Comments on: Green Housing http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: steve http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-11 steve Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:20:58 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-11 Jayson, The issue really comes down to "new homes don't vote". When a legislator votes for a bill that requires existing home owners to do something or spend money, they get lots of phone calls and emails telling him or her how bad a job they are doing. When a legislator votes for a bill that requires new home builders or new homes to do something or spend money, they don't get any phone calls or emails. Or, if they do, the response from existing homeowners is "good job!". The message is "make someone else pay for it or do it, don't make me!" So, which way do you think the legislator is going to vote? Steve Jayson,

The issue really comes down to “new homes don’t vote”. When a legislator votes for a bill that requires existing home owners to do something or spend money, they get lots of phone calls and emails telling him or her how bad a job they are doing.

When a legislator votes for a bill that requires new home builders or new homes to do something or spend money, they don’t get any phone calls or emails. Or, if they do, the response from existing homeowners is “good job!”.

The message is “make someone else pay for it or do it, don’t make me!” So, which way do you think the legislator is going to vote?

Steve

]]> By: Jayson http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Jayson Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:01:33 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-9 These are really good points - I'd realized that existing homes accounted for a lot of the CO2 emissions, but when it's but into perspective (against new homes) the problem is clear...we need to I read most of the pdf document and think another great point is that home builders where able to increase the size of homes by several hundred square feet and still make the 25%/unit decrease in CO2 emissions. It's a shame that many people don't mention the good things industries are doing (such as green building for years) and instead only focusing on one or two bad things. These are really good points – I’d realized that existing homes accounted for a lot of the CO2 emissions, but when it’s but into perspective (against new homes) the problem is clear…we need to

I read most of the pdf document and think another great point is that home builders where able to increase the size of homes by several hundred square feet and still make the 25%/unit decrease in CO2 emissions.

It’s a shame that many people don’t mention the good things industries are doing (such as green building for years) and instead only focusing on one or two bad things.

]]> By: steve http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-10 steve Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:34:34 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-10 Thanks, John the Pirate. Tell your parrot to spread the word! Steve Thanks, John the Pirate. Tell your parrot to spread the word!
Steve

]]> By: John the Pirate - arrrrr! http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-8 John the Pirate - arrrrr! Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:59:39 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-8 Wow, found your post via the Google blogserach page, Good post, I like your writing style! I've added to my feed reader, and will be reading your posts from now on. Wow, found your post via the Google blogserach page, Good post, I like your writing style! I’ve added to my feed reader, and will be reading your posts from now on.

]]> By: steve http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-7 steve Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:21:23 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-7 Is Brookfield a "Green Builder"? Well, from one perspective, the fact we build in California requires us to be a "Green Builder". Title 24 for the State of California requires energy efficiency levels far greater than the rest of the United States. In addition, Brookfield uses Green Building techniques like hot water circulation systems in every home we build. We are also very "waste conscious" and divert the vast majority of our construction waste product to recycling programs. We provide separated pick up of wood products, concrete products and metal products, keeping these items out of our landfills. We are also focusing efforts on water conservation through the use of weather sensors, recycled water and drought tolerant landscaping palates. In most of our projects, we use "tight duct work" to limit heating a cooling losses. So, while we have not attempted to achieve "certification" from one of the dozens of "Green Builder Programs" in the market today. I would suggest that Brookfield provides a very energy efficient, and conservation minded building product. We are moving towards a "certification" program with our next generation of homes, starting in early 2009. This will provide us with a third party recognition of the "Green Building" we do construct. Is Brookfield a “Green Builder”? Well, from one perspective, the fact we build in California requires us to be a “Green Builder”. Title 24 for the State of California requires energy efficiency levels far greater than the rest of the United States. In addition, Brookfield uses Green Building techniques like hot water circulation systems in every home we build. We are also very “waste conscious” and divert the vast majority of our construction waste product to recycling programs. We provide separated pick up of wood products, concrete products and metal products, keeping these items out of our landfills. We are also focusing efforts on water conservation through the use of weather sensors, recycled water and drought tolerant landscaping palates. In most of our projects, we use “tight duct work” to limit heating a cooling losses.

So, while we have not attempted to achieve “certification” from one of the dozens of “Green Builder Programs” in the market today. I would suggest that Brookfield provides a very energy efficient, and conservation minded building product. We are moving towards a “certification” program with our next generation of homes, starting in early 2009. This will provide us with a third party recognition of the “Green Building” we do construct.

]]> By: A new voice in real estate joins the blogosphere | Don't drink the koolaid http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-6 A new voice in real estate joins the blogosphere | Don't drink the koolaid Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:42:59 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-6 [...] I like that Steve isn't afraid to address tough issues like the economics of housing, or green building - WHICH HIS COMPANY DOESN'T EVEN DO (YET).  Obviously, his mind works beyond just [...] [...] I like that Steve isn’t afraid to address tough issues like the economics of housing, or green building – WHICH HIS COMPANY DOESN’T EVEN DO (YET).  Obviously, his mind works beyond just [...]

]]> By: steve http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-5 steve Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:09:54 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-5 Scott, I do not think California needs a law requiring all new homes to be LEED certified for two reasons. The first is that California already has a law that requires new homes to be built under the "Green Building Code" under Title 24. This code was just approved by the HCD and becomes mandatory, starting in January of 2009 and completely required by January of 2011. HCD, the California Housing and Community Development Department, has routinely increased building standards for the past 25 years, so this next step to mandatory Green Building was not unexpected. Second, LEED for Homes is a private commercial venture. While it has received wonderful response and accolades, I still have a problem with the government requiring me to utilize a private company, especially one it does not control and can not amend or modify its programs. Thanks for the comment! Steve Scott,
I do not think California needs a law requiring all new homes to be LEED certified for two reasons. The first is that California already has a law that requires new homes to be built under the “Green Building Code” under Title 24. This code was just approved by the HCD and becomes mandatory, starting in January of 2009 and completely required by January of 2011. HCD, the California Housing and Community Development Department, has routinely increased building standards for the past 25 years, so this next step to mandatory Green Building was not unexpected. Second, LEED for Homes is a private commercial venture. While it has received wonderful response and accolades, I still have a problem with the government requiring me to utilize a private company, especially one it does not control and can not amend or modify its programs.

Thanks for the comment!
Steve

]]> By: Scott http://blog.brookfieldsd.com/green-housing/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Scott Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:39:28 +0000 http://expectmoreinahome.com/blog/?p=82#comment-4 Thanks Steve. This is fascinating information, and it's refreshing to hear a homebuilder that is concerned about green causes. It sure seems it is the things we do AWAY from our homes that causes the most environmental damage, however, I was wondering if you think that California should pass a law that all new homes be LEED certified, rather than a strictly voluntary system, and LEED homes have less mold problems, which cost home owners big bucks down the road... http://www.greenhomeguide.org/green_home_programs/leed_for_homes.html Thanks Steve. This is fascinating information, and it’s refreshing to hear a homebuilder that is concerned about green causes. It sure seems it is the things we do AWAY from our homes that causes the most environmental damage, however, I was wondering if you think that California should pass a law that all new homes be LEED certified, rather than a strictly voluntary system, and LEED homes have less mold problems, which cost home owners big bucks down the road…

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/green_home_programs/leed_for_homes.html

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