Is the green building movement just a fad?

Question

Is the green building movement just a fad?

Answer 1

To a degree yes.

Much of the green building movement is based around the erroneous assumption that reducing energy usage is the key to saving the environment which has the potential to backfire quite badly and actually result in higher energy usage.

Now increased energy efficiency provided it doesn't cost too much does benefit the economy and save money so the methods being used to use less energy where they don't compromise anything or cost more than the energy they save are going to become popular.

But the real extremes that cost more than the electricity that would have been needed otherwise probably won't be very popular (very few of them are).

Answer 2

No.  It's actually a return to more quality oriented construction.

For several decades, starting shortly after WW2 most construction has ued methods that are cheap up front--and higher in cost in the long run. It got so widespread tha tmost people--including businesspeople--came to accccept this as "jsut the way things are.

In fact, even without modern design technology and materials, you can easily build homes and oth erbuildings tha tuse half the energy  of most current structures.  Our homes today are quite literally designed to use energy, not to conserve it.

When energy was basically dirt cheap, that was okay (at least from an economic perspective; though not from an environmental one).  Energy is no longer cheap.  And isn't going to be for a loong time--not until we fully implement alternative enrgy technology.

So the economics have changed.  Let me put it this way--which would you choose:

> a hoe with a 1200/monthmortgage that had an added cost of $200/month in utilities

or

>a home that had a mortgage of $1300 but had utilities of 100/month.

Before you answer, remember that any mortgage interest is tax deductible--and that your home will have a higher resale value if it is energy efficient.

The answer t that is really a no-brainer. the second option requires no added net cash flow--but gives you a bigger tax  break and equity accumulation.

Answer 3

No. It has been slowly growing for many years, and now is becoming slightly more mainstream. As energy prices and pollution become more of a burden, more people will continue to recognize the benefits. I think green building is now in the stage that organically grown food was around 15 years ago. About to make a big leap and become widely available and in demand.

Answer 4

Yes, it's just a fad.  It's only going to last about as long as our civilization.  So, like what, sixty, seventy years?

Answer 5

No because we cant afford it to be. We need to keep making changes quickly and efficiently. Notice when your watching tv on every commercial break you'll notice atleast one "green" commercial. So no green building is not a fad, itsa source to change the world.

Answer 6

I hope not. I don't really think so, however. Many times building green is a comparable or cheaper price than traditional methods. Even if it fails to be more economic in the short run, the long run dividends are what we should be thinking of. Things like a cleaner earth, and a brighter outlook for the future of the environment.

Answer 7

The mission of the Green Building Initiative is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for residential and commercial construction.

Answer 8

NO it is a shifting in mindsets for people and there finally waking and realizing that the earth is crying out in pain and needs our help because we only have one planet to live on so we desperatly need to take care of whats left of it and respect it . I hope to one day when i grow up (18) and financially succesful to have and architectually modern house that is eco friendly built in brazil because i plan on doing alot of enviornmental and animal activist work in the future green is not a fad its the future so we can have a future