Studies by the U.S. Department of Energy Information Administration indicate that homes account for 21 to 22 percent of all US energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
•    Homes constructed in the decade before the study (newer homes) accounted for only 2.5 percent of the total consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

If these statistics are realistic, then older homes are the biggest offenders and offer the greatest opportunity for reducing total energy consumption if we really want to shift the American policy toward greater energy independence and environmental sustainability.

Recently, I read an article entitled “New Opportunities” by Ron Jones in Green Builder (Feb. 2009) that concurred.  Jones said, “ Perhaps less apparent is the fact that new home building and development community, which has long borne the burden of stringent environmental regulation and energy efficiency requirements, may finally have an opportunity to be seen as part of the solution and not just part of the problem.”  That is an interesting statement; my first reaction was that just isn’t enough. More needs to be done.

Wait a minute now, Ron isn’t saying we need to stop the requirements or halt improving home building through continuing scientific exploration. He is saying that sometimes, with initiatives like those coming in from the White House, as a professional community we need to look deeper to realize a holistic solution. What have we been doing well and where is there room for improvement?

The obstacles brought to light in this recession challenge our fundamentals, those of our banking system and those regarding re-use and continuing longevity of our built environment.  There are over 100 million existing housing units in the US in need of improvements.  Two areas of concern common to housing are how to lower operating costs and increase durability.  I know, because it is a challenge I have been facing every day for the last year.  It is not easy and definitely not a task for everyone, especially those individuals living in those homes with low income, which account for around 40 million Americans.  If we want to succeed in this effort we will need to restructure our values and those of the appraisal process.  Lending agencies will need to develop funding for long term improvements which really go to sustainability and for improved performance through lower operating costs which can mean renewable energy.

During the 70’s, we saw a light in the energy challenge for a brief moment, as retail gasoline became unavailable. The outcome was short-lived for several reasons: not enough federal support, no understanding by the lending agencies, and energy improvement companies looking to make a quick hit with undeveloped products.  Today, we still have the same dilemma.  Banking institutions are still unwilling to fund renewable energy alternatives because they do not see them as equity-based assets. Power companies are once again indicating that they are providing unverifiable programs through third party suppliers in order to look green.  Products on the market claim to be green because they use paper to wrap their products instead of plastic. This leaves homeowners on their own to solve the conundrum.

Summarizing, we are challenged to make more sustainable choices because of our consciousness of the environment and the impact to our society. In the case of renewable energy, that often means funding several thousand dollars from households already stretched beyond their limits, with paybacks coming later through tax incentives.

Still, we need to support this realization that our existing built housing will need to undergo a significant change for us to realize a less energy dependent economy, and even the small home improvements can make an impact.  We just need more of them.  In future articles, I’ll address some of the ways our educational institutions are responding to the needs of environmental stewardship.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is the Department Chair for Construction Management Technologies (a part of A-B Tech Construction Science) at Asheville Buncombe Technical College.

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