Article Review: "Building 'green' reaches a new level"

Article Review: "Building 'green' reaches a new level"03/04/2012

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Below is the second article review for my Green Building Class:

"Building 'green' reaches a new level

By John Ritter, taken from USA TODAY
(Original Article taken from Here)

This article, taken from USA Today, explores the impressive newSouth Waterfront condo building built in Portland, Oregon. Costing $2.2 billion dollars it is the nations first large-scale redevelopment to go 100% green. The building features many essential green building techniques such as living roofs, solar panels, rain water catchment for toilets and landscaping, etc. The condos span from one bedroom apartments ($200k) to penthouses ($3 million plus) and have been sold well before production began.

I found this article to be very encouraging, as it blatently promotes the realism of not only the need for a mainstream shift to green building, but also the cost effectiveness. It states that unlike what many may believe, that the initial costs of green building are only 1-2% higher than “traditional building”, which of course is quickly made up in the energy savings. I find it refreshing that this perspective is becoming a norm within the building industry and that so many states/cities requiring new buildings to meet LEED building standards (Fed Gov’t, 15 states, and 46 cities). Several times throughout the article it was stated that green building is more of a standard and that companies that don’t participate are simply not going to be in the game.

One of my favorite parts in the article stated that the first question that comes up around the country, is whether or not a building is green. How wonderful that the culture is shifting dramatically enough toward sustainable awareness that it is the first question many consumers are asking! Additionally, corporate recognition of green practices is increasing through the entire manufacturing, employing, and sales process - eliminating “green washing”. Though of course it is disturbing that many companies are following the trend strictly because the market is demanding it and not because they recognize the overall benefit - at least there is change happening. Big-hitters such as Bank of America, Target, Ford, Toyota, Starbucks and more, who hold an incredible amount of power through capitol, will absolutely continue to effect the mainstream awareness.

Undoubtedly the momentum will continue to move forward with this movement as new technologies and education increase the availability and awareness of green building options. As a newer generations are brought up with key words such as “sustainability”, “green building”, “global warming”, “alternative energy”, etc - they will expect their implimentation as an everyday norm. I am eager to be part of this normilization and enthusiastic to witness the exponential growth of the culture and industrial consciousness!