Building Green: Energy Efficiency and Aesthetics From The Same Materials (Part 4)
Continuing on with my last column's topic of designing a home that is compact, and therefore space-efficient, this week I will discuss sailboat design as an analogy to house design. Form and function merge in sailboats made for cruising. The craft must be able to cut through the water easily while being driven by the wind. With proper sail and hull design, the sailboat can travel for thousands of miles without fossil fuels by using a natural power source—the wind. The craft is durable, controllable, and comfortable to live aboard.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/building_green_5.php