It's also easy to forget how big of a deal human health is. If you can spend 5% more energy to unlock 5% more enjoyment and productivity, you can use that extr

It's also easy to forget how big of a deal human health is. If you can spend 5% more energy to unlock 5% more enjoyment and productivity, you can use that extra productivity to engineer better, less polluting systems. If every high density apartment building had a much much higher air and sound quality than the average house, it would also entice more people to live in denser areas. Moreover, well-built, well-conditioned, comfortable buildings are also very efficient, so the only reason not to build for quality is up-front capital cost, a problem that can be solved with a combination of improved technology and tighter building standards for ventilation and noise. There should be a way to shop for places to live with an easily comparable air, sound, and comfort quality score, so that there is pressure to improve.