cradle to cradle - remaking the way we make things-w.mcdonough&m.braungart

When undisturbed forests, meadows, and prairies are replaced with buildings, alongwith asphalt and concrete roads and parking lots, the built surfaces become imperviousto rainwater. Such a widespread trend has spiraling, deleterious consequences beyondremoval of the plants and soils that act as natural sponges. Water and air quality iscompromised directly and immediately by impervious surfaces. Water can no longerinfiltrate the ground and is washed into streams and rivers when it rains, carrying with itnonpoint-source pollutants, nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, and sedimentsdeposited on the impervious surfaces. Dark, hard surfaces absorb solar radiation andstore heat, making roofs and roads hot during the day; the stored radiant heat dissipatesinto the air at night, ultimately warming our globe. On a more recognizable level,regional climate changes can also be attributed to these significant changes in landcover and land use.