Energy Efficient Green Building
Posted: Monday, December 15, 2008
by Jessop Petroski
http://www.energy-efficient-home-improvement.com
The 'green building' revolution is finally here!
Oh yes, this is not just some tree-hugging chatter any more. This stuff is real!
Thanks in large part to the US government finally taking this stuff seriously, our boys (and women) in Washington are finally taking some action. Good government programs and policies have made a big difference in the green economy. One of the most prominent program's is the Energy Star Program. This is a longterm program to promote energy efficient homes. Another program is The Building America Program, which is a partnership between the home industry and the federal government to hasten the development and use of advanced building technologies in US homes.
1.) Create ' green ' jobs.
2.) Improve the housing market.
So why not implement a green economic recovery program to help foster the growth of jobs and accelerate economic activity?
At the federal level, an economic stimulus package should contain funding for research and development projects in wind, water and solar. We've made similar investments for the oil and nuclear industries, so why not encourage research in something that is infinitely renewable and essentially free?
The stimulus package should contain tax credits for home and business to improve building efficiency and for direct block grants to states to fund efficiency programs tailored to their own needs.
At the state level, the federal block grants, along with additional state funding, should be used to consolidate the existing scattered efficiency programs, to encourage partnerships with the private sector for research and development, to have the Department of Labor work with the private sector to develop training programs for these emerging industries and to revive the annual educational seminars for tradespeople.
The current energy problem affects our economy, our environment and our security. Our work to solve it can make a difference in all three. The focus of these programs and research should be to make our homes and businesses more energy efficient.
If the states and nation invested in incentives for homeowners and expanded training and certification for energy auditors, building analysts, insulation installers and others in the green energy field, it could let loose a tsunami of sorely needed employment opportunities for contractors around our nation -- while at the same time increasing our country's energy independence.
Even kids can recognize the need for a green change in our homes.
A sixth-grader at Eastern Middle School in Greenwich, Connecticut wrote that she is concerned about the energy being carelessly wasted and the growing pollution around her town. She wants to see 'green building' and modifying homes to be more Earth friendly.
These houses have very efficient appliances and construction. For instance, there are triple-pane windows, low-energy lighting, ground-source heat pumps, solar panels and de-chlorinating shower filters.
As our society becomes more educated about the possibilities that abound all around us for a better lifestyle, using clean energy and making better use of the energy we do use, a natural progression towards a better lifestyle and environment will abound.
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