http://www.buildinggreenbc.com/2009/11/19/6-why-dont-more-ordinary-people-build-green/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=6-why-dont-more-ordinary-people-build-green Case Study: How two people (and legions of talented tradespeople) are building a new green home in British Columbia. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:29:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.buildinggreenbc.com/2009/11/19/6-why-dont-more-ordinary-people-build-green/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Liam Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:45:24 +0000 http://www.buildinggreenbc.com/?p=65#comment-3 I think there's a balance between the cost of building green and the inclusion of luxuries, though. For example, if one wants to sacrifice expensive environmentally friendly tile for re-used hardwood, the cost will go down, but the appearance may not be as appealing, (even though I love the appearance of re-used hardwood). Or for another example: neglecting to put doors on cupboards. They are still just as functional as if they do have doors, eliminate unneeded materials, but no one wants to see the clutter in the dish cupboard. Take Ian's place in Chetwynd. Very inexpensive (although time consuming as well), but he sacrificed a few luxuries and waited for the appropriate used materials to become available, rather than immediately buying the products at elevated prices. That's the problem with stores like "Greenworks" in Vancouver. They produce so called "green" building supplies, but charge the regular price, plus a premium because they're labelled as green. Herein lies the problem as I see it. Very, very few people can afford to build a house in this manner, and so the idea won't take off as it needs to to reverse building trends. Changing the building code is a start, but will take a long time, as it would be impossible to change all aspects of it right away. I could talk about this all day though... I think there’s a balance between the cost of building green and the inclusion of luxuries, though. For example, if one wants to sacrifice expensive environmentally friendly tile for re-used hardwood, the cost will go down, but the appearance may not be as appealing, (even though I love the appearance of re-used hardwood). Or for another example: neglecting to put doors on cupboards. They are still just as functional as if they do have doors, eliminate unneeded materials, but no one wants to see the clutter in the dish cupboard. Take Ian’s place in Chetwynd. Very inexpensive (although time consuming as well), but he sacrificed a few luxuries and waited for the appropriate used materials to become available, rather than immediately buying the products at elevated prices. That’s the problem with stores like “Greenworks” in Vancouver. They produce so called “green” building supplies, but charge the regular price, plus a premium because they’re labelled as green. Herein lies the problem as I see it. Very, very few people can afford to build a house in this manner, and so the idea won’t take off as it needs to to reverse building trends. Changing the building code is a start, but will take a long time, as it would be impossible to change all aspects of it right away.
I could talk about this all day though…

]]>