We mentioned passive survivability -- the idea that buildings ought to be designed to promote the survival of their users in adverse situations, and that, very often, that means designing them sustainably -- in an earlier memewatch post, but now another piece makes the same point even more unequivocally:

When one looks through the collection of passive survivability strategies addressed in this article, it becomes immediately obvious how closely they match a general list of green building strategies. Indeed, most of the measures that make our buildings more passively survivable also make the buildings more environmentally responsible.

Passive survivability strengthens the case for green buildings. Most of us in the green building community probably don’t need another reason; we seek to create green buildings because we know that they are better for the people living in them and better for the Earth. But getting them designed and built isn’t always easy in the face of financial and regulatory obstacles and just plain inertia. To overcome these barriers, it may help to make the case that these buildings are more resilient and better able to protect the well-being of Americans in the aftermath of natural disasters or terrorist actions. Sometimes it’s useful to respond to people’s fears as well as their aspirations, and passive survivability does just that, without an antisocial survivalist agenda.

(Thanks, David!)