DREAM BIG, THINK SMALL! – PART I
This is part one of a two-part run-down of Collier’s green lunch on Sept. 8th at green|spaces with Wayne Williams of TWH Architects, Donna Williams of Live Urban, Jeff Cannon and Anj McClain of green|spaces, and Kim Ray of Conditionaire. If you’d like to join us for green lunch, just leave a comment following this post.
Can BIG really be green?
Here’s an interesting question – one that we tackled during our first public green lunch – can BIG be green? One way to answer the question is with a simple yes – you can call just about anything green. But calling it green doesn’t make it green, even if it does consume 50% less energy or utilize renewable resources.
Why? Because building big means increased material waste and the unnecessary consumption of resources – that process of production, consumption and waste has a significant impact on natural habitats and CO2 emissions. Even if we utilize the full spectrum of sustainable building practices to build a big house, it doesn’t mean that the house is sustainable.
The Process
As Donna Williams of Live Urban explained, most people in the market for a home begin with the question, “What can I afford?” Followed by “How much space do I want?” and lastly, “What is the best price per square foot on the market?” In other words, we want the most square footage for what we can afford – then we buy it.
But perhaps this process should include the following question: “What impact will size have on my finances, my family and the environment?”
Why Size Matters
- FINANCE: The average home size in America was 2,330 square feet in 2004. And the average American household spends $2,200 every year on energy. That’s roughly $1 per square foot per year. With rising energy costs, nothing will stop the unnecessary costs of heating and cooling unused space. Not to mention upkeep and maintenance.
- FAMILY: Consider what happens when a family is given too much space. Does it allow for certain family members to avoid interaction, responsibility, involvement, work, accountability, etc? Obviously, this is a loaded question – but one worth asking.
- ENVIRONMENT: What impact does my decision have on the environment? Is it sustainable? Is it based on the long-term health of my community, the local economy and the environment?
The Sustainability Question
While an individual homeowner’s personal choice will not devastate the environment, sustainability focuses on the environmental and economic impact our collective choices have over the long term. Since 1950, for instance, the average square footage of a new single family home has increased nearly 140%. It seems pretty obvious that, as a country, we cannot reasonably sustain this rate of increase. Unless, of course, we all don’t mind that the average house size could reach 5,600 square feet in 50 years (that’s if it increased another 140%).
So the question we must ask is, “How can small green houses become a big part of a more sustainable housing market?”
Can BIG really be green?
Here’s an interesting question – one that we tackled during our first public green lunch – can BIG be green? One way to answer the question is with a simple yes – you can call just about anything green. But calling it green doesn’t make it green, even if it does consume 50% less energy or utilize renewable resources.
Why? Because building big means increased material waste and the unnecessary consumption of resources – that process of production, consumption and waste has a significant impact on natural habitats and CO2 emissions. Even if we utilize the full spectrum of sustainable building practices to build a big house, it doesn’t mean that the house is sustainable.
The Process
As Donna Williams of Live Urban explained, most people in the market for a home begin with the question, “What can I afford?” Followed by “How much space do I want?” and lastly, “What is the best price per square foot on the market?” In other words, we want the most square footage for what we can afford – then we buy it.
But perhaps this process should include the following question: “What impact will size have on my finances, my family and the environment?”
Why Size Matters
- FINANCE: The average home size in America was 2,330 square feet in 2004. And the average American household spends $2,200 every year on energy. That’s roughly $1 per square foot per year. With rising energy costs, nothing will stop the unnecessary costs of heating and cooling unused space. Not to mention upkeep and maintenance.
- FAMILY: Consider what happens when a family is given too much space. Does it allow for certain family members to avoid interaction, responsibility, involvement, work, accountability, etc? Obviously, this is a loaded question – but one worth asking.
- ENVIRONMENT: What impact does my decision have on the environment? Is it sustainable? Is it based on the long-term health of my community, the local economy and the environment?
The Sustainability Question
While an individual homeowner’s personal choice will not devastate the environment, sustainability focuses on the environmental and economic impact our collective choices have over the long term. Since 1950, for instance, the average square footage of a new single family home has increased nearly 140%. It seems pretty obvious that, as a country, we cannot reasonably sustain this rate of increase. Unless, of course, we all don’t mind that the average house size could reach 5,600 square feet in 50 years (that’s if it increased another 140%).
So the question we must ask is, “How can small green houses become a big part of a more sustainable housing market?”
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