Ultimately, design is an expression of intent. Universities also have power as major consumers of goods and services. He meant that every dollar we spend is a kind of vote, and if we spend our money on products that make sense environmentally, those are the products manufacturers will produce. But there is more to this magic than just that. Analyzing the environmental implications of our behavior often saves money.
Universities have the opportunity to prove that a new model for environmentalism is possible.
In this model, individual action counts. In this model, collaboration, too, is essential. In this model, future professionals are taught that the environmental impact of products and services and systems can be efficiently accounted for in the design phase. In this model, the environment and the economy will be allies, not enemies. In this model, the interconnectedness of things will matter, rather than their separateness.