There have been a lot of articles lately about green buildings and homes. So when I find out about the ones located in 'office parks' and low-density subdivisions on what had just been open space i.e. 'greenfield development' I just shake my head.
A 'green' building surrounded by a huge car-packed parking lot and a 'green house' on a cul-de-sac with a couple of SUVs in the driveway are the environmental equivalent of the fitness fanatic who jogs to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes.
For no matter how energy efficient these structures are the gains don't fully compensate for the environmental losses caused by (a) perpetuating transportation patterns that favor the private automobile, which consumes more resources and emits more pollutants both directly and indirectly than any other mode and (b) the loss of oxygen-generation, water supply, erosion control, food production capacity and other life-giving benefits when land is paved over.
That's why I placed single quotes around 'office parks' because their environmental consequences contradict what real parks should be about and that is rejuvenating one's own health rather than painting a pretty picture, like the billboards that hide the destruction in the film Brazil.
Both 'office parks' and their residential counterparts by their location and low-density design make transportation access by means other than the private automobile impractical and expensive to provide. While main line transit routes serving downtowns and high-density residential and commercial hubs do well financially, those that serve sprawling office and residential developments incur high operating costs and low demand, and are often the first to be cut during budget crunches.
The Victoria Transport Policy Institute (VTPI) based in Victoria, BC, Canada, is a leading authority on the direct and indirect costs of transportation, including land use. I've worked with VTPI's executive director Todd Litman and he knows his stuff.
For example the VTPI compared the land consumed by sprawl and compact development. For an office with 1,000 square feet and needing four parking spots, if it is sited in an 'office park' it would have an environmental footprint of 2,640 square feet while if it is placed in a three-story urban location with 1 on-street parking space it would leave a mark of just 580 square feet.
Similarly for a home with 1,250 square feet, one located in a sprawl development would have an environmental footprint of 2,580 square feet while one located in a compact urban area would consume just 1,040 square feet. http://www.vtpi.org/landuse.pdf
This last point illustrates one of the potential environmental downside of teleworking. Its benefit of reducing commuting, and emissions could be degraded if the teleworker decides to buy a larger home, like on a subdivision that once had been a field, and which removes public transit, cycling, or walking for non-commute trips.
To illustrate the total environmental impacts of sprawl especially transportation, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Canada's better-heeled equivalent of Fannie Mae) and the Natural Resources Canada, a federal government department, published a report that shows that a family living in a low-density suburban type home in the outer suburbs emits 11,800 kilograms of CO2 annually. Instead if they lived in a medium-density inner suburban compact development they would emit just 6,100 kg, largely because public transit is more readily available. ftp://ftp.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/chic-ccdh/Research_Reports-Rapports_de_recherche/eng_bilingual/Green%20Gas%20EmissionsEN_FINAL.pdf
Therefore, if you truly want to go green in your office and home/home offices you need to:
* Select locations and buildings for offices and homes on long-existing already-serviced land including brownfields (i.e. recycle, reuse, renew), in mid-to higher-density areas, well served by transit, and with cycling and walking access. The one exception are new walkable transit-oriented developments at rail and bus stations and at ferry terminals;
* Develop and implement strategies to encourage driving alternatives i.e. no free parking, subsidized transit passes, bike rakes, and devising and expanding telework programs;
* When choosing homes for home offices maximize your existing space like basements, garages, and spare bedrooms or if not possible build a loft or an extension.
--BBR
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I think these greenfield parks are headed in the right direction, however. I really enjoyed your "fitness fanatic" comment, but I believe it's better to be a fitness fanatic who smokes than a smoker who sits on his butt all day, if you know what I mean. There needs to be a lot of re-thinking done and more careful planning, I agree, but it's definitely a start.
If the buildings weren't green to begin with, then it would be that much worse if everything else was the same.
-Pat with http://www.intheleed.com
On July 14, Hamptons Luxury Homes, a company who builds large houses on Long Island, issued a press release which states that two of its employees completed a course, about "green" building, that was taught by the National Association of Home Builders.
The release is below. If you want to talk to an executive of Hamptons Luxury Homes, to learn how their houses help the environment, please email or call me. My email address is pcollins@janispr.com. My number is 312-943-1100.
Hamptons Luxury Homes Announces the Certified Green Professional Designation Earned by Two Telemark Professionals
July 14, 2008 8:30 AM ET
Hamptons Luxury Homes HLXH today announced that two employees of its wholly owned subsidiary, Telemark, Inc., have been awarded the Certified Green Professional designation from the National Association of Home Builders. Tim Dalene and Robert Morsch, both of Telemark, Inc. have completed the educational requirements and have been notified by the The NAHB University of Housing in Washington, DC that they have been approved for graduation.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment by Tim and Bob,” said Roy Dalene, president of Hamptons Luxury Homes. “They are both very much involved in our Hamptons Green Alliance program and as such this designation reinforces our commitment to supporting and encouraging green building practices.”
The National Association of Home Builders describes its designation in this way: the “Certified Green Professional designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes – without driving up the cost of construction. Class work leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers, from the organization leading the change to provide market-driven green building solutions to the home building industry.”
Frank Dalene, president of Telemark, Inc. said: “Telemark and Hamptons Luxury Homes have been committed to green building for many years – even before it became as popular as it is today. As a result, we have also been instrumental in bringing others in our industry together to form the Hamptons Green Alliance to further educate the consumer as well as provide a forum for members of the building and renovation industry in the Hamptons to come together and share information.”
Hamptons Luxury Homes (www.hlxhomes.com) is a regional construction services company that builds and maintains custom homes, luxury vacation homes and ultra-luxury estate homes throughout the eastern end of Long Island, New York, with its principal offices located in Bridgehampton, New York. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Telemark Inc. is a nationally recognized and award winning ultra-luxury homebuilder. The Company maintains an industry leading reputation for construction of luxury vacation homes from foundation to completion, with values ranging up to $60 million. Hamptons Luxury Homes combines ultra-high quality materials with superb old-world craftsmanship to create the ultimate in luxury homes with outstanding aesthetic appeal. Already a recognized and well-established entity in the exclusive environs of the Hamptons on Long Island, the company intends to expand into similar luxury markets in the United States. The Company's other wholly-owned subsidiaries include: Telemark Service and Maintenance, providing ongoing property management, maintenance and service; Bridgehampton Lumber Corp., supplying building material and an independent dealer of The Barden & Robeson Corporation; DWD Construction Services, Inc. which performs construction administration and advisory services in connection with the construction of homes and business development of major commercial projects. Telemark Inc. is a 50% partner in Architectural Woodwork of the Hamptons, LLC, which manufactures and installs custom millwork, custom cabinetry, custom built-ins and furniture. The Company owns a 10% interest in Northway Island Associates, Inc. that is developing a multi-facetted entertainment resort complex in St. Lawrence County, New York. DWD Construction Services is presently acting as the Owner’s Representative for Northway Island Associates.
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3B-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules.All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including without limitation, statements regarding the potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Martin E. Janis & Company, Inc.
Bev Jedynak
312-943-1123
bjedynak@janispr.com
Copyright 2008 Business Wire
Please read-Americans need to know!!!!!!!!
NHTSA Hearings 8/4/08
I just returned from the NHTSA hearings held on August 4, 2008 in Washington D.C., regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for NEW Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (CAFÉ) for years 2011-2015.
IMPORTANT FACTS: You will not believe what you are reading.
1) The 414 pages DEIS analysis was based on an average gasoline price of USD $2.16/gallon for 2011-2020. A calculation approved by the NHTSA administrators/managers. Would you believe it???????????
2) The new CAFÉ rules were also established, negotiated and pre-approved by the NHTSA’s management and clearly with the influence of domestic automotive companies and their lobbyists. We have now established fuel standards for 2011-2020 that are presently and already met throughout the rest of the Western world today (see below).
As one guest speaker said today “are they on another planet?”
NHTSA “NEW Fuel Standards” (2011-2015) decision:
Automobiles are to achieve 31.2 mpg by 2011 and 35.7 mpg by 2015. Light trucks are to achieve 25 mpg by 2011, and 28.6 mpg by 2015.
The NTHSA is also setting a goal of 35 mpg on average for 2020.
America needs to know:
The European Union is currently establishing standards, with a goal of reaching 48.9 miles per gallon for new passenger vehicles as early as 2012. The current EU standard already requires more than 40 miles per gallon about 15% higher than the U.S. goal set for 12 years from now.
Japan currently has a standard of about 40 miles per gallon. Japan aims to further improve fuel efficiency by 17% by 2015, reaching 46.9 miles per gallon.
China has a current average of slightly under 35 miles per gallon. Chinese fuel standards are on target to reach the government’s goal of 35.8 miles per gallon by 2009. China will not only meet, but exceed, the goal just established by the United States for 2020 — more than a full decade earlier.
Australia is targeting 34.4 miles per gallon by 2010.
Canada is targeting 34.1 miles per gallon by 2010.
Under the current administration, purchasing an electric vehicle is becoming more of a necessity rather than an alternative.
BG Automotive Group, Ltd.
http://www.BGelectricCars.com/