See How Easily America Can Build Green

It is 2009 and the world is going green crazy. Green has become a marketing buzzword for some, a cause for others, and a serious mission for organizations and businesses all over the planet.

With this comes chaos and confusion. People are uncertain of how to find the moral information when it comes to greening their homes, and businesses. Many are skeptical, and rightfully so. But, there are sincere and learned professionals who can help. Recently, Waynedale Green Alliance, founder, April D. Langschied, discussed green building with Tanya Stock of Vida Verde Construction in Seattle, Washington.

The following conversation highlights where the United States is when it comes to green building, how we can become environmentally literate, and the whys and wherefores of passive homes.

AL) Tell us a little bit about your background, and why you are now so passionate about green building.

TS) I began refurbishing houses with my father. He taught me the basic values of Real Estate investment and keeping homes vs. tearing them down. He also taught me the belief that you and your project are as only good as your crew.

Finding the right trades people and more importantly craftsman who are passionate about what they do will inevitably make the end result better than the vision. When I decided to pursue this on my own I ragged that idea and because I was low on budgets and ample on ideas, refurbishing and recycling products were essential. And because I am a great advocate of restoration finding people who had the skills to bring old things wait on to life while improving upon them was critical in making my remodels complete. And in that was my initial experience with “green build.”

But what truly introduced me to the entire concept of Green Building was a project I volunteered on with Habitat of Humanity in Livermore, California. From there I saw what it takes to build green from the ground up. And from there I was introduced to the LEED program.

I took courses in LEED via Pacific Gas and Electric’s programs for the trade (although that focus was and is primarily Commercial build) as plot of gaining further knowledge about green building’s principles and core concepts. And that became my true introduction into what it meant about building green.
Out of that I developed Vida Verde Construction with the notion of turning everyone’s home into green paradises. But the change in economy and in response to the inquiries I received, it was obvious that the need for information and collaboration with those in and out of the trade professions was significant to truly effect that vision a reality.

Now Vida Verde is a Consulting company working with homeowners, construction companies, trades people or anyone seeking further information about being ‘green’. I like to evoke the conception that the palette of green has many shades and I am here to help you find your right shade of green.

AL) What is a Passive Haus?

TS) A Passive Haus is one that uses minimal energy to heat and cool itself. The standard measure of energy musty for that is15kw/hr or the equivalent of a standard blow dryer. Using design concepts that encourage passive solar utilize, shapely insulation, good heat recovery ventilation system, position heating, quality high performance windows, air tightness, and energy efficient lighting and appliances the house will use in total primary energy (heating, cooling, electrical appliances and lighting) of no more than 120kw/hr.

In addition to being energy efficient it takes great care of being a more comfortable and healthier home environment for its residents (maintaining average indoor temps at 68 degrees) while also looking at the long term environmental aspects of reducing CO2 use via its direct energy savings and by the materials selected and ultimately used to construct the house.

AL) Why do you believe that Europe is so far “ahead of the curve” in green building?

TS) Europe and Canada have been pushing the envelope of building science simply because they had to. Canada has always been environmentally a conscious country and they have long-term political goals that work to support the growth of green building and density issues.

In turn Europe has always faced the issues of density and aging buildings and how to maintain and upgrade them without losing the well-known architectural and historical designs found in the cities. Germany has always had a strong engineering background and from the vehicles, to the appliances and finally the houses they create there is a clear conscious effort to effort themselves with sustainability and the long-term effects on energy use. Being early advocates of International Environmental Policies also enable a country to embrace the concepts that have been in existence in the United States for years but have been often relegated to the fringes in pursuit of a larger corporate philosophy often in opposition of long term environmental issues.

The Energy Crisis of the 70s spawned a great deal of the Green Building movement you spy today but it was our friends to the North and in Europe that expanded upon them and embraced them.
Passive Houses have been here in the United States for years. There are the Super insulated Homes project in Montana and others in Wisconsin who have been doing these types of homes for years without sadly gaining distinguished attention by the wider market.

AL) How can the United States -especially the heartland of America- meet the green building standards that are being set in Europe?

TS) As stated, we have been doing this in small ways and Building Science is realizing that we need to go beyond the codes and checklists of Green Programs. Green Build programs do address energy use and we have Energy Star but funding has often stifled real progress in these organizations. Ultimately even Non-Profit groups have limited resources and even more limited audiences (many times going to meetings is remarkable like preaching to the choir) so true innovation and experimentation is limited to those with the money and time to push the envelope.

Here in the States we have a great push for the “Zero Energy Home” and that seems to generate the most press and interest. Passive Houses will of course be part of the trend as is any number of Green Building programs and ideas. It is what we do when the trend passes to truly see what works, what hasn’t and what we need to do to make it work for the bigger picture.

AL) Do you believe that educating all sectors of the public on actions that are necessary to attain energy conservation is a important first step to awakening all Americans to the need for sustainable living?

TS) In a word, yes. It is why I changed the focus of Vida Verde. I realized very early on that while people are passionate about Green Building and more importantly Energy Efficiency we detached think of them as separate, distinct parts and more importantly optional ones.

I attend many workshops and lectures and find them filled to capacity with eager participants excited about what it means to be “green”. And then I go to numerous remodeling fairs and homes shows and find little to any information let alone options about Green Building. These booths are usually relegated to either to a non-profit or governmental agency tucked far in the corner with only the largest green contracting company in attendance.

When I do venture outside the comforts of sponsored Green events I find people yes interested but resistant and that comes from one source – cost. There is collected a strong resistance because even when presented with a cost attend analysis there is a lack of resources available.

Information is still the provenance of those in the know and often traded at a “premium.” Thankfully the new Administrations policy promoting the idea of “Green Jobs” should provide the opportunity to see what is available, make it of wider knowledge and accessibility and hopefully affordability. The real key to growth of sustainability is removing it from the idea that is an optional luxury available to those who can afford do so. When in reality we cannot afford not to.