[Letters] No more glass-walled buildings, please

Regarding a June 22 article, “No more glass-walled buildings,” I’m becoming concerned with energy supply. Lots of public institutions constructed heat-absorbing glass-wall buildings without considering energy efficiency. They mainly focused on aesthetics and not on functionality. I agree with the editor wholeheartedly regarding an anticipated energy crisis.

The editor mentioned that glass-walled buildings use seven times more energy than concrete buildings. These kinds of structures are just like greenhouses. Glass-walled architecture might look artistic, but these buildings are a good example of unhealthy and inefficient living. A significant number of glass-walled buildings in Korea could cause a serious energy crisis. We should be concerned about our future.

Living in an electricity-saving building can be a good way of preventing an energy crisis. Working in an electricity-eating monster, like most glass-walled buildings in the hot summers, is nonsense. Prevention is the best policy.

Let’s suppose that there were a serious energy crisis. There might be tons of problems with communication, transportation, hospitalization, etc. Manufacturing might be paralyzed and internet use could also stop. Many people could die because of untimely treatments or the inability for hospitals to operate. A stitch in time saves nine. Saving electricity through using energy-saving items can be the key to avoiding energy disaster.

In my opinion, governmental legislation regulating energy-wasting construction should be passed. When it comes to matters of energy and environment, people should make a global collaborative effort like the Kyoto protocol that was developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Future building should make the most of nature.

*Letters and commentaries for publication should be addressed “Letters to the Editor.” E-mailed letters should be sent to eopinion@joongang.co.kr.

Kim Young-mee, a resident in Seoul