| As a green building consultant one of the biggest | | | | CFL may not be the complete solution but it is a |
| fundamental flaws I hear in the green building | | | | definite first step towards it. As a homeowner you |
| discussion is that green building costs more and is less | | | | can search for topics on sustainable development |
| profitable. Our goal is to help you design projects that | | | | online and examine the different choices you can |
| are profitable AND green. Yes, you can be profitable | | | | make for a greener home. Informative sustainable |
| and green at the same time, they are not mutually | | | | development articles abound on the web and there is |
| exclusive. | | | | a lot you can learn about making ecologically healthier |
| With that said, one question still mystifies developers- | | | | choices for that new house you plan to build or for |
| what exactly is sustainable planning and | | | | that re-modeling job you have in mind on your |
| development? What does sustainable development | | | | vacation home. |
| mean? Why are we worried about issues like climate | | | | However, a bigger responsibility lies on the shoulders |
| change, environment pollution and energy shortage? | | | | of the real-estate developers' community because if |
| Why is everybody talking about sustainable | | | | we build it 'green' from scratch we make a stronger |
| development? Is sustainable development advice just | | | | impact. Contrary to popular belief, the role of private |
| the latest buzzword being thrown around? Is it simply | | | | sector developers, in sustainable real estate |
| fashionable to claim being eco-savvy and plant trees | | | | development, is key and much more profitable. |
| and switch to CFL bulbs to show proof? | | | | Building 'green' makes sense and is profitable. Plus, |
| Al Gore says, "There is a growing feeling that we are | | | | sustainable real estate development has the thumbs |
| reaching the limits of the Earth's ability to sustain our | | | | up from the government - "In the not too distant |
| civilization." That is the popular view and the answer | | | | future, all development will be green. Developers, |
| to all these questions is an obvious 'no.' The earth's | | | | builders and buyers will discover that green not only |
| climate is being negatively affected and speeding | | | | enhances their pocketbooks, but also their health and |
| economic development is undoubtedly leaving little for | | | | the quality of their lives. The developers who grasp |
| our future generations. The threat to our | | | | this first will have an edge in a massive, emerging |
| environment is real, clear and nearly here. How can | | | | market..." - William S. Becker, Director, Center of |
| we minimize the damage? Leave a healthier earth for | | | | Excellence For Sustainable Development, US |
| our future generations? The answer lies in sustainable | | | | Department of Energy. |
| planning and development. | | | | The benefits of sustainable development for a real |
| How do we define it? The US Department of Energy | | | | estate developer or a builder are manifold and make |
| defines sustainable development as - "Sustainable | | | | financial sense. Take the case of Wal-Mart whose |
| development is a strategy by which communities | | | | environmental initiatives are reaping benefits like |
| seek economic development approaches that also | | | | considerably reduced energy consumption and lower |
| benefit the local environment and quality of life." | | | | water bills. Charles Zimmerman, Wal-Mart's vice |
| Christine Ervin, Department of Energy Assistant | | | | president of prototype and new-format development |
| Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable | | | | says they have managed to do this by using, |
| Energy defines sustainable development as, | | | | "refrigerators that generate 50% less heat and no |
| "Sustainable development allows economic progress | | | | mercury, low-heat lighting sources, bathrooms with |
| and environmental quality to be compatible goals. | | | | low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals that cut water |
| Communities are finding that sustainable development | | | | bills in half." Other Wal-Mart initiatives like 'Daylighting' |
| strategies save taxpayer money, improve the profits | | | | have paid for themselves in less than 2 years. |
| of local businesses, and make the community more | | | | If builders and developers incorporate similar systems |
| livable." | | | | at the design stage of a project, sustainable |
| When Thomas Jefferson in 1789 made the following | | | | residential development can become a reality. |
| statement, he may not have been talking about | | | | Construction and architectural design that helps a |
| sustainable development, as the term is used today, | | | | homeowner reduce their monthly household |
| but there was a definite vision of what the future | | | | expenditure would be, in itself, a strong enough |
| could look like if mankind refused to be prudent with | | | | reason for a green builder's products to be in |
| nature's gifts, "Then I say the earth belongs to each... | | | | demand. |
| generation during its due course, fully and in its own | | | | The benefits of and the enhanced profitability |
| right, no generation can contract debts greater than | | | | through sustainable real estate development are |
| may be paid during the course of its own existence." | | | | catching up and in a blink of the annual eye it may |
| Robert Gilaman, President of Context Institute | | | | become the standard. Says Brenna Walraven, the |
| defines sustainability as "Sustainability refers to the | | | | chairman - elect of the National Building Owners and |
| ability of a society, ecosystem, or any such ongoing | | | | Managers Association and national property |
| system to continue functioning into the indefinite | | | | management director at San Antonio-based USAA |
| future without being forced into decline through | | | | Reality Co. "Within five years sustainable construction |
| exhaustion... of key resources." | | | | will become the norm, in part because of falling |
| The answer must begin at the 'micro level', with us, | | | | product costs. Retail and the rest of commercial real |
| who use the spoils of nature to progressively | | | | estate needs to continue to push harder for green... it |
| urbanize. The solution to the problem must start with | | | | keeps expenses down, it's good business, and, more |
| the way we 'build', 'create' and 'remodel' our towns, | | | | importantly, it is the right thing to do." |
| cities and homes. Green development initiatives are | | | | Sustainable real estate development has traditionally |
| the first level solutions for sustainable development. | | | | been marred by the perception of increased costs |
| Solutions for sustainable development are required | | | | for the developer. However, if sustainable building |
| and they need to be all-pervading, long term policies | | | | development measures are incorporated at the |
| participated in by governments, societies and people. | | | | design stage, these costs can be completely |
| But before we begin talking about the benefits of | | | | removed, if not considerably reduced. For instance, |
| sustainable development, let us look further at, "How | | | | using combined heat and power generation can |
| do we define sustainable development?" | | | | reduce the total capital costs of community-based |
| Definitions are many but the most widely accepted | | | | systems such as heating. Other costs incurred on |
| definition of sustainable development is "Development | | | | measures like low/dual flush WCs and |
| that meets the needs of the present without | | | | energy-efficient appliances are comparable, or similar |
| compromising the ability of future generations to | | | | in many cases, to their more popular standard |
| meet their needs." On a lighter, anonymous note, | | | | versions. |
| sustainable development is "Growth without cheating | | | | Buildings use 35% of the nation's energy each year. |
| our children." | | | | There are more than 76 million residential and 5 million |
| The sustainable development definition may differ | | | | commercial buildings in the US today and this total |
| across geographies, cultures and countries. At the | | | | number is expected to go up by another 38 million by |
| end of the day, however, it is a process that | | | | 2010. Can you imagine the stress on energy |
| requires global participation at the individual level. | | | | resources and the subsequent rise in the costs of |
| Individual contribution is important because it forms | | | | buying power for households in this time? Using |
| the basis of the 'Three pillars of sustainable | | | | sustainable residential development measures like |
| development' - Economic, Environmental and Social. | | | | Daylighting and solar water- heating would not only |
| The 'social' pillar of people interacts with the other | | | | reduce this stress on energy resources but also allow |
| two - environmental and economic and in that sense | | | | a developer to offer a customer more cost-efficient |
| drives the concept of sustainable development. | | | | residential option in the long-term. |
| Since we use the environment for social and | | | | Another way developers and builders can benefit |
| economic purposes it's us who need to decide if the | | | | from sustainable development is by using more |
| current trade off between 'environment' and | | | | economical, sustainable and ecological alternatives for |
| 'economic' is beneficial to us in the long run. We can | | | | construction and building materials. Using recycled |
| continue using wood for building our houses and | | | | content building materials can reduce construction |
| destroy all our forests or decide on healthier | | | | costs thereby increasing profits. There are direct |
| alternatives that help the economy grow and keep | | | | financial advantages here and the costs, as explained |
| our planet safe and secure for our future generations | | | | above can be minimized. |
| to be able to build their houses. In this sense 'people' | | | | Innovation always pays dividends and builders and |
| form the pivotal point in the whole picture. | | | | developers who use sustainable development |
| Therefore, by definition, you and I, the individual | | | | alternatives can be the ones reaping the profit. There |
| home - owner, builder or real estate developer are | | | | has never been a better time to adopt sustainable |
| part of the basic principles of sustainable | | | | development measures and still be able to make |
| development - people, planet, profits. | | | | profits, than today. What we sow now, we will reap |
| So what steps can you as a builder or homeowner | | | | tomorrow and thus the case for sustainable |
| take for ensuring sustainable real estate | | | | development for real estate developers and builders. |
| development? You can do a lot. Changing a bulb to | | | | |