If we could learn to make things and do things the way nature does, we could achieve factor 10, factor 100, maybe even factor 1,000 savings in resource and energy use.

Source: "Using Nature's Genius in Architecture." TEDSalon London 2010. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote by architect Michael Pawlyn means that if humans could mimic nature in how we design and consume things, we could achieve radical efficiency in our use of natural resources and energy. The quote is from Pawlyn's 2011 TED Talk on this subject, a.k.a. "bio-mimicry." In this Talk, Pawlyn explains that natural systems, such as ecosystems and living cells, exhibit such radical resource efficiency, as well as closed loops and the ability to derive energy from the sun. Pawlyn then goes on to describe architectural projects that exemplify these qualities because they use nature as a design tool. Watch the full TED Talk here: Michael Pawlyn - Using Nature's Genius in Architecture  

“Using Nature’s Genius in Architecture.” TEDSalon London 2010. Conference Presentation.