Page 41 - Green Builder Magazine Jul-Aug 2021

Cognitive 2. Green vs. the Status Quo BUILDER TAKEAWAY: Provide as
dissonance. many forward-looking
Millennials were Christopher Mackin and his sister Michelle Mackin are wealth programs and amenities
raised on advisors with Bleakley Financial Group. In pursuing their in your communities or
recycling, school sustainability goals, both have run into roadblocks in the form of
gardens and neighbor ennui and resistance toward greener living. buildings as possible.
composting. “I bought a place in Florida three years ago, and I own two If, because of costs or the phased
Today, they see Teslas,” Christopher says. “My association building still isn’t letting takedown of a community, you
all the potential me install an electric vehicle (EV) charging station.” He has held can’t provide things upfront—such
for doing good, many conferences and engaged in ongoing communication about as EV charging stations, compost
from composting EV charging, but Christopher has found it difficult to get building
programs in ownership and his neighbors to think differently. and mulch centers, and community
urban high-rises Christopher wants his home to be one where he can transition gardens—at least help future
to reduce waste, to a greener way of life. “I’d like to make the building more owners and tenants by including
to using environmentally friendly, using concepts like converting to solar, language like “potential site of
occupancy green roofs, and compost piles,” he says. “But you run into a lot of compost center,” as well as other
sensors to save roadblocks, from associations in particular.” amenities, on the master plan or
energy on air The main reason? Age. “The majority of folks here are over the age
conditioning and of 65,” Christopher admits. “It takes a lot of convincing and education.” neighborhood map. People will have
lighting. Up north in New Jersey, Michelle is having her own frustration a harder time blocking sustainable
CREDIT: SERGEY PAVLOV/ with the status quo. “I am a renter, and the things that kill me on a ideas that are at least alluded
ISTOCK
daily basis are what I see in my 50-floor high-rise,” she remarks. “The to in the master plan or other
amount of electricity left on throughout the day—it’s constant air
documentation.
conditioning and lighting. And in terms of waste, no compost. I walk
outside and see loads of garbage and overfilled trucks. Just seeing all
the waste out there…it kills me.”

BUILDER TAKEAWAY: Ronstadt sums
INFLUENCER SPEED DATE
up the marching orders for builders
We asked participants for rapid-fire answers on
on this one: “If you can figure out
the question: What’s the most important sustain-
your customers’ priorities, you can
ability feature you have or would like to have in
do right by them. For example, if your home?
they can’t get to solar, what is it
“All-electric, to eliminate combustion in the home,
between where they are at and solar which ties in with healthy homes.”—Ryan Meres
that they aren’t getting? Solicit
“Mental health and well-being. I’m at home all
feedback from them to the time now. If I don’t feel good, I can’t take care
meet their needs so solar no of my home in the first place.”—Kristen Fulmer
longer becomes an objection. It’s “All electric …. I don’t want to have stuff that
kind of like Maslow’s [psychological could kill me in my house.”—Connor Dillon
theory] hierarchy of needs, but in a “Filtration to keep all the dust out, especially dur-
post-COVID-type of environment.” ing allergy season.”—Cindy Wasser
“Safety and affordability.”—Zack Ronstadt
“Composting.”—Michelle Mackin
“A low-requirement house with the ability to save
energy and water.”—Brent Webb

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