New materials should help boost sustainability in cities by 2020

Cities could push the envelope on sustainable development, and new building materials are key components of that effort.

An enhanced focus on green building materials and a sustainable supply chain that ensures that other communities are benefiting from local choices should be a part of the plan.

New construction methods can increase lighting during cloudy or rainy weather and cut down on heat penetration during hot, sunny days. Newer developments include windows made with nano-crystals that control intense heat penetration while lighting living areas from the outside.

(http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/12/smart-city-2020-ecological-partnership/)