--- title: Ancient Lessons in Sustainability description: Ancient Lessons in Sustainability image: https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png --- [![KSV](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-charcoal-640.png "KSV")](https://www.ksvagency.com) ![☰](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-hamburger-charcoal-70-50.png "☰") - [Focus](http://www.ksvc.com/focus/) - [Capabilities](http://www.ksvc.com/capabilities/) - [Work](http://www.ksvc.com/work/) - [People](http://www.ksvc.com/people/) - [Culture](http://www.ksvc.com/culture/) - [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) # Ancient Lessons in Sustainability Posted by [Energy Wire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/author/valentineerb) on February 24, 2011 at 5:36 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Builders of the pyramids knew a thing or two about energy efficiency. They discovered that light could be bent and directed where needed. Today, window louvers can direct sunbeams to panels on an office building’s ceiling, maximizing light and minimizing electricity use. [![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "pyramids")](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)Architects of Europe’s great cathedrals knew that mass holds heat like a battery. A concrete labyrinth located in an office building’s basement can store radiant heat to the same effect. These cost effective, low energy techniques are being used in the nation’s largest [net-zero energy office building](http://www.cleantechhub.com/cleantech-profile/projects/nrel-s-research-support-facility--a-model-of-super-efficiency.html): the $64 million National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Because commercial buildings suck up 18 percent of the nation’s total energy usage each year, they’re considered low-hanging fruit for energy conservation targets. To achieve the sweet spot of net-zero energy at a reasonable cost, the NREL facility employs “off the shelf” technology – time-tested techniques. Every detail of the building and office environment has been carefully rethought. Cubicle walls are lower to maximize light and air flow; a shared central printer discourages excess paper usage. A central computer tracks every watt generated and consumed. The goal? The balance of zero net use over 24 hours. Managers expect to reach that goal early next year, when the project will be complete. In the meantime, the building has already become a template for affordable, super energy-efficient construction. ### [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) EnergyWire is KSV’s weekly insight into the consumer mindset when it comes to energy. It’s an honest conversation on the reality of their perceptions and motivations, and how energy services companies can use this insight to successfully engage customers. ### Sign Up ### Recent Posts ### Topics - [Customer-Centric Marketing (215)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/customer-centric-marketing) - [Utility Communications (183)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/utility-communications) - [Marketing Strategy and Best Practices (158)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/marketing-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Innovation (156)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation) - [Digital Transformation and User Experience (100)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-transformation-and-user-experience) - [Audience Segmentation (88)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/audience-segmentation) - [Data and Analytics (83)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/data-and-analytics) - [Energy Efficiency (76)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-efficiency) - [Clean Energy (61)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/clean-energy) - [Branding and Brand Value (58)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding-and-brand-value) - [Research (49)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/research) - [Climate Change (48)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-change) - [Inspiration (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/inspiration) - [Sustainability Marketing (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainability-marketing) - [B Corporation (38)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b-corporation) - [Content Marketing (37)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/content-marketing) - [Climate and Social Justice (35)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-and-social-justice) - [Creative (34)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative) - [In the News (31)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/in-the-news) - [Smart Technology (24)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/smart-technology) - [Social Media Strategy and Best Practices (23)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/social-media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Company Culture (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/company-culture) - [Media Strategy and Best Practices (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Industry Expert Interviews (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/industry-expert-interviews) - [Sustainable Brands (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainable-brands) - [B2B marketing (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b2b-marketing) - [Electrification (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/electrification) - [Creative Showcase (10)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative-showcase) - [Energy Storage (9)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-storage) - [AI (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ai) - [D2C (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/d2c) - [Artificial Intelligence (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [Vermont (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/vermont) - [Branding (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding) - [Case Study (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/case-study) - [Brand Activations (3)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/brand-activations) - [SEO (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/seo) - [Search (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/search) - [Augmented Reality (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/augmented-reality) - [Digital Video (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-video) - [OOH (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ooh) - [Paid Search (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/paid-search) ... ##### Get in touch. ###### Vermont 212 Battery Street Suite 2 Burlington, VT 05401 [802.862.8261](tel:8028628261) ###### New York 27 E 28th Street Suite 15055 New York, NY 10016 [212.366.4000](tel:2123664000) ## Sign up for KSV insights ## Thanks for subscribing! Email Subscribe © 2025 KSV [![LinkedIn](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-linkedin-cream-80.png "LinkedIn")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelliher-samets-volk/) [![Twitter](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-twitter-cream-80.png "Twitter")](https://twitter.com/KSVTweets) [![Twitter](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/icon-facebook-cream-80.png "icon-facebook-cream-80")](https://www.facebook.com/ksv.agency) [![Instagram](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-instagram-cream-80.png "Instagram")](https://www.instagram.com/ksv.agency/) [Privacy Policy & Cookies](https://www.ksvagency.com/privacy-policy/) [![KSV](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-cream-640.png "KSV")](https://www.ksvagency.com) ![X](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/icon-x-cream-70-50.png "X") What We Do [Work](https://www.ksvagency.com/work/) [Blog](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) Who We Are [About](https://www.ksvagency.com/about/) [Careers](https://www.ksvagency.com/careers/) [Contact](https://www.ksvagency.com/contact/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Energy Wire", "url" : "https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/author/valentineerb" }, "datePublished" : "2011-02-24T22:36:48.000Z", "headline" : "Ancient Lessons in Sustainability", "image" : [ "https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/2011/02/24/20110224ancient-lessons-in-sustainability", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/Logo_darkblue-1.png" }, "name" : "KSVC" } } ```