Termite-inspired building stays cool when it’s hot

Designers in Harare, Zimbabwe have created a shopping centre/office building that uses 90 per cent less energy than its conventional counterpart. Despite peak temperatures above 40o C., the Eastgate Centre stays comfortable all year long – with no air conditioning. How? Simple: The building uses a ventilation system inspired by local termites. Details on this cool design are available here and also on Wikipedia.

For more ideas about how copying nature can help humans survive, check out the Montana-based Biomimicry Institute.