Green, Sustainable, Environmentally Friendly
No longer considered "alternative," green design is going mainstream, and should just be called "design." All we're talking about is making buildings more efficient so that they use less energy and fewer resources. Generally speaking, this results in lowered operating costs and a healthier environment. Where's the negative in that?
We're gonna die!
Someday. All of us. But in the meantime, we need to think about those who will survive us. Yeah, that's right, Sparky, your kids and grandkids. Or, if not yours, your nephews and nieces or neighbor's kids. Do you really want them having to mine landfills for plastic because you threw your Pepsi bottle out instead of recycling it like you should have? Do you want your kids to believe that polar bears only exist in zoos because the polar ice caps melted and they all drowned? Can you handle more droughts in the western US, longer winters in the midwest and Miami flooded regularly? If your answer is yes to those questions, then you suck and should go read the ironically named
www.junkscience.com.
These poor guys will be extinct by the end of the century if everything remains status quo.
So, what can the rest of us do? Well, for starters, if you're planning on buying a new home or rennovating your existing home, consider the economic benefits of designing it green. Simple things like extra thick walls will not only make the house stronger, but will allow for extra insulation - that will keep your heating and cooling bills down. Passive solar heating will allow the sun to naturally warm up your home - for free! Low-e windows will keep the space warm in winter and cool in summer. Strange, but true. And bringing in daylight to illuminate the interiors means you don't have to turn on artificial lighting during the day. Or hell, just swap out your lightbulbs for compact fluorescents - you'll be amazed at how much $$$ you save.
I designed my 3400 sq ft home with these things in mind and I pay about $45/mo for all of my power needs. Unfortunately, my long-suffering wife put her foot down on the Energy-Star appliances when it came to the fridge, so we have an energy hog of a 34 cu ft system that by itself costs $15-$20 per month. I'll have my revenge with solar panels, though. Soon... oh yes, my dear.. soon....