltering its inhabitants, providing food, supplying energy needs, and transforming waste. Are you in love yet? An Earthship is much more than a home; it’s an integration of harmonious systems akin to those in the human body.

Rainwater harvesting is “the process of intercepting storm-water runoff and putting it to beneficial use.” Pretty simple concept. Oddly enough, it is illegal in some states. The Colorado legislature, in its 2009 session, legalized rainwater harvesting for residents with private wells. Other states and municipalities are in the process of changing their laws.

My grand-dad used to say “pick your poison.” He knew that nothing is perfect. There are good things and not so good things about every choice. When sustainability is your primary goal, you make decisions with a different set of parameters.