by Heather Burns-DeMelo
An article in the NY Times today reports, 'COME January, Connecticut will become the second state, after California, to begin turning its building code green. Even as the law is poised to go into effect, however, building industry officials are calling on the state to turn back."
"The law, adopted in 2007, requires that all privately financed construction with projected costs exceeding $5 million meet standards set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, known as LEED. Renovations above $2 million will be similarly affected after Jan. 1, 2010. Residential projects with four or fewer units are exempt."
I'm the first one to admit that change isn't easy. In fact, it's often inconvenient, expensive and fraught with the unknown--which is something that a business owner in a down economy is smart to steer clear of. But does risk mean we are smart not to identify and implement our climate change business strategy? That we don't stretch beyond our comfort zone and in doing so, earn our business a place at the table as an early adopter and even a highly sought after expert? Andrew Hoffman and John Woody, authors of Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy, published by Harvard Business Press think not.
With the law about to take hold, the argument being put forth by the HBRA and AIA in Connecticut is that LEED language is “awkward,” “unworkable” and “messed up” to the point that builders won't want to build LEED if they don't understand what that means. I have to admit: they have a point.
In fact, it makes me wonder if the law was adopted in 2007, where are the workshops, classes, books, checklists, mentoring programs, and other support needed for a paradigm shift being imposed on an industry? If our government branches intend to impose--they must also educate.
Supposedly, LEED consists of a checklist (HOW to accomplish the things on the list are to a good degree left to interpretation) and come with a project manager to answer questions, but few builders I know who have made use of such limited resources have had anything positive to say about their experience.
In the same way that we standardized driving and made publicly available manuals and training to learn to do it well, our government has the responsibility to provide our builders with the tools they need to get the job done right.
Where to find out more about the "how to" of green building in Connecticut:
The Green Building Initiative - Not LEED, but offers software for environmentally friendly retrofitting and new builds.
CT Green Building Council - Occasional classes held throughout the year.
This great article by Heather Burns-DeMelo is spot-on in its critical perspective of issues for green builders in a "chicken or the egg" type of quandary.
It appears to me that there are not enough official training programs to bring people up to speed in any of the "green" initiatives that we hear are coming in the near and distant future. I've seen organized seminars and trade shows to help promote new products and knowledge of products over the course of a couple years, but few certification programs.
Maybe the new President and his administration will be effective in bringing these changes about as he has said he will do. But as a work force, we cannot wait until his initiatives come to light at an undetermined time because he has never said directly that re-educating workers from old methods to new techniques is part of his plan. The education and energy plans being reported seem to be aimed at younger people entering the work force and new companies coming into fruition and less about re-education and/or converting a company's practices and goals.
Connecticut and California are two states that seem to be at the forefront of mandating this great movement, but as far as I can see, our own state has passed initiatives toward the end prize without paving a road to get there. Not in an accessible degree that is equal to its own current goals.
At the time of this response to Heather's article (over one year) there is an overall hiring freeze on all government jobs in the state of Connecticut including anything having to do with the promotion of a greener and sustainable future.
In Connecticut's green future, will they employ the chicken or the egg?
Posted by: Joe Morrone | January 09, 2009 at 06:49 PM