Green buildings less expensive in the long-run
WASHINGTON -- "Green buildings" sound great. But can we afford them?
The benefits are impressive. Building green means seeking out solar or other renewable power sources, utilizing smart architectural design to maximize natural sunlight and ventilation, and selecting recycled and nontoxic construction materials.
If we ever hope to have less energy dependence in America, buildings must be a big part of the deal. The country has 5 million commercial structures, 76 million residential. They account for two-fifths of total national energy use. And we keep building them at a furious pace -- an estimated 38 million new buildings by the end of this decade.
The environmental stakes are immense. Buildings generate a third of our carbon dioxide emissions (a chief culprit in global warming). They're responsible for half our sulfur dioxide emissions, a quarter of nitrous oxide emissions and major acid rain and smog problems, according to a Progressive Policy Institute roundup.
But -- are green buildings economic enough to build? The popular notion has been "no" -- that innovations such as solar panels are too costly, that unconventional building materials or design elements pose the risk of construction delays and higher costs.
By contrast, Charles Lockwood, architectural critic and author, recently e-mailed me: "The 'green is too expensive' myth is no longer true." A variety of real-life projects with standard construction costs, he notes, are receiving silver or gold ratings from U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) rating system.
Continue reading this story from Washington Post writer Neal Peirce:
'Green' Sounds Great -- But Is It Affordable?
Find out more about green building here in Washington by reading a recent Earth Share interview with Bert Gregory, President and CEO of Mithun. Mithun, a Seattle-based architecture, design and planning firm, plays a major role in shepherding this fast growing movement.
Thanks to Jon Stahl for the pointer.
