I have no hesitation in jumping on board the great ship of “Green Consciousness” that is navigating the planet as the consequences of reckless depletion of our resources are continually exposed.. “Renewable” and “sustainable” are buzzwords infiltrating every governing body, every institution of higher education, every industrial sector, and ideally, every household on our at-risk planet Earth. I dare to say that any entity void of this consciousness is either irresponsible or uninformed, maybe both.
The level of green awareness in Arizona may or may not be up to par, but the sense of responsibility is undoubtedly lacking.
The LEED rating system (LEED standing for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”) was developed by the United States Green Building Council. Architects, builders, and owners may elect to seek approval for LEED points attributable to the green aspects of their projects. The environmental, health/safety, and economic benefits of going green are overlapping and all-encompassing. But those benefits don’t usually serve the appetite for instant gratification that drives much of our American culture.
For example, it can be shown that LEED certified construction generally provides a healthier environment for its occupants. This is an economic benefit because if the immune systems of people are less challenged, they will be more productive and less likely to get sick. This outcome is only observable over a period of time and is inherently difficult to measure. On the contrary, it is easy to measure the return on the dollar in construction sales.
Most of my contracts are for work in residential homes. In six years, I have encountered only two builders who had an active interest in pursuing LEED certified projects. I decided to poke around for the reasons why. Here are the results of my inquiry. Do you see a common thread?
Custom home builder of 16 years ~ “Green” is not important to my clients and potential buyers. People buy these luxury homes as investments, as second properties. I focus on building homes with lots of glass for the views and aesthetic quality. LEED projects are too restrictive and don’t allow for all the features I want the home to have. I tried it a long time ago…
Custom home builder of 25+ years ~(This builder constructed his most recent multi-million dollar home to be “solar ready” but didn’t install panels because…) It’s not worth it. People are into immediate price, not long term.
Owner/builder ~(This individual still lives in the home he built more than a decade ago, and he recalls carefully researching options for building materials, etc. He concedes that the bottom line is longevity and what suits him personally. If that happens to be green, he chooses green. He believes the average AZ mindset in home construction is quite different from his.) This is a transient state. People are into flipping houses. The initial cost for green construction is too high. Now maybe fewer people are flipping houses and things will change…
Business executive specializing in renewable energy development ~ People just don’t think about it (the green building concept)…or if they do, they don’t believe they’ll be in their homes long enough to recoup the extra money put in at the build stage.
No one disputes that going green is a good idea. Out of the Arizona cloud of ambivalence, there are strong signs that green will indeed prevail. Tucson adopted an ordinance in June 2008 that requires all new single-family homes and duplexes in Tucson to be “solar-ready.” Since 2002, the ASU Sustainable Facility Policies have mandated that all new campus construction be built to at least the LEED “Silver” standard or equivalent. The list goes on…
A green enthusiast posted this on an active forum called “the Arizona we want”~ The Arizona I want takes advantage of our enormous system of water canals and our abundance of solar energy. I would like to see the water canals become attractive places for rest and relaxation; and every parking lot shaded by solar collectors!
To take a closer look at what Artefino is offering in the Arizona green scene, read one of my soon-to-come postings featuring my favorite VERY green product line, the one and only beautiful, functional, American Clay!
