Maximum creature comforts and minimum cost are driving much of the "home" building in the "developed" world today. Unfortunately, this type of shelter tends to leave people isolated from one another, making them dependent upon television, computers and excursions in an internal combustion vehicle for social interaction.

We propose other criteria for human shelter:

• Sustainability or recyleability of all building materials
• Best use of local geography and resources
• Options for greater social interaction
• Freedom from toxic materials and furnishings
• Extremely high energy efficiency
• Proximity to, or share space concurrently with, employment.
• Consideration of the overall fabric of a community

Sustainability or recyclability of all building materials

The use of virgin timber for home framing is preposterous in this age of recycled lumber, metal framing and ample renewable materials. 

• Straw-bale construction is a clear winner in areas with surplus agricultural straw.
• Hemp is a fast-growing fibrous plant that can be used to make very strong panels and boards.
• Rammed earth homes, "Earthships" and adobe have been used for centuries and are superior in many environments 

Recycled plastics also hold much promise as raw material for shelter and other land-features. A great number of companies are manufacturing innovative construction materials of recycled plastic and wood.

Perhaps other products can be made with recycled wall-board (Gypsum) and concrete. If 2x4s can be made out of steel, they can be made out of recycled steel.

Best use of local geography and resources

In some areas, such as small mountain towns where trees are logged, wood may be the best choice for building.. In the big city, recycled bricks and metal and glass are more appropriate.  In agricultural areas, straw bales are an obvious choice.  In the desert, perhaps adobe or "earthships."  In woody areas, perhaps cordwood.

Options for greater social interaction 

Multi-family housing: Four to six like-minded families combine resources: share a big room, large kitchen, garden and grounds, spa and recreation faclities. Families have separate sleeping and quiet areas, toilets, small kitchen. Good potential for home schooling, home-based enterprises. 

Multi-generational housing: Single family lives with three or four generations. Older generations share wisdom with youngsters and teens, relieve burdens on teachers, wage earners and parents. Do not necessarily have to be blood relatives. Provides foster home and daycare services. Internships for prospective teachers, nurses, etc. 

Co-housing: basically single-family homes or townhomes clustered around common grounds and gardens. Big rooms and other common facilities. These exist around the country and world, ranging greatly in size and complexity. Excellent potential for schooling and sustainable business enterprises.

Eco-hostels: Catering to individuals who wish to travel for extended periods while working and learning, eco-hostels offer intermediate length (several weeks to several years) stays in exchange for work and assistance. Excellent potential for sustainable enterprises.

Dormitory housing: Safe, lightly-structured environment for the poor, homeless, non-violent population. Should offer basic schooling, after-school programs, recycling internships and environmental remediation training and related community services.

Freedom from toxic materials and furnishings

Modern construction builds toxic time bombs. Consider some of the toxic ingredients in modern mass-produced homes and offices:

• Fiberglass insulation
• New carpeting
• Paints, varnishes and glues
• Composition boards and paneling
• Pressure-treated wood (this piece is written by the industry, )
• Fiberglass room dividers and curtains
• New upholstery and foam cushions.

Modern buildings re-circulate stale and potentially toxic air. In the most extreme cases, this results in "sick building syndrome." In more moderate cases it may result in a barely perceptible growth in sensitivity to chemicals and a general malaise. 

A lack of negative ions in stale, recirculated air leads to a lack of energy and lower productivity for workers.

Extremely high energy efficiency

Multi- and extended-family housing slashes the need for electricity consumed for lights, climate control, cooking, entertainment and even individual auto trips. This accumulates over the years of occupancy to staggering savings.

Not only must one consider the monthly energy expenditures, but also the energy savings from using locally available materials (as opposed to imported, or recycled materials such as demolition debris or recycled plastic bricks

Proximity to, or share space concurrently with, employment.

Although it is wise to separate employment and private lives, it is efficient to work and live in proximity. This allows greater opportunity for workers to share burdens such as childcare and property maintenance, and builds stronger families. Ideally, families share the same work goals and prosperity is intertwined, though not totally dependent.

Consideration of the overall fabric of a community

If all or most of the subjects addressed above are considered when human shelter is planned, the overall fabric of the affected community cannot help but be strengthened.