November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

Low Rent High Tech

(Page 4 of 4)

November / December 2007
By Hannah Lobel, Utne Reader 
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There is much, though, to be learned from affordable housing’s venture into green territory. There’s the crucial lesson of understanding green building’s goals holistically. It’s not just about building a structure that’s easier on the earth. Green building is also about building higher-quality, longer-lasting structures, ones that create healthier and more comfortable environments for the people who live in them. Then there’s the importance of evaluating green building strategies through the lens of cost and ditching what Bourland calls “green bling,” investing instead in systemwide changes that save money and energy over time.

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“If we’re able to do this cost effectively for affordable housing,” says Bourland, “then I can do this in my home.” And you can do it in yours.

Want more? Read the rest of Utne Reader's November/December package on the Green Building:

 

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  • Bakari Kafele 12/14/2007 12:00:00 AM

    One form of affordable and green housing which everyone always
    over looks is the RV park. RVs as transportation are woefully
    inefficient, but keep one in one place... RVs are designed to be
    able to run off of their own battery power and propane tanks off
    the grid for weeks or even months at a time. Things like absorption
    cycle fridges and a tankless toilet (which have high premiums in
    home versions) come standard. An RV uses less than 1/25th the
    electricity of the average American home, and around and 1/15th the
    average water. At the same time, it is by far the least expensive
    (non-subsidized) form of housing. Both in the San Francisco Bay
    Area and 10 miles out of Manhattan (two of the most expensive areas
    in the country, where 1 bdrm apts can go for over $1500 a month) an
    RV space (with full hook-ups for water, electricity, phone,
    internet, cable, sewar, plus garbage and mail service) can be had
    for just over $400.

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