Government Invests in Green Building

Traditionally, there are two ways for government to get involved in stimulating new technology; one is the direct regulation of current processes and systems so that new technologies are pushed to the forefront. Government focus on DARPAnet, for instance, paved the way for the information technology revolution and the growth of the internet itself, for which DARPAnet was a precursor. And the other way is through patronage of the technology. Airplanes were a civilian development, but their popularization and development relied largely on the government as a primary driver for sales and innovation. Green building could be driven in both ways, though right now government and state entities at every level seem to content foster growth as customers and enablers, rather than regulators.The federal government continues to provide fitful leadership in this arena, and it seems to be defense and intelligence entities that are ahead of the curve. Several military bases are seeing solar power installations come to their wide open spaces, while the CIA is opening a new campus of green buildings. Integrating the corporate worlds new favorite in green building methods, the green roof, the buildings promise a more healthy environment for the employees of America’s top intelligence agency. Rewarding carpoolers and drivers of efficient vehicles with choice parking spots would indicate a further commitment to encouraging greener habits among consumers.On the state level, Maryland is looking to maintain or improve on its ranking as the fifth-greenest US state. Gov. Martin O’Malley wants to see legislation that would require all new state buildings, substantially remodeled or reconditioned buildings, and state-funded public schools to adhere to a stringent green building standard. The article points to a current success story, that hopes to be a future green building landmark, at St. Mary’s College where a new, green classroom building has just opened and renovations are planned on a number of others. One key that the article points out is the growing recognition that green building adds a 1-2% premium for green building. In the case of the new classroom building, that was about $600,000, which they estimate pay off in energy savings within 10 years, and that assumes a typical increase in energy prices, rather than the dramatic spike some are predicting.In a more innovative effort, two builders are suggesting that Iowa support making green building part of the curriculum at Iowa community colleges. They hope to keep a lot of that training at home, in Iowa, and help grow the state as a leader in green building and associated technology. And efforts like this can only help, spreading out the expertise and, to some degree at least making the involved labor less expensive. The fewer specialists there are, the more they’ll cost, and while there will still likely be a premium on green builders for the foreseeable future and provide better paying jobs, the field is going to need as many trained builders and designers as it can handle for the next fifty years at least.And yet again, it looks as though state and local authorities are making strides where the federal government lags. Perhaps not surprising given the current administration, but a disappointment just the same–and a hope that the next one can get it done.

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