Global and regional impacts of building green

New Life Journal, April-May, 2004 by Boone Guyton, Cindy Meehan-Patton

Green building addresses environmental concerns as well as health concerns and is a good economic choice as well. In Western North Carolina (WNC) the increase in air pollution and its effect on both humans and our natural systems reinforces the idea that we need to build in a way that is environmentally sustainable.

The building industry is one of the largest in the country as well as in our area. Building represents fifty percent of our nation's wealth, accounts for $800 billion in economic activity, and employs more than ten million people as the largest manufacturing sector in the economy. It places a huge demand on our resources, which are diminishing. The building industry also produces 136 million tons of construction waste and thirty percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. per year. The building industry must account for its environmental costs if it is to become sustainable and remain profitable. The choices we make, from the harvest of the trees for lumber to the light bulbs we use in our buildings, impact our environment and our health.

We live in an area that is valuable because of its environmental beauty and diversity as much as anything. By choosing local sustainably harvested or produced materials we not only help maintain the quality of our natural environment but also support local jobs. Investing in high performance buildings (energy conserving / healthy) and renewable energy creates skilled jobs while contributing to a cleaner environment. Producing "green power" is a more secure source of energy and is less polluting but more job intensive than centralized fossil fuel power plants.

Our health is affected by the pollution inside as well as outside. Indoor Air Quality has been shown to be more polluted in many cases than the air outside and affects the health and productivity of the people that live or work in the buildings. Green buildings address air quality issues through material choices, HVAC and ventilation strategies.

The mountains of our area present a particular challenge for sustainable development due to the slopes and the susceptibility to erosion. Environmental building practices include site work that avoids environmentally sensitive areas, protects existing vegetation, reuses valuable topsoil and uses native plants and plants that are draught tolerant to reduce irrigation needs.

Building an energy efficient building can also be cost effective. According to the Southface Institute of Atlanta, investing $500 in upfront construction cost saved $400 per year in operating costs for their affordable green built homes. North Carolina also has one of the best tax incentives for installing renewable energy systems on homes.

WNC Green Building Council: Acting Locally

The Western North Carolina Green Building Council (WNCGBC), seated in Asheville, NC, encourages the expansion of sustainable and healthy building practices through educational forums, the Green Building Directory, participation in the Million Solar Roofs program, Green building tours and other events.

WNCGBC, a non-profit (501(c)3) generates revenue from a combination of memberships, sponsors, event fees and a small amount of funding from the Million Solar Roofs Program (MSRI). The council signed on as the leader of this initiative for the WNC area in 2002. Also, Waste Reduction Partners and Land of Sky sponsor the Green Building Hotline, a phone and email resource and referral service.

The first WNCGBC Directory was completed in 2001. This 85 page document includes regional listings of green building services and products, educational articles, case studies, local and regional resources for further research.

The 2004 Directory will be distributed to eleven counties of WNC with a much wider distribution route than the previous directory. This resource offers opportunities and options for integrating green building into the lives of residents and professionals which, in turn, contributes to the positive universal impact of green building.

Boone Guyton is president of Cady/Guyton Construction and current president of the WNCGBC. Cindy Meehan-Patton is president of Shelter Ecology, Inc. and past president of the WNCGBC. Both can be contacted through the WNCGBC website: www.wncgbc.org