No Hybrids Allowed
By Maurice Levitch, AIA
With greater acceptance today that we can do something about global warming and create healthier lifestyles at the same time, we may be ready to eliminate the quotation marks around the "green" in green building. Along with this awakening, however, come those who jump on the bandwagon for all the wrong reasons: To try to capitalize on a good thing without providing the benefits intended by the movement toward building healthier and more comfortable buildings.
The good stuff is that "green" is in the mainstream now, as evidenced by an explosion of new and improved products, older green products becoming standard in construction, more trained professionals and a huge amount of media attention. The bad stuff is that you need to be aware of "greenwashing," looking even further into products that appear to be green.
Whether your "Super Bowl" is the Academy Awards or the Super Bowl itself, you were exposed to the green media blitz this year. The Academy Awards event was promoted as green, and the emcee referred to green a few times, including a reference to a hybrid Boeing jet that was parked out front with its lights on. I was surprised that the audience did not applaud after the emcee announced this and then stated that, as a result, the winners would be walking up to the microphone this year (did I miss a previous year when a winner drove up to the mic?). Well, at least they put it out there.
The first half of the Super Bowl pregame show was promoted as being powered with energy from batteries charged by people riding stationary bicycles - for four days. As I looked into this event further, I found that the sponsor was "Amp," one of those highly caffeinated energy drinks that comes in what looks like a beer can. Here, "Amp" tried to combine energy savings with energy drinks, which I found not to be a good association. Even their labeling is "green" (using the quotation marks purposely this time), or red if you get the flavor with red dye #40 and cherry flavoring.
Along with new green materials and building procedures, some of the earlier ones are no longer considered revolutionary or even voluntary; in many cases they are now required minimums. For example, many green-building professionals regard simply meeting Title 24 energy requirements, once considered cutting edge, as equating with "D-" building practices.
Many manufacturers of older products are retooling. With recent innovations in particleboard production and adhesive selection, we can now specify plastic laminate as a green product. Now, my client from many years ago who was afraid of what their friends would think about their installing "Formica" instead of granite in a high-end kitchen remodel has a comeback other than the one I came up with at the time: "Don't take it for granite - it's fauxmica."
What is new today may be the norm or below the norm tomorrow. Where once Berkeley's Permit Service Center had a parking space in front reserved for hybrid vehicles, the sign now reads "Electric Vehicles Only - No Hybrids."
April 2008 Builder Architect Edition Issue
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