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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 302
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 Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:46 am Post subject: What Is "Green"??? |
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What is "Green"?
I think it's an excellent thought provoking question, but I would like to suggest that for the time being, we simply put that question aside.
The fact that we spend time debating the issue in circles, is valuable time lost working on solving the problem. Like so many questions in life, what is healthy, what is safe, what is good or bad, maybe we need to accept the fact that each person's own definition of the term will be the best definition for right now. There is currently no perfect "green" solution but I believe each partial solution can help to build towards the goal of reducing greenhouse gases, consuming less energy and using materials that won't impoverish the next generation. Each effort, new idea or partial solution (like this forum) helps to create new and better ideas, helps people to think about something they didn't think about before and hopefully moves them to act.
Maybe what we need to do right now is to implement as many general principles of the concept as possible;
something like Green Projects will:
-Consume less energy than standard building practices and codes.
-Produce as much alternative (non-fossil fuel) energy as the budget allows.
-Use as many sustainable, local and recycled materials as practical.
-Make as little environmental impact on the site and community as possible.
-Use as many lighting, passive cooling and heating design/building techniques as feasible.
For some people this will mean making sure their new or rehab project uses compact flourescent bulbs, water saving fixtures and shower heads, and the most energy efficient appliances. For others it may mean full blown projects using little or no energy and fully recycled materials.
Cooperation, enthusiasm, and positive thinking is required to move forward and letting each good and workable idea build upon the next.
As previously stated, playing the "who's got the greenest project" game is counterproductive and prevents the goal of a making the planet a safer and healthier place to live, a reality.
I would rather see each individual and group implement their idea of "what is green" to make some positive impact, however seemingly small. We need to move the collective effort forward without negativity, doubt or hesitation by working together for meaningful change through ethusiasm, positive thinking and action . |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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I think everyone would agree that individuals doing anything is better than nothing.
At the same time if we never challenge ourselves to answer this vital question we will most assuredly fall short and individual effort will not amount to much more than a "feel good" outcome.
Unfortunately to answer this question will cause us to question many of our core beliefs and this is an uncomfortable thing to do.
Also it means coming to grips with our real attitude about whether or not we should try and deal with global warming, resource depletion, population, pollution, budget, etc.. These are hard issues that it are far easier to let someone else deal with. (like our children)
Would this knowledge really be counterproductive to being green?
-No, knowledge is always a good thing it helps us make better decisions. Without knowledge we could go on indefinitely doing "green" things which although they may make us feel good they won't actually have any impact on the real problems we face. "Green" would be a placebo that we take which makes us think we are fighting cancer when in fact it is spreading throughout our bodies.
Suggesting we put this question aside is the same as saying "I don't really care what green is".
Do we really want to be content by fooling ourselves into a false since of progress?
Are we hopping our children will be able to figure this one out without us teaching them?
Are we hopping that technology will come along and make it an effortless change?
What is the advantage of putting this question aside?
Nature will answer this question for us. By definition no unsustainable practice can continue indefinitely. Do we want nature to answer this question for us?
If that is the case than why do anything? Let's just forget about green all together.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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Antisthenes
Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 648
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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the color of life
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The most necessary/useful piece of learning is that which unlearns what is untrue: 'evil'
may be acquired, Happiness through virtue which is based on knowledge!/? |
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 302
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | What is the advantage of putting this question aside? |
Chris, If you had read my post, you wouldn't be asking the question! 
I'll try to put it a different way. We can agree to disagree about the nitty gritty of what "green" is. What we need now is less debate, discussion and arguing ad nauseam. It's a call for less talk, more action.
Rome is burning. 
| Quote: | | Suggesting we put this question aside is the same as saying "I don't really care what green is". |
Well, maybe in your mind, but I think the point is if you really care about what "green" is, you may want to stop nit picking, negativity never won the day. 
| Quote: | | -No, knowledge is always a good thing it helps us make better decisions. |
I missed the part in my post where I advocated casting knowledge aside.
I'm just saying there's a time to talk and there's a time for action.
Now is the time for action, (but if you want to do both, that's ok too.) |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1968
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Part of working to implement Green is questioning it the entire time, while working to implement it. It's best to incorporate as much as possible every opportunity available but keep questioning the goals and acheivements, not to mention the manner or policies in which to execute these green elements.
mx2.5
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*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 302
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Part of working to implement Green is questioning it the entire time, while working to implement it. |
Mx2, Well said and I especially like the part about while working to implement it. |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Chris, If you had read my post, you wouldn't be asking the question! |
I read it, I just didn't think you made a good case for that statement.
I would even propose that talking about it is about the best we can do in most cases at the moment. It isn't as though we are missing opportunities to do green projects because we are sitting around talking about it.
I have had several clients lately who talk about being green and then do absolutely nothing green because their first priority is still a "Tuscan" McMansion.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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birgco
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 302
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it's true that it's frustrating when a client doesn't come through on such a critical issue. I think up here in the Northeast there may be a bit more sense of urgency and awareness, especially as we are paying upwards of $.20 per Kw hour for the precious juice ( and it was just $.16!!!) A friend told me his neighbor recently locked in his winter oil price at $6.00 per gallon!
Is there any chance he was kidding.........? |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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$6.00 per gallon
ouch!
Yes it is frustrating. The economy is doing pretty well here, no housing bubble and higher natural gas prices actually help us a bit.
We are still paying 9.8 cents per kWh so there is very little incentive for people to invest in efficiency. We do have a glut of SUV's on the market though.
I have a young couple I have just started working with (no children yet) but are convinced they need a 3300 sq.ft. house 5 bedrooms, 4bathrooms, LR, FR formal dining, brkfst.....
I try to tell them that in 10 years they may not be able to afford this (they probably can't afford it now) but that just goes in one ear and out the other. Modern advertising has them convinced they need to build their "dream" home.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1919
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:09 am Post subject: |
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This is exactly why anyone who is unhappy with the current state of architecture or the environment should discourage excess. It's this idea that we can't possibly do with less than the most square feet that we can afford that drives us to our current state of mediocrity. We treat our consumerism as an inalienable right to take as much out of the environment as we can afford.
The 3000 sq. ft. house will not be with us much longer because it was a product of cheap energy and disregard for the environment.
As a society we will have to eventually decide that ones share of the pie does not depend entirely on their income but rather partly on the total number of people needing a share.
If we are ever going to seriously attempt to get our energy consumption down to the kind of levels which we talk about:
We will have to make serious compromises and stop playing the "could be worse" game or the "lets not count how much energy is being used to build and maintain our buildings but just what they consume in energy to operate" game.
| Quote: | http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/313/5787/591
the IEA projects that annual energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide will be 52% higher in 2030 than in 2003. Unless there is a radical change, the world will continue to become more reliant on fossil fuels beyond 2030. Without unfeasibly dramatic breakthroughs in carbon sequestration and energy efficiency, this will lead to proportionate increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations |
(That's 1344 new nuclear power plants.)
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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