Comments on: Seeking Reader Opinions: Should USGBC Certify a 15,000-sq.-ft home as green?

By: albert

albert — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:22:53 +0000

Just a thought — maybe they could do large houses now while we are building the market for green products and builders, but have a scheduled draw-down on size so that interested parties would feel pressured to become early adopters?

By: Ronald

Ronald — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:39:05 +0000

I don’t think these large houses should qualify for the awards either. Apart from all the energy used for all the materials, these houses have to be far apart, which means more driving to get to and from things. What about a smamm apartment in a city, with everything close. That is energy conservation.
I’ve read about some houses that are 100-200 square feet big and obviously would not use to many resources to build. A measure of square foot of floor per residence should be high in the list of requirements.
But if it’s just publicity and desirablity that is wanted, the bigger houses will do a better job of that. The people deciding on the award are more in tune to promoting there award that what really is Green.

By: Cliff Figallo

Cliff Figallo — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:01:22 +0000

My first thought was, “Surely you jest,” but then…

Thinking in future tense, if that house isn’t located where it will eventually me submerged, then all of its green features will be worthwhile when it’s converted to a multi-family dwelling for South Florida climate refugees.

By: John

John — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:45:54 +0000

I believe if a Mcmansion can meet strict stanards of energy use that would apply to an average sized home (that is, an absolute kW/BTU usage not “normalized’ for size and based on some realistic amount of square footage — say 3000 max) then they should be eligible for awards or green impramateurs. an even better metric would be to take the number of people living in the home, and allow a certain amount of carbon per capita — say less than 1 ton per person, and use that as the basis for defining what is “good”, “great” Silver, gold, or whatever. Embedded energy in the materials used would have to be a part of the calculaton, since the volume of materials used, their harvest, manufacturing and transport use a great deal of energy.

Of course, this means they will have to be super-efficient, using every technology and technique available, at considerable expense. But so what? If you can afford an ego home or McMansion, you can afford to spend a whole lot of money on efficiency and renewables.

Under no curcumstances, however, should we create a specific category of award that is normalized for ego homes with theatres, bolwing alleys etc. if they can provide those amenities within per capita carbon limits, fine. If not, they shouldn’t qualify.