A typical, modern glass studio consumes 2- 6 million BTU of gas per day, for which prices have tripled since 2001, resulting in numerous closures of glass studios worldwide. Thousands of years of heritage and tradition are being extinguished. Costs of operating a glass studio combined with the loss of waste heat from the furnace make this an opportunity to collaborate efforts, to save fossil fuels, and provide community-based heating.

Artists and designers must respond quickly and creatively to the current human and environmental challenges with innovative ideas that apply to our interconnected world.

The initial study of energy alternatives addresses the need to reduce greenhouse gases, and simultaneously recognizes the critical state of existence of glass production studios. I plan to design a link between using current resources efficiently and introducing alternative renewable heating technologies for glass melting needs; building a bridge between local artisans and community energy systems to create a positive environmental impact and to protect the glass making tradition.