The document discusses the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac and how it represents change, creativity, and power. It notes that those born in the Year of the Dragon are powerful personalities who think big and chase grand schemes. It then relates this to the question posed by the Living Building Challenge of making every act of design and construction make the world a better place. It suggests that as project managers, we have the power to guide projects towards more sustainable solutions by challenging clients respectfully. Finally, it provides information on joining a Living Building Challenge collaborative in Sydney and contacting the author with stories or suggestions.

1. McLachlan Lister Sustainability Corner
Happy New Year! 2012 is here, and so is the Year of the Dragon. The Dragon is about change,
creativity and power.
In Chinese Horoscopes, people who are born in the Year of the Dragon are powerful
personalities. Dragons scorn conformity. Nothing is impossible for them. They are extroverted,
energetic, talented juggernauts who think big, chasing grand schemes and extreme ambitions.
Because they are fearless in the face of challenge, they are almost always successful.
At the end of last year, I gave a summary of the Living Building Challenge Tool and its key
question: ‘What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?’
That’s a Year of the Dragon question.
As project managers, we have the power to guide the agenda for our projects. Close advisers to
our clients, we are in a position to write the brief, choose the consultant team, and direct the
outcomes towards more sustainable solutions. What if we respectfully challenged our clients to
think about this question? Where could it go?
Product designers have been doing this for the last couple of decades using the principles of
‘biomimicry’: looking at how nature solves design problems and applying those lessons to the
things that we make. The things they have developed are amazing: self-cleaning paints and
coatings based on the lotus petal; low-energy colour display screens inspired by butterfly wings.
What could buildings do if we thought about them in that way?
Here’s a great quote from biologist and author of Biomimicry, Janine Benyus:
‘When I talk about learning from nature I sound as if we humans are outside, something other,
something alien. I don’t believe that for a moment…It’s time to shed that lonely myth; the truth is
we ARE nature. Biomimicry works because there is no difference between what we do and what
other organisms do - the boundary between us and the rest of the natural world is a false one.’
For the full article, go to:
http://www.gcf.org.sa/Documents/Janine%20Benyus%201.pdf
or look up her lectures on Ted Talks. She’s hugely inspiring and thought-provoking.
Next Time
We’re still cooking something up in Sydney around the Living Building Challenge…we’ve set up a
Collaborative – look us up and ‘like’ us on facebook: Living Building Challenge Collaborative:
Sydney. Further details as events warrant!
Please drop me a line with your success stories or suggestions for improvement!
McLachlan Lister Pty Limited
Level 1 1 Hickson Road
The Rocks NSW 2000
Australia