--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are proposing buildings that, like…" description: "\"We are proposing buildings that, like trees, are net energy exporters, produce more energy than they consume, accrue and store solar energy, and purify..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/william-mcdonough-10055_building_we-are-proposing-buildings-that-like-tre_1351991.png" --- # We are proposing buildings that, like trees, are net… ![“We are proposing buildings that, like trees, are net energy exporters, produce more energy than they consume, accrue and store solar energy, and purify their own waste, water and release it slowly in a purer form.” quote by William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/william-mcdonough-10055_building_we-are-proposing-buildings-that-like-tre_1351991.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/william-mcdonough-10055_building_we-are-proposing-buildings-that-like-tre_1351991.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02b/william-mcdonough-10055_building_we-are-proposing-buildings-that-like-tre_1351991.png) > “We are proposing buildings that, like trees, are net energy exporters, produce more energy than they consume, accrue and store solar energy, and purify their own waste, water and release it slowly in a purer form.” [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes visionary buildings that act like trees, generating excess energy, storing solar power, and purifying waste, aiming for ecological self‑sufficiency. **In simple terms:** Buildings that produce more energy than they use and clean waste. Key Takeaway Design structures that give back to the environment. Themes architecture sustainability energy waste management Mood inspirational technical Type visionary environmental proposal When to use this quote - urban planning - green building standards - community energy projects - policy development Key Concepts net‑positive design circular economy biomimicry Questions to Reflect On - How can we make net‑positive buildings affordable? - What policies support such designs? A Different Perspective Implementation costs and technology limits can be high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Solar energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-energy/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [With new oil and gas discoveries, Africa's energy exporters will have to invest in defence capability and work with other Indian Ocean powers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjaya-baru/with-new-oil-and-gas-discoveries-africa-s-energy-exporters-will-have/) [Sanjaya Baru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjaya-baru/) > [Richard Meier told me, 'Young man, solar energy has nothing to do with architecture,'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/richard-meier-told-me-young-man-solar-energy-has-nothing-to-do-with/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [We need to do for clean energy what Kennedy did for space in the original Apollo Project: Set a bold vision that will light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-inslee/we-need-to-do-for-clean-energy-what-kennedy-did-for-space-in-the/) [Jay Inslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-inslee/) > [Both solar and wind produce too much energy when societies don't need it, and not enough when they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/both-solar-and-wind-produce-too-much-energy-when-societies-don-t-need/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [I danced for, like, 11 years at bar mitzvahs and executive parties. 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