Native American Architecture is Sustainable
One similarity across all Native American culture areas is sustainable architecture. Sustainable design is a hot trend in architecture right now. The idea of using locally sourced, renewable, recyclable materials and having a minimal impact on the environment sells house plans and lands designers clients. Developers covet LEED certification, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Buildings from modest homes to major skyscrapers are touting their environmentally friendly elements. Native American builders have been doing this exact thing for millennia. The architecture of indigenous North American tribes has been sustainable for most of history. Natural air flow and properly placed vents supply cooling and heating. The buildings are often wood, earth, animal skins, snow, or use other locally found materials. Construction materials erode and return to the earth. This makes NAtive American design one of the most sustainable forms.