Page 4 - Green Builder Magazine Sept-Oct 2017
P. 4
EDITOR’S NOTE
By Matt Power
The Inside Scoop Editor-in-Chief
Building Science:
The Pathway to Resilience
Preparing future homes to survive climate-induced shocks begins now.
UILDERS FACE TOUGH TIMES. interest. The better a unit of housing performs,
Each year brings more restrictive the greater its energy efficiency and ability to
land use, rising material costs, withstand nature’s fury, the more likely it will
stricter building codes (in some get built, stay intact and serve as a calling card
areas) and the ever-looming threat with municipalities for future permitting and
Bof litigation. Of course, sometimes planning.
the industry backs outdated ways of building In coming months, we’ll be doubling down on
(opposition to low-flow toilets a few years our commitment to the need for more resilient
ago was not a high mark). But builder groups housing. It’s a natural fit with our sustainability
in California were right to resist a new bill mission. Resilient homes naturally waste less
that holds them responsible for the unpaid energy than their built-to-code-minimum
wages of their subcontractors’ employees. We counterparts. Keeping additional CO2 out of
need our best and brightest focused on what Earth’s atmosphere clearly serves dual purposes.
really matters—building high-performance It will help dampen global warming—and
housing—not fighting legal battles. make homes safer and more durable.
Good building science is in every builder’s So we’re keeping our eye on the ball with
this month’s topics. HVAC is the biggest
energy user in a modern home; let’s start there.
Keeping airflow balanced, optimized and
efficient makes the most of conditioned air. But
we’re also aware that you need to sell homes.
And clients are trending toward concern with
“wellness.” Their biggest concerns (and selling
points) may include indoor air quality and
comfort. There’s no reason building science
can’t address these issues simultaneously,
helping you sell homes while you make them
more efficient.
In the wake of the extreme drubbing given to
Houston, Key West, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands this fall, no other issue outweighs the
need for more resilient housing. The solution is
not hand wringing, finger pointing or worse—
abandoning the places and people who need the
construction industry most. Let’s approach this
from a calm, focused perspective. Assess what
happened. Figure out how to build in a way
Coincidence? The science of building tough, resilient housing has taken on new urgency, that it won’t happen again. And get to work. GB
as climate change demonstrates the cost of procrastination.
2 GREEN BUILDER September/October 2017 www.greenbuildermedia.com
2 GB 0917 Editor's Note.indd 2 10/11/17 5:21 PM
