The Common Roots of
Hyperinflation
by Daryl Montgomery
12/10/09
Hyperinflation
by Daryl Montgomery
12/10/09
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| ON THE MONEY... |
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Ten years ago designing a “green” building meant sky-rocking costs. Not so
today says Ashley Katz, spokesperson for the U.S. Green Building Council a 20,000 member
organization devoted to developing and promoting cost-efficient
and energy saving green buildings. “For commercial projects you can build a green
building for not one penny more and if you do see additional costs, they are usually
1-2% of overall building budgets, which can be recouped in the first two years,”
says Katz.
So what constitutes a green building? It goes way beyond solar panels says Ken
Wilson, principal at Envision Design and he should know. The firm is an industry
leader and designed Al Gore’s New York office and the headquarters of
Greenpeace USA and the offices of the Environmental Defense Fund. “Putting
solar panels on a house that isn’t green throughout is like ordering a Diet Coke with a
double whopper with cheese. Your payoff would be much better if you have
a well-sided, well insulated building with double pane glass, energy star rated
appliances, new light fixtures and HVAC (heating and air conditioning) systems.”
There are a number of reasons why going green is now easier on the wallet
including more state and local government incentives and tax breaks for
energy efficiency. Meanwhile, architects and designers are better educated
in green practices and with heightened global awareness generating a greater
demand, costs have come down.
Wilson confirms a decade ago green products were considered specialty items
with pricy premiums. “Then there was an even bigger premium to get someone
to buy and install them because contractors saw anything unusual and jacked
up the cost. That has diminished substantially.” Also, just doing the math
makes energy efficiency appealing. A standard no-frills refrigerator priced
around $750 is a good example. An energy star rated refrigerator costs only
few dollars more, says Wilson, and will be 20% more energy efficient saving
the buyer hundreds of dollars over time.
Though we are a long way from universal adaptation of “net zero” energy
usage buildings—meaning energy is self-generating—or self-sustaining domes
where everything is recycled, today smart buildings are considered “the big
picture”, says Felix Au Yeung, project manager for the Sustainable
Communities Initiative at EAH Housing (www.eahhousing.org), a non-profit
housing developer in California. They have recently installed solar-power at
Crescent Park, in Richmond California, making it the largest solar-powered
affordable housing community in the U.S.
“A smart building is a better designed building providing the same features
but using less energy,” says Au Yeung, adding that every component is taken
into consideration. This includes choosing the right building site for the
best usage of wind for natural ventilation and the sun for heat, to
“environmentally preferable” construction materials, insulation, mechanical
systems and even carpeting and paint. He adds that smart buildings, both
residential and commercial, are more attractive at resale. “If you can say
my house is going to save you $200 a year in energy costs, that is very
interesting for buyers.”
Going green is not only the way of the future, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
today says Ashley Katz, spokesperson for the U.S. Green Building Council a 20,000 member
organization devoted to developing and promoting cost-efficient
and energy saving green buildings. “For commercial projects you can build a green
building for not one penny more and if you do see additional costs, they are usually
1-2% of overall building budgets, which can be recouped in the first two years,”
says Katz.
So what constitutes a green building? It goes way beyond solar panels says Ken
Wilson, principal at Envision Design and he should know. The firm is an industry
leader and designed Al Gore’s New York office and the headquarters of
Greenpeace USA and the offices of the Environmental Defense Fund. “Putting
solar panels on a house that isn’t green throughout is like ordering a Diet Coke with a
double whopper with cheese. Your payoff would be much better if you have
a well-sided, well insulated building with double pane glass, energy star rated
appliances, new light fixtures and HVAC (heating and air conditioning) systems.”
There are a number of reasons why going green is now easier on the wallet
including more state and local government incentives and tax breaks for
energy efficiency. Meanwhile, architects and designers are better educated
in green practices and with heightened global awareness generating a greater
demand, costs have come down.
Wilson confirms a decade ago green products were considered specialty items
with pricy premiums. “Then there was an even bigger premium to get someone
to buy and install them because contractors saw anything unusual and jacked
up the cost. That has diminished substantially.” Also, just doing the math
makes energy efficiency appealing. A standard no-frills refrigerator priced
around $750 is a good example. An energy star rated refrigerator costs only
few dollars more, says Wilson, and will be 20% more energy efficient saving
the buyer hundreds of dollars over time.
Though we are a long way from universal adaptation of “net zero” energy
usage buildings—meaning energy is self-generating—or self-sustaining domes
where everything is recycled, today smart buildings are considered “the big
picture”, says Felix Au Yeung, project manager for the Sustainable
Communities Initiative at EAH Housing (www.eahhousing.org), a non-profit
housing developer in California. They have recently installed solar-power at
Crescent Park, in Richmond California, making it the largest solar-powered
affordable housing community in the U.S.
“A smart building is a better designed building providing the same features
but using less energy,” says Au Yeung, adding that every component is taken
into consideration. This includes choosing the right building site for the
best usage of wind for natural ventilation and the sun for heat, to
“environmentally preferable” construction materials, insulation, mechanical
systems and even carpeting and paint. He adds that smart buildings, both
residential and commercial, are more attractive at resale. “If you can say
my house is going to save you $200 a year in energy costs, that is very
interesting for buyers.”
Going green is not only the way of the future, it is the gift that keeps on giving.
| GOING GREEN Karen Jones |
Real e Luxury
realeluxury.com