Four months ago I gave birth to a beautiful boy who has changed my life and how I view everything. Gone are the days of leisurely bike rides and contemplating where sustainability is heading in the built environment. Now my days are filled with strategies for sleep maximization, changing diapers and efficient utilization of the three-hour period between feedings.
Efficiency is practical; Not only when it comes to water use and lighting choices but daily, from speed weeding the garden and getting in a half-hour swim before my growing baby lets me know that his little belly needs more fuel.
Our society by and large rewards being efficient; the ability to get things done often results in premium salaries and senior positions.
Human beings are naturally selected toward efficiency, take babies for example, they eat and poop at the same time, which is often followed by a smile as if to say, “look mama, I can multitask too.”
Perhaps it’s too much to expect the built environment to run as efficiently as humans or maybe by watching my infant son grow I can learn something more about applying efficiency to the world that we build.
Lisa Goddard
