So, I may be a "doomsayer" (I consider myself a realist), but I'm always trying to see if there's a solution to getting us out of the mess we're in. Perhaps I would describe myself as an optimistic pessimist. Anyhow, based on my recent research, here are some of the solutions I think we (humanity) should pursue collectively...

1. Plug up the #MethaneLeaks! Seriously! That's a big part of the problem!

2. Make the price of #meat expensive! I remember when having meat was considered a special occasion -- not a daily occurrence.

3. Make things out of #RomanConcrete. Now that we've cracked the recipe, there's no excuse not to use it! Especially with rising sea levels (Roman concrete holds up better when exposed to water).

4. Manufacture stuff that lasts! No more #PlannedObsolescence or items that can't be repaired by a skilled user or a local repair shop!

5. Grow food locally! Turn empty #office spaces into #IndoorUrbanFarms (and #housing).

6. Utilize new (and ancient) technologies to the max! #SolarPrisms, reflective white paint, building new structures with #skywells, #geothermal and other ways to cool/heat spaces without using #FossilFuels!

That's just a few off the top of my head. I think a lot of the solutions are right in front of us -- but #greed and #Oligarchy are keeping them from being implemented!

#ClimateChange #ClimateChangeSolutions

How ancient '#skywells' are keeping Chinese homes cool

In the eras before air-conditioning, southern China's skywells played a key role in keeping people's homes cool. Could they do it again today?

By Xiaoying You, 12th July 2023

"[A] revival of interest in traditional Chinese architecture is leading some of historic buildings with skywells to be restored for modern times. Meanwhile, as a government push has made low-carbon innovations in the building sector a trend in the country, some architects are drawing inspiration from skywells and other traditional Chinese architectural features to help keep new buildings cooler.

"A skywell, or 'tian jing' (天井) in Mandarin, is a typical feature of a traditional home in southern and eastern China. Different from a northern Chinese courtyard, or 'yuan zi' (院子), a skywell is smaller and less exposed to the outdoor environment.

"They are commonly seen in homes dating to Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, which were designed to house different generations of relatives, according to a 2010 paper published by the Journal of Nanchang University in #China."

Read more:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230712-how-ancient-skywells-are-keeping-chinese-homes-cool?utm_source=pocket-newtab

#LowTech #Cooling #Architecture #History #Histodons #MingDynasty #QingDynasty