So we are talking about building green homes. That is, constructing living spaces that use less energy, conserve more water, and foster a more desirable sense of place. Well, I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn’t want such a house. The problem is not everyone can get one because:
- As Sarah alluded to, solar panels are expensive, but so are other “green” measures such as certain building materials and insulation.
- Much of the population can’t afford a home and not much is has been done considering green apartment buildings.
- Most green home rating systems only cater to richer homeowners. In fact, the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED for Homes certification system only targets the upper 25% of homes.
There are ways to make your home greener by replacing old fixtures and appliances with Energy Star ones. In fact an Energy Star rated compact fluorescent bulb can save upwards of $45 over the lifetime of the bulb. As for purchasing a green living space, it’s tough picken’s:
- The USGBC has begun to partner with The Home Depot to offer green affordable housing.
- Certain people have gone to more extreme measures, building houses out of bottles or other “trash”. But without knowledge of home building or the money to pay someone who does, these type of homes a rare to come by.
Trash house builder Mike Reynolds talks on affordability and government
By and large, if you’re not rich enough to buy a new home, you won’t have a very green one. But whose problem is this? Should the government step in? Affordability is one of the big issues in the green building sector. However, major mass media outlets rarely discuss whether the right to affordable green living should be given to all regardless of money.