| The Last Barrel of Oil
This disaster is especially ironic in light of the Administration's announcement last month to open new offshore drilling sites in US waters. The spill been likened to subprime mortgages—a peculiar wake-up call, which should transcend political parties and special interests. In the face of such calamity, politicians and business executives have an ideal opportunity to actually exhibit desperately needed leadership and implement real change that galvanizes, rather than divides, the public. The immediate response to this latest disaster must involve bioremediation of habitat and restoration of economic opportunity for local communities. A logical second step is the development and relentless implementation of a progressive energy policy that realistically addresses today's (and tomorrow's) needs, including strict guidelines for energy efficiency, renewables, clean technology, and financially responsible national energy independence. Why does it seem so hard to for Washington to pave the way to a clean energy future? Why must we drill, baby drill when we have endless rooftops that we can cover with solar panels, acres of land that we use to construct wind generators, and miles of earth in which we can employ geothermal systems? I'm cautiously optimistic that we may be moving in the right direction, as evidenced last week by the House passing a version of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019), which authorizes the creation of a national energy retrofit program for American homeowners. As the crude continues to gush from the ocean floor, the Administration is taking pause to analyze its next move, and has at least temporarily suspended approval of new offshore drilling permits until more is known about the extent of damage from the Gulf Coast oil spill. While it is essential that we implement a national energy policy that retains US dollars within our country, it is also essential that we ask the right questions that lead to appropriate solutions. Need I even ask? How many animals should we allow to die, how much toxic crud should we tolerate washing up on our beaches, how many chemicals should we allow to pollute our ocean before we speak out? How many dollars should we spend on remediation on this disaster that could have been used on research and development of clean energy technologies and delivery systems? Do we have to run out of oil before we take action, or can we end our destructive obsession before we are forced to endure more needless environmental damage and financial distress? It's time to turn our angst into action, to replace our political paralysis with execution, to make dependency on fossil fuels the next victim of enlightened policy. Please write to me at sara@greenbuildermag.com with your thoughts about how we can bring our energy policy into the 21st century.For more information about important topics related to sustainability and green building, follow me on my Twitter page at SaraGBM. |
REEL
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By a vote of 246 to 161 the House of Representatives yesterday voted to approve the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019), which authorizes creation of a national energy retrofit program for American homeowners. What does this mean to you? An uptick in business for your company as Americans scurry to take advantage of money-saving energy-efficiency updates. [read more]
Keep water where it belongs (outside) with this new product from Cosell-Dorken. The company's Delta-Dry rainscreen protects the structure of the home from moisture, mold, and decay, and can be used with popular siding choices such as stucco, manufactured stone, cement board, brick veneer, and stone. [read more]
Enterprising Idea More than ever, it's important to keep the terms affordable and green in the same conversation. This month, Enterprise helped in that regard with its announcement of a $4 billion commitment to launch the next generation of its Green Communities initiative. One of the largest private investments ever in green affordable housing, this commitment will accelerate change in the affordable housing industry and positively impact the lives of low-income individuals and families across the country. If affordable housing is important where you build, look into the new initiatives and programs out of this outfit. [read more]
Spec'ing green wood just got easier. Boise Cascade is now offering four FSC-certified Alljoist profiles. The Alljoist series engineered wood products are sustainable products that are approximately 35% stronger than dimension lumber joists, while using about 35% less wood fiber, says the maker. [read more]
As your buyers know, the price of oil is going up again, now at $86 a barrel, which means we'll all be paying more to drive our cars and our fossil-fuel energy costs will rise —again. So SolarDay 2010 , an international day of recognition for solar energy, sustainability, and energy independence, comes at an good time. Held on June 19, this celebration offers a golden opportunity to showcase your company's green philosophy. [read more]
Webinar Watch: Renewable Energy Did you know?
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Americans throw away enough glass bottles and jars to fill the 1,350-foot twin towers of New York's World Trade Center every two weeks. |
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