The true costs of green building

From our friends at TriplePundit comes this story about the true costs of green building.

Cost the biggest misconception have about green building, and the one I seem to be fighting to change in peoples minds the most. I have said for years now there is no discernable difference in cost. In fact, we only encounter three items with any cost increase:
* solar panels: but have a 5-10 year payback.
* FSC Certified Wood costs 20% more than the bad wood, and with no return on its investment (other than being the right thing to do.
* Graywater systems: water is still so subsidized that the return on investment is LONG, but that will change as the future wars on water begin.

from Triple Pundit:
Well, according to WBSBD those tangible, financial costs may be over-stated by as much as 300%! That should be more than enough to get most construction projects thinking a little harder about engaging in at least some basic green practices.

The full report is available here. The bottom line suggest that the 17% premium originally suggested for "green" projects is really more like 5%.

Green Building Exchange Radio Programs

The Green Building Exchange opened last month in Redwood City, California (just 30 minutes south of San Francisco). The idea is simple: a permanent, year-round green building expo. Green product manufacturers install permanent displays, and you can visit and browse anytime you like.

The GBX also offers a radio broadcast with some of the leaders in green business. To date, Green Seed Radio has an impressive line up of people, including some of our good friends:
Michael McCutcheon with McCutcheon Construction
Matt Golden with Sustainable Spaces
Jay Tompt with Plan-It Hardware
Kevin Danaher with Global Citizen Center
Anne Bollen with Green Zebra
Chris Avant with Canyon Construction
Toby Long with Clever Homes
David Gottfried founder of the US Green Building Council
Ryan Hamilton with Valencia Green
Richard Chein with SF Department of the Environment
Dan Sider, SF director of City Greening
Jennifer Gadiel with Kwan Henmi Architecture
Gary Gerber with Sun Light and Power
Moira Bartel with Greenopia
Scott Fossel with Green Century Institute
Peter Liu with New Resource Bank
Jeff Slye with Business Evolution Consulting
Paul Hawken, Environmentalist, Author, Entrepreneur
John Shurtz from Green Builders of Marin
Michelle Kaufmann from Michelle Kaufmann Designs

Archive of all Radio Programs.

I was interviewed last month as well, you can find the MP3 download here.

KBB Top Product Picks for your kitchen

Kitchen & Bath Business (KBB) recently interviewed me about my favorite kitchen products. It is hard to narrow it down to a list of just five, but that's all KBB would allow me to include. From the article:

First on his list are Oceanside Glasstile mosaics. Not only are the tiles made of 20 to 86 percent recycled glass (depending on the color), "they're gorgeous and work well with curves," said Freed, who likes to incorporate arced walls into his designs. For an added punch of color, he pairs the tiles with grout in a cool tone.

For countertops, although several materials have caught his eye, Alkemi by Renewed Materials (5) especially piques his interest because of its unique appearance. Formed of 100 percent recycled scrap aluminum set into a resin, Alkemi comes in different colors and offers an intriguing alternative for those, like Freed, who are tired of granite.

Another company that transforms recycled metal into beautiful product is Eleek. Freed likes the company's aluminum tiles, which can be applied to an entire countertop or backsplash, and its sinks, which are available in aluminum or bronze and an assortment of shapes (Ellipse is shown) and bowl configurations..."

GreenHomeGuide: my recent articles

GreenHomeGuide, an incredible green building reference for homeowners, is building an archive of information around sustainable design. I recently wrote two short articles for them, found here:

What can I do to reduce my home’s carbon footprint?

Should I worry about the mercury in fluorescent light bulbs?

How to Make the Green Movement Less White

Van Jones, the head of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and one of the most powerful speakers I know, has a wonderful article on how to get more diversity into the environmental movement..

Writing for ColorLines, Van Jones says, "In response to mounting ecological crises, the United States is going through its most important economic transformation since the New Deal. Unfortunately, the vital process of change along more eco-friendly lines is moving ahead with practically zero participation from people of color."

West Coast Green is coming!

As you should know, West Coast Green is coming! On September 20th - 22nd, the largest residential green building conference comes to San Francisco!

There is a great story in Builder Architect Magazine on how the conference came about and what you can expect.

For those of you who attended last year, you will be delighted by this years conference. An impressive lineup of 200+ speakers, 300+ exhibitors, plus the addition of the Lotus House by green pre-fab visionary Michelle Kaufmann.

Green builders have new place to browse

This past Saturday was the opening of the Green Building Exchange in Redwood City. It's a place for people interested in green products to come and see a virtual showroom of green products.

Read the press here