Green Building Speaks Up…In Front of Congress

Last week, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC–the folks behind LEED certification) sent representatives, including their Senior Vice-President, Michelle Moore, to explain to the Congressional Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming that green building is integral to our country’s future strategy for addressing climate change, and to energy independence.

What the USGBC would like to be made more common knowledge is that more than a third of GHG emissions in this country is attributable to buildings. The government is aware of the need to start encouraging stricter green building measures, industry-wide; for instance, the DOE’s “Builder’s Challenge” is trying to get 220,000 energy-efficient homes built by 2012.  But largely, initiatives have been confined to the state level.  Getting the federal government to endorse LEED standards for new construction would be a coup, not just for the USGBC but for building owners–greater energy efficiency translates into savings and higher resale value. Not to mention the health benefits to residents (better air and light) and to the environment (lower emissions, lower impact building methods, recycled or sustainable materials).

The fact that the USGBC has officially testified in front of Congress to the importance of green building may get the attention of legislators who have been pushing the issue to the side in favor of “sexier” topics to do with climate change and energy, like the endangered status of polar bears or (our personal favorite, here at GetSolar.com) funding renewable energy R&D. I think our government, very soon, will have to understand that these are not individual topics from which it can pick and choose; a strategy for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, decreasing our carbon emissions, planning for the growth of the “green” economy, and devising cost-effective means of using renewable energy must be holistic. Outside of the USGBC’s rather vested interest in seeing the LEED standard taken up by the federal government, it’s undeniable that green building is going to play a large role in whatever plan takes shape.

Sources: American City & County, GreenerBuildings.com