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| Matthew B.
Ackerman, LEED-AP AIA |
| Jeffrey L.
Zucker,
LEED-AP AIA |
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To LEED or Not To LEED
There is serious
discussion afoot these days on the role of government,
and of leadership in our country. The fever pitch of the debate
seems
to have been particularly stirred up by the current administration's
efforts to take on, in a very deliberate way, the serious issues of our
times. Issues such as the near meltdown of our financial system,
our
unsustainable dependence upon foreign oil, the continued degradation of
our environment, as well as our country's broken health care system.
It seems there are many people, particularly out here in the southwest,
who still agree with former President Reagan's view that "government is
the problem". Recent events have shown, however, that in the
absence of
the protection and regulation that our government was originally
conceived to provide, big corporations– whose sole responsibility is to
their shareholders' bottom-line– have been more than happy to
fill the
void.
Could there be any connection between the problems we've come
to face as a nation, and the direction in which our
corporate-influenced policy makers have steered us in recent
years? Is
it any coincidence that the top 1% of our nation's wealthiest, have
consolidated their wealth at the same time that the Oil and Gas
industries, the HMO's, Big-Pharma, and Big-Ag, have risen to
never-before-seen dominance in our country?
 Government is not the problem. It is
at best, part of the solution.
As I've written before, our society could not exist without it. But
what we need now is real leadership. Leadership that strives to
support healthy, local, diverse economies, as well as the protection of
our vital natural resources. Leadership means seeing the big-picture.
It means making decisions based upon providing benefit for the long
haul.
Our economy is dependent upon the health of our natural resources,
which includes us rank and
file human beings. It really isn't 'us'
versus the environment. We are
a vital part of that environment, and all parts need to
be protected– in balance. Our health and well being,
as well as the long-term health of our environmentally-dependent
economy, must come before the
immediate, short-sighted interests of
corporate bottom-lines.
The Obama Administration's efforts to take on the issues of the day,
including its Green Jobs Act
initiative are, from where I stand, genuine
strategies aimed at correcting the unsustainable directions in which
our
country has been headed. Though imperfect, each of these programs
seem
intended, in one form or another, to better protect the irreplaceable
resources of our planet, as well as us humans who must live here.
While the implications of such proposals are far reaching (and deserve
critical questioning), what we are witnessing here folks, is true
leadership– and not a moment too soon.
From an architect's perspective, the LEED
Green Building Rating System
is also an effort of leadership. LEED itself stands for
Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design, and in many ways, it really is about
leadership. There is no shortage of discussion (and
misinformation),
regarding the value, validity, and relevance of this green building
program developed by the USGBC (US
Green Building Council), which seems
to be an all too familiar echo of the larger national debate.
"What's it going to cost?" is the one question Jeff and I are asked
most often about LEED. And while that's an important question to
be
sure– it is not the only
question. While the data shows
that the
upfront costs for a LEED certified building are comparable to
similar, non-LEED certified structures, the benefits are
many. Aside from the proven life-cycle cost savings, which building
owners reap down the road (and then in perpetuity after that), some of
the main reasons building owners decide to go LEED are often less
tangible.
I believe those intangibles have to do with leadership. In my
experience, one of the main reasons building owners elect to make a
commitment to LEED, is because they perceive the value of 'making a
statement' with their investment. They understand the importance
of
leading by example– to demonstrate to their community that values
of human and environmental well-being are indeed important.
This is a noble aspiration, and one that has more to do with who we are
as a people, as Americans, and as citizens of our planet, rather
than the
typical, narrowly-focused attachment to the proverbial
bottom-line.
Does the LEED Program have its shortcomings? Sure. Could it be
improved? Absolutely. Is it still worth doing?
The short answer to this long question is– without a doubt.
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 Questions?
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CATALYST
ARCHITECTURE
is an award winning, full-service sustainable design
firm located in Prescott, Arizona. We specialize in educational,
commercial, master planning and custom residential work, with an
emphasis on high- performance design, and caring client relationships.
At CATALYST, our
mission is to creatively transform the space and budget needs of our
clients, with the opportunities and ecology of the site, into
functional and sustainable solutions that move the spirit.
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