Green Building for World Peace

As a result of the recent terrorist attacks on our country, I diverge from straight building shoptalk and reflect upon the larger meaning of my work as a builder. In asking myself why anyone would take such extreme actions against the United States, I try to comprehend how we are perceived abroad and what impact our political and lifestyle choices might have on foreign relations.  This seems to relate, directly or indirectly, to resources that we use as in construction, how these consumptive habits affect the global economy and consequently, our national security.  Certainly all of the unfolding events of the past week cause us to ponder our place in the scheme of it all.

As Americans, we consume more of the earth’s resources, per capita, than any other nation.  We are more wasteful and cause more than our share of environmental degradation to the planet through these highly consumptive, ill-considered patterns.  The building industry is extremely resource intensive and wasteful.  Social and ecological ramifications are rarely considered in the construction business.  Somehow we think it is our God-given right to abuse the earth and her people to have whatever it is that we might want at the moment.

I am in no way condoning the horrific actions of these crazy terrorists, but I can’t help but consider how our actions might create the conditions in which they can take hold.  To what extent does our incessant demand for petroleum create and justify foreign policies that hurt people every day?

The tenets of “Green Building” espouse the values of reduced energy and resource consumption by:

• building more energy efficient buildings, systems and appliances;
• using local or regionally sourced materials close to their natural state rather than materials hauled over great distances and those requiring intensive manufacturing processes that are polluting, energy inefficient and deplete valuable or rare raw materials;
• re-using and recycling materials when at all possible.  There are still many buildings torn down, bulldozed and hauled to the landfills when, if dismantled with more care, could render a good supply of totally reusable (and sometimes better!) materials.

Current building practices put great demand on the energy grid of this country and consequently our reliance on foreign oil.  Our personal “want monsters” for everything new or something exotic, rare or simply cheap, can blind us to the fact that maybe these habits encourage socially unacceptable labor practices of exploiting third world people and children, or place burdens on depleting resources.

What happened to the great innovations in solar, wind and alternative energy systems?  Over thirty years ago this was politically favorable and even garnished some tax credits.  Corporate America could not sustain its huge profits with alternative/renewable energy systems like it could with a fossil fuel-based economy.  This is changing once again.

Our economic system is based on infinite growth and infinite resources.  This way of thinking puts people and the environment at risk while maintaining the corporate “bottom line”.  Revving up the war machine may “help” our failing economy, but surely the people and the environment lose big time.

Perhaps I am treading on dangerous ground here, but I can’t help but look at how our daily choices affect our health, environment and potentially our foreign relations. Is it really fair that we use more resources and do more environmental damage than any other nation?  Sustainability cannot be achieved if the world models itself after these arrogant and self-seeking ways.  Nor can we sustain the way we are living indefinitely.  Future generations will deal with our shortsightedness if we don’t.

In the face of a disaster like we have just experienced and our governments call for war, we can experience a deep sense of anger, helplessness and despair.  But one response we can make would be to increase our awareness of our spending habits and make more conscious and sustainable choices—choices that minimize our impact on the earth and have a positive social impact.

We all need shelter.  And although it may not be immediately apparent, the use of synthetically derived, highly chemicalized and distantly produced building materials does have an impact on the health, happiness and ultimately the peace, of our earth and our fellow human beings.  Building our homes can be a creative process that reflects harmony, social justice and respect for all life on earth.