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Preface
The Earth is about 4.5 billion years old, and since the beginning numerous things have
changed, and is still changing today. Over the years we were able to invent great things, such as
electricity and computers. Along with all the great invention came the Technology era. In today’s
society we are overwhelmed with technology on a daily basis. Our population is heavily
depended upon computers and electricity. Everywhere you go, you will be able to access a
computer with an internet access. Technology has surpassed its introductory level and has grown
so much that we cannot do anything without it. With all of our technology in effect, we have long
forgotten about our nature’s needs. Everything is now computer processed and stored. We are
capable of sending an e-mail within a couple of minutes to a person across the world.
Technology is amazing, even elementary school kids now own cellular phones. Technology also
enables us to efficiently build buildings for our homes or work places. Look around you and
think about changes in your environment.
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Constructions are going far beyond our control. Because of the fact that technology
enables us to live longer, our population is quickly rising. Due to the growth in population we are
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in need of increase in shelter, like single houses, apartments, and town houses. The construction
companies are rapidly developing with higher technology, and advances by investing in new
building projects. Construction companies have launched the Green building project in 2006,
which is to make houses that conserve energy, in order to protect our environment. (Johnston,
David, and Kim Master) Green buildings contain solar pads on house roofs and many other
attribute to save energy. Green building is our first step into taking nature into consideration.
However, many construction industries overwhelmingly build new neighborhoods without caring
for our environment.
Yes, we do need all of those houses to match up our swiftly uprising population in the
United States. U.S. Census Bureau kept track of annual population estimated data each and every
year. The data reveals that our population is growing one to three million people every year! The
problem comes when the construction company crowds the houses into a single piece of land.
There are few trees implanted along the sidewalks and barely existing front lawns for each
individual. Newer houses are lot bigger and fancier, but the down side is that single house
owners do not have any privacy. Single houses are so packed together that you would regret not
having a curtain in your bedroom. The key point is that we don’t even make enough room for our
nature to be a part in our daily lives. Construction companies care less about the nature itself and
would advocate against this claim by saying that they have planted trees around the
neighborhood. United States has enough space for houses and nature to exist in partnership. The
only problem is that construction companies’ first priority is to make income, not the fate of our
nature.
Construction companies are expanding at large and it is about 5% part of the U.S.
economy. ( Patner, Barry B) The green building project cost about 12.6 billion dollar in 2006
and they have increased its estimation up to 22 billion dollars in the year of 2008. ( "FMI
Presents the 2008 U.S. Construction Overview.") Many construction industries spend
about 1 ~ 1.3 trillions of dollars every year. I did mention that each construction company spends
about that much money, and I can sure you that there are more than a single construction
company in the United States. Construction rates are increasing by 5 ~ 7 % on average every
year! (Avera, Mark) By 2030 construction companies will spend about twenty-five trillion
dollars according to studies at Brookings Institution and Pioneer Institute! (Avera, Mark)
("E-Builder to Host Webinar on Fixing North America’S Trillion Dollar Construction
Industry.")
For example, our own school is investing millions of dollars in new lands and buildings.
There are several projects that JMU is undertaking; the new dining hall in the skyline area, the
new library in the skyline area (which is open 24/7), a new hall next to Chesapeake hall,
Hoffman hall is being renovated, JMU owned apartment will be built around port republic road,
consideration of buying new lands (Smith, Ashton.), and a new stadium which is expected to
cost about $52 million dollars. (Maher, Kaleigh.)
. Let alone we have to realize that this is only within our school, and at large so much more
constructions are going on. Think about all of the constructions going around in your home town.
I live in Lorton, Virginia and a new town center was built which contains a theater,
restaurants, and houses all over the place. Construction workers took out majority of the forest in
order to achieve in making this new town center. Recently a new school was built as well. So
many constructions are under its way regardless of the need to sustain our nature.
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I am not saying that construction and technology is bad for us. People have to be aware
more of the fact that our nature is in crisis, with all of these constructions in process. All we have
to do is give nature its space and build spaciously around us. I wonder if you have heard of green
roof tops? ("Green Roof Tops.") It’s another green building project to artificially make a small
garden on top of company buildings. The purpose of the green roof tops is to give workers a
place to relax and enjoy the nature. In most cases many company buildings are located in inner
cities and you don’t quite have a green going around there. Why make an effort to create an
artificial nature when we can be cautious and sustain our nature as it is?
One day, our kids will be playing soccer on concrete floors. Way to say good morning to
your neighbors every morning from your own bedroom. At least you don’t have to care so much
about your front lawn. It will definitely save our time to visit our neighbors.
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Work Cited Page
Avera, Mark. "FMI Reports Favorable Construction Outlook for 2008." Construction
Job Blog. 2 Jan. 2008.
25 Feb. 2008 <http://www.constructionjobsblog.com/?p=154>.
Burns. Flickr. Digital image. [Colorful Autumn]. 2007. 25 Feb. 2008
<http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif>.
Cairistine. Flickr. Digital image. [Nature's Emeralds]. 2007. 25 Feb. 2008
<http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/1495486151_03d4791a02.jpg?v=0>.
Calder, John. Regeneration. Digital image. [Regeneration Green Contest]. 2008. 25
Feb. 2008
<http://www.regeneration.org/2008/02/06/and-the-winners-are/>.
"E-Builder to Host Webinar on Fixing North America’S Trillion Dollar Construction
Industry." E-Builder
Press Release. 31 Oct. 2007. 25 Feb. 2008 <http://www.e-
builder.net/newsroom/releases/2007-
eb-LePatner.html>.
"FMI Presents the 2008 U.S. Construction Overview." FMI Net.Com. 19 Dec. 2007. 25
Feb. 2008
<http://www.fmicorp.com/press/detail.dot?inode=9784&pageTitle=FMI%20Pr
esents%20the%2
02008%20U.S.%20Construction%20Overview>.
"Green Roof Tops." Concrete Green Roofs for Value & Durability. 2008. 25 Feb. 2008
<http://www.greenrooftops.org/>.
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IvanoMak. Flickr. Digital image. [How Nature Should Be Protected]. 2007. 25 Feb.
2008
<http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/423600216_0a7e63a2f6.jpg?v=11740953
73>
Johnston, David, and Kim Master. "What is Green Building?" Welcome to Green
Building. 2005. 25 Feb.
2008 <http://www.greenbuilding.com/>.
Maher, Kaleigh. "JMU Unveils Plans for Stadium." The Breeze 14 Jan. 2008. 25 Feb.
2008
<http://thebreeze.org/2008/01-14/index.html>.
Patner, Barry B. "The Industry That Time Forgot." Boston News. 12 Aug. 2007. 25
Feb. 2008
<http://boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/12/the_industry_that_ti
me_forgot/>.
Smith, Ashton. "JMU Considers $7 Million Deal for 32.6 Acres." The Breeze 6 Dec.
2007. 25 Feb. 2008
<http://thebreeze.org/2007/12-6/index.html>.
United States. Population Division. U.S. Census Buraeu. 27 Dec. 2007. 25 Feb. 2008
<http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-ann-est.html>.
Xenonb. Flickr. Digital image. [Ceremony of Nature]. 2006. 25 Feb. 2008
<http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v113/yupgianthony/Tree_nature.jpg>.
