7. Termites
We tend to think of termites as tiny bugs that destroy houses, but on the contrary, they’ve actually inspired a process of building houses to be more energy efficient. Termites when living their own homes build mounds that they keep at the nearly constant temperature although this does vary from day to night. They build in sort of built-in cooling system for the mounds, with vents in the tops and sides. Wind blows air through the vents and out of the structure at the top and termites can control this system by blocking or opening vents.
Architect Mike Pierce copied the creature’s design when he drew up plans for the East Gate Centre in Zimbabwe. His design pulls cool air from underground while chimneys on the top of the building vent hot air. No word on whether the termites are suing for intellectual property infringement.
