Environmental Groups Look to Block Green Building Code
California is on the verge of approving the country's first state green building code, but some environmental groups are trying to stop it, arguing the code does not go far enough.
Energy efficiency, water saving and recycling of building materials are stressed in the new building code, which would be the first state-mandated green building code in the U.S. Critics including the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Global Green argue that the state's rules are too loose.
"But critics say the rules fall short of rigorous standards adopted by Los Angeles, San Francisco and more than 50 California jurisdictions in league with the U.S. Green Building Council, a national nonprofit group of architects, engineers and construction companies."
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Broader Goal- No Mass Produced Developments
Shifting the conversation to phasing out the mass production of homes and commercial buildings is critical. Currently, our green building policy conversation aims to make McMansions greener via more efficient design but does not get at the problem that McMansion subdivisions shouldn't be built- period.
The nature of most subdivision homes is that they utilize cheaper building materials and are built with minimal to unskilled labor. The finished product is estimated to last 25 years!
Mass produced subdivision builders create forced development by swiftly bringing people out from cities and inner suburbs who would otherwise have had to find their own piece of land, contractor and build themselves- which is often much more expensive to do and would take more time. This brings many more people out "into the country" and at a much faster rate than would be the case if people had to build on their own.
Environmentalists need to put support behind legislation that shifts power from the large subdivision builders to small, local quality builders and to communities who oppose more mass-produced residential and commercial building within their borders.