Profile Network Activity Comments Articles Blog Bookmarks Contact

Green Buildings Rising

By Herman Trabish
November 24, 2009 | 2 Comments

Do you like this blog post?

Bookmark

Downtown: That’s where the fight to turn back global climate change is. The bad guys are the Jets and the Sharks and Officer Krupke (that's a Westside Story reference) and the Crips and the Bloods (back to reality) and the cops and the robbers and the Mayor and the City Council and you and me and the guy on the corner.

But guess what: The people of the U.S., led by smart local politicians, are getting busy turning themselves into the good guys by doing what has to be done because it’s just as good for their pocketbooks as it is for their climate.

The widespread and rising development of green buildings in greening cities is documented in Local Leaders in Sustainability – Green Building Policy in a Changing Economic Environment, the latest report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

For all the effort and clamor about stopping deforestation – and it’s certainly important to stop it – deforestation accounts for only 17% of the world’s GhGs. 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (GhGs) come from buildings.

click to enlarge

The short answer to global climate change is not something exotic and out of reach. It’s insulation, weather stripping, efficient windows and doors, energy-saving appliances and equipment, habits that conserve heating and cooling energy and electricity, adding solar panels and small wind and using temperature-moderating geothermal and mass transit and other obvious innovations.

While the economic downturn has slowed the growth of the New Energies and the construction industries because of slowed access to big capital, leaders in the cities of the nation have turned to Energy Efficiency and distributed small-scale New Energy like never before because it is so good for the bottom line. The costs of a green building are greater than those of traditional construction but a green building easily recoups the costs in its lifecycle and building green generates, jobs, tax revenues and supply chain business opportunities.

The ultimate goal of AIA’s report is to establish guidelines that lead to a way of life in which the concept of “building green” no longer exists because BEST building is green building.

click to enlarge

This post is based on New AIA study reports "green" buildings are on the rise (November 20, 2009, San Francisco Examiner)

Click thru for Commentary, Quotes and More News at NewEnergyNews

Green Power, Other, Energy Efficiency

The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

2 Reader Comments

Comment
1 of 2

simpsonm

November 25, 2009

I can see how green building generates job constructing the new measures, and stimulates business in green sectors. How does building green generate tax revenues? My intuition tells me that green building reduces relative tax revenues. It seems to me, that to do a fair comparison one would have to look at what the tax revenues would have been including lower building costs and increased generation, as well as account for green building subsidies and incentives.

Comment
2 of 2

diego-matter-155417

December 1, 2009

I totally agree with you. Energy Efficiency and green buildings are the first step.

But I see a problem with the development of green buildings. They are called green, but they are not sustainable. An Energy Star rated residential house is still using 60% more energy than an Passive House!! The same goes for the LEED label. And there are very few net zero energy houses in the US.

But we also have to fix the existing residential and commercial buildings and industry proceses. Solar on every roof will also help, but is only viable when the energy use will be halved by efficiency measures.

Unfortunately a lot of people would like to resolve the problem through the use of technology - big wind and solar. Put up enough wind and solar farms and we can go on like before. But this will not work because of the costs.

Together with energy efficiency however, the costs will be 50% lower because only half as many RE sites have to be erected.

Diego

Add Your Comment

Registered users, please make sure to Sign-In. We and others want to know your ideas and opinions. If you are not yet Registered -- it's quick and easy. Just click below.
Thanks!