In spring of 2008, without much fanfare, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) kicked off its “Green Building Strategy.” Later in the year the agency produced a formal document outlining its commitment to green building and the strategy for promoting it. I say: “better late than never…”
The strategy puts forth five objectives:
- to inform building decisions with better standards and metrics
- to advance knowledge and overcome barriers through research
- to lead by example with the agency’s own facilities
- to expand understanding of green building
- to increase adoption of green building practices in areas where progress has been more limited, including homes and existing commercial and public buildings.
The document highlights the EPA’s research focus—not only their own departmental research, but collaboration with academic and other research organizations. An umbrella entity that helps to coordinate and help develop more exact guidelines and catalogs best practices is a concept that is long overdue.
“EPA will increasingly use that platform to help raise awareness about the environmental impacts and opportunities associated with buildings, so that consumers and other organizations can make better informed decisions when purchasing building-related products or services.” Now that ought to be music to everyone’s ears. The concept of green building just shouldn’t be that difficult.
The on-line document goes on to state: “While surveys suggest that many people would like to reduce the environmental impacts of their homes, many either do not know where to start or are overwhelmed by the breadth of information available. “ Awareness of products, technologies, and best practices should be readily available and easily understood. Hopefully it will soon become second nature to anyone considering a building or rebuilding project.
The EPA has the credibility and hopefully the funding that will push the green building movement into a new era of public awareness. The on-line document states: “EPA will play an important role in bringing about the widespread adoption of effective, high-performance green buildings for the benefit of this and future generations.” Sounds great! I hope they mean it.
