Anthony Kim 1

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. Our population is heavily depended upon
computers and electricity. Everywhere you go, you will be able to gain an access to a computer
with an internet. 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, but it’s not too late for us to regulate
these constructions. Because of the fact that the technology enables us to live longer, our
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population is and has been quickly rising. Due to the growth of population in the U.S., we are in
necessity of increase in shelter, like single homes, 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, the green building project puts an emphasis on energy savings, but not the nature
around us. Houses are built tightly as possible and it is very rarely to see single homes built
spaciously built around the neighborhood.
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. The data
reveals that our population is on the rise one to three million people every year! The problem
comes when the construction company packs 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 homes 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 of our 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.
Just try to imagine living in a house with green grass and trees surrounding you. Every
morning as you come out to pick your morning newspaper we are able breathe the fresh air that
surrounds you. A playground with green grass fields, swinging tires that are hung up on the tree
branches and a lunch table where you can enjoy watching your kids play and relax. Use your
creativity to think about a life like this. Nature and people existing together as it was already
meant to be. Sounds like having a house built in a park. I would be more than happy to live in a
such environment where I can treasure the nature and for better or worse my physical health.
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,
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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.
I am not claiming 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 to give our nature its space and build spaciously around. 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 many tall 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 would notice that 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 window. At least you don’t have to care
so much about your front lawn. It will definitely save our time to visit our neighbors.

Nature was our first shelter…..

Can’t live with them? Can’t live without them…..
Discipline to sustain and respect our nature…..
For better or worse…
To enjoy that fresh air…..
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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>.