EKOS Communications, Inc.

Multiple these by the number of new houses are constructed each year. In United States, that's a staggering 2 million residences. Now you do the math. Mind-blowing, isn't it?

Want more grim news? Let these trends in home and residential developments sink in. Dwellings are becoming larger resulting in greater energy and water consumption. More than a third of households own two or more refrigerators, three or more television sets or several computers, while the average home comes with two or three toilets which typically get flushed 12 to 13 times a day. That's anywhere between 110 to 120 litres, or enough to meet the basic water needs of two people, using the standard of 20 - 40 litres per person set by the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the US Agency for International Development.

Is there any good news? You bet there is, according to internationally-renowned architect, Avi Friedman who is acclaimed for his development of affordable and sustainable homes. Greatly disturbed by the statistics noted above, Friedman has just published a new book entitled "Sustainable Residential Development: Planning and Design for Green Neighbourhoods" in which he presents the following four essential principles:

The Path of Least Negative Impact; Self-Sustaining Process Supporting Relationships; and A Life-Cycle Approach.

In the book, written primarily for planners, developers and construction contractors, Friedman expands on each principle and provides practical guidelines, backed up by concrete and inspiring examples, on how to put them into practice.

I managed to grab a few minutes of his time to talk about the new book when he blew into town recently to provide advice on sustainable communities to local city councilors and planners.