The cost of building green
07 May '07 from the editors
One popular myth that has been dogging the green building movement for quite some time is that green building methods are somehow more expensive than traditional building methods. It's simply not true.
In the interest of full disclosure, yes, some green materials can be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but often those same materials save homeowners a considerable amount of money in the long run. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cost more, but they also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and save energy (which is reflected in your electricity bill). Bamboo flooring might be more expensive than carpeting, but could potentially save you on allergy/asthma related medical bills over the years.
When implemented correctly, over the lifecycle of a house, green (or sustainable) building is more cost-effective than traditional building. In more concrete terms, The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California's Sustainable Building Task Force, "finds that an upfront investment of less than two percent of construction costs yields life cycle savings of over ten times the initial investment." Not too shabby!
Want to spend the day reading about the cost-effectiveness of building green? Check out these resources, collated by the State of California.
COST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE
COST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE ONLY PROBLEM. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS EDUCATION AND TRADITIONAL BUILDERS. THE PHRASE "WHY FIX IT IF IT ISN'T BROKEN" HAS BEEN ONE THAT I HAVE RUN INTO OFTEN. I LIVE IN THE RURAL MIDWEST WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT OPEN TO NEW IDEAS. STRAW BALE HOUSING ISN'T NEW SO MUCH AS IT IS DIFFERENT TO THIS AREA. I HAVE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL AS A CAD DRATER. I AM A CAD DRAFTER WHO'S MAIN FOCUS OF STUDY IS IN GREEN BUILDING. OF WHICH I HAVE HAD TO LEARN COMPLETELY ON MY OWN BECAUSE MY SCHOOL DID NOT SUPPORT GREEN BUILDING. I AM GRATEFUL THAT MY OWN CURIOUSITY HAS LEAD ME TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF STUDY THAN TRADITIONAL. I DO HOPE THAT THE MIDWEST WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE TO SUPPORT GREEN BUILDING. HOWEVER, IN THE MEANTIME I WILL CONCENTRATE MY WORK AND MY STUDIES WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T SO NARROW-MINDED.
I don't think that it is
I don't think that it is just the cost to blame for the slow adoption of green building. It could be a number of other reasons including: Building conventionally to avoid standing out (building green makes you look like you've got more money (a half-myth)) and becoming a target for community talk or burglary. Not knowing whether the contractor knows enough about these new green materials to install them correctly, but knowing very well that he knows a lot about conventional building materials and techniques. Not knowing about the products period. I live in a poorer community where those who stick out and try to reach farther than others might become targets for community criticism. It's the "crab's in a bucket" situation sometimes.