As the general population becomes more aware of our environmental challenges and the emerging energy crisis certain words have become popular in the media.  Not too many years ago words like sustainable, green or renewable would bring snickers from people who thought the environmental movement and search for alternative energy sources were just hoaxes perpetuated by those with purely political agendas.  Not anymore.  Just about everywhere you look in media and advertising people are talking green and sustainability.

One unfortunate side effect of having meaningful words become marketing buzzwords is that what these words mean and represent is often lost in a barrage of advertising and shallow quasi-news reporting.

The words sustainable and sustainability are powerful words with meaning that reveals great wisdom for the future of humankind.  It is important that we preserve the power of these words to help us understand what we must do to provide a high quality of life in the years ahead.  It would be tragic to be seduced by the spin doctors that because we put a green or sustainable label on something that we are properly addressing our long-term challenges.

Problem:  Most buildings are very inefficient.  Huge amounts of energy and water are lost in operating most homes and businesses.

Solution:  Pubic interest in improving the efficiency of homes and businesses has created a movement toward Green Building methods.  As the public has become more interested local governments are creating incentives for developers to utilize Green Building methods.  New organizations have emerged within the construction industry encouraging the use of Green Building standards and giving awards and recognition to industry innovators and leaders making progress in the development of more efficient building methods.  Costs are dropping for this kind of construction as this segment of the construction industry grows.

The following article was reprinted from the Truthout website:

Green Revolution Sweeping the US Construction Industry

By Frank Greve
McClatchy Newspapers
Monday 11 December 2006

Aurora, Colorado - Rows of little plastic domes dot the roof of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter here, looking like a marching band of "Star Wars" R2-D2s.

Inside each dome, a trio of computer-aimed mirrors tracks the sun and bounces its light down a reflective shaft and through a milky white lens, illuminating the stockroom below.