--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think green buildings are extremely…" description: "\"I think green buildings are extremely important but it's only part of the equation. A lot of people think that if I put a green building everything is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/ken-yeang-40210_building_i-think-green-buildings-are-extremely-im_1016649.jpg" --- # I think green buildings are extremely important but it's… ![“I think green buildings are extremely important but it's only part of the equation. A lot of people think that if I put a green building everything is going to be fine, but actually it's not just the green buildings we need, but green businesses, green governments, green economics. We have to…” quote by Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/ken-yeang-40210_building_i-think-green-buildings-are-extremely-im_1016649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/ken-yeang-40210_building_i-think-green-buildings-are-extremely-im_1016649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6f/ken-yeang-40210_building_i-think-green-buildings-are-extremely-im_1016649.jpg) > “I think green buildings are extremely important but it's only part of the equation. A lot of people think that if I put a green building everything is going to be fine, but actually it's not just the green buildings we need, but green businesses, green governments, green economics. We have to extend the greening of buildings to our business and our lifestyles - that is the most important thing to do next.” [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Green buildings are valuable but insufficient; sustainability must extend to businesses, governments, and lifestyles. **In simple terms:** Buildings alone aren’t enough; whole systems must green. Key Takeaway Integrate sustainability across sectors. Themes sustainability systems thinking environment Mood urgent hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - construction - corporate strategy - public policy - consumer habits Key Concepts economics policy urban planning Questions to Reflect On - How can you influence broader sustainability? - What barriers exist in scaling green practices? A Different Perspective Systemic change is complex and faces political/economic resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Buildings Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buildings-need-2240693/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Equations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equations/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Green Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-building-2240692/) [Green Buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-buildings-973704/) [Green Businesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-businesses-2240694/) [Greening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greening/) [Greening Buildings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greening-buildings-2240691/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We shouldn't just look at new buildings but at existing stock building because that's an even greater problem than the new buildings being built.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/we-shouldn-t-just-look-at-new-buildings-but-at-existing-stock/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [I never said I was opposed to the LEED program or to green building - I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-never-said-i-was-opposed-to-the-leed-program-or-to-green-building-i/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [In the fourth quadrant (lower right), working-class people are motivated to take on green-collar jobs and start green businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/in-the-fourth-quadrant-lower-right-working-class-people-are-motivated/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [“They that soar too high, often fall hard, making a low and level Dwelling preferable. The tallest Trees are most in the Power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/they-that-soar-too-high-often-fall-hard-making-a-low-and-level/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“And so designing web-based software is like designing a city rather than a building: as well as buildings you need roads, street signs, utilities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-so-designing-web-based-software-is-like-designing-a-city-rather/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An endless number of green buildings doesn't make a sustainable city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-gehl/an-endless-number-of-green-buildings-doesn-t-make-a-sustainable-city/) [Jan Gehl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-gehl/) > [I don't like to talk about sustainability, because sometimes I see green buildings that don't appear any different from those in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-yansong/i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-sustainability-because-sometimes-i-see/) [Ma Yansong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-yansong/) > [The soul is a breath of living spirit, that with excellent sensitivity, permeates the entire body to give it life. Just so, the breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/the-soul-is-a-breath-of-living-spirit-that-with-excellent-sensitivity/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [The greening of the desert means sowing seeds in people's hearts and creating a green paradise of peace on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masanobu-fukuoka/the-greening-of-the-desert-means-sowing-seeds-in-people-s-hearts-and/) [Masanobu Fukuoka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masanobu-fukuoka/) > [“In this city of concave algae ponds, my mother begins to plant bonsais, nettle and leaf: silk against the skin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sneha-subramanian-kanta/in-this-city-of-concave-algae-ponds-my-mother-begins-to-plant-bonsais/) [Sneha Subramanian Kanta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sneha-subramanian-kanta/) > [The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/the-word-is-living-being-spirit-all-verdant-greening-all-creativity/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [Go Green, Live Rich is the ultimate toolkit for greening the planet and our wallets at the same time. No one does a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tamminen/go-green-live-rich-is-the-ultimate-toolkit-for-greening-the-planet/) [Terry Tamminen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tamminen/) > [Citizens must pressure the American Hospital Association, the American Public Health Association, the Centers for Disease Control and other relevant governmental agencies to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/citizens-must-pressure-the-american-hospital-association-the-american/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Simplest of blossoms! To mine eye Thou bring'st the summer's painted sky; The May-thorn greening in the nook; The minnows sporting in the brook;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-macbeth-moir/simplest-of-blossoms-to-mine-eye-thou-bring-st-the-summer-s-painted/) [David Macbeth Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-macbeth-moir/) > [Peace. The upland serenity of high altitude, the openness of grassland without indigenous bush or trees; the greening, yellowing or silver-browning that prevailed, according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/peace-the-upland-serenity-of-high-altitude-the-openness-of-grassland/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) ## More by Ken Yeang > [I'm eternally optimistic about the future. I believe that if we are committed towards it and if we continue to educate people and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/i-m-eternally-optimistic-about-the-future-i-believe-that-if-we-are/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [We shouldn't just look at new buildings but at existing stock building because that's an even greater problem than the new buildings being built.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/we-shouldn-t-just-look-at-new-buildings-but-at-existing-stock/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [The ecologist has a much more comprehensive and holistic view of the world. 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It's the biggest source of ideas, the biggest source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/in-my-heart-i-believe-that-biology-is-the-beginning-and-the-end-of/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [In nature the only source of energy is from the sun. So in ecological systems everything comes from the sun through the process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/in-nature-the-only-source-of-energy-is-from-the-sun-so-in-ecological/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [If you look into the way that materials are used in an ecological system you'll notice that you'll find that there is no waste.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/if-you-look-into-the-way-that-materials-are-used-in-an-ecological/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [Better use of space, improving the insulation, getting more daylight into the buildings, reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioning and heating systems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/better-use-of-space-improving-the-insulation-getting-more-daylight/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [I think buildings should imitate ecological systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/i-think-buildings-should-imitate-ecological-systems/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) [Explore all 11 Ken Yeang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. 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It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. 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