Green Light Means Caution

Wednesday

Feb032010

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 10:06AM

We are so pleased to have Advisory Board Member, Yahya Henry, sharing his thoughts with us today. You can find out more about Yahya on the B2S team page.

When I was younger, we played a game called “Green Light” (maybe you have as well). In this game, one person would close their eyes and spin around saying “Red Light, Green Light…Go!” and we’d race ahead to freeze in place before the person announcing stopped talking and opened their eyes. The whole goal was to make it to the end before anyone else.

“Green Light…Go!”

As I was thinking about what I could write about this month that wasn’t boring or something else technical, “Green Light” came to mind. Our industry’s pursuit to achieve "the standard" in green building is very much that way – “Red Light, Green Light…Go!” Organizations like the USGBC are racing ahead to get "there" before anyone else; some businesses are positioning themselves as the "first" in their markets to embrace energy efficiency and so on.

More and more reports are finding flaws in LEED accreditation and other rating systems. Energy reduction numbers are proving inaccurate, and there is still an ever-present knowledge gap between perceived and actual benefits of green building and sustainable design.

“Yellow Light”

Playing a game with a flashing yellow caution light isn’t fun, but it is necessary. In playing a game where we rush to innovate this or that, I believe we really should pace ourselves. Our industry needs to fully understand the pros and cons of the products, certifications and perceived benefits we push onto the public.

Greenwashing isn’t as obvious to consumers as it is to individuals who are in the business of creating and distributing the product or service. What happens when the next report comes out saying "this" doesn’t actually do "that" after a tenant has moved into a space that will allow for perceived workplace productivity gains, energy savings, or attaching their business name to a green building?

It’s too early to say how this game would play out, but I am erring on the side of caution.

Raquel |

5 Comments |

tagged

Green Building,

greenwashing

Reader Comments (5)

Great post Yahya! The need for a "yellow light" cannot be overstated. Caution in innovation is always good, though it cannot lead to a "red light" or we stagnate.

February 3, 2010 |

Christopher G. Hill

Somehow Chris, I knew you'd like this post. I completely agree with your sentiment, caution is needed in innovation.

February 3, 2010 |

Yahya E. B. Henry

Great post Yahya! The need for a "yellow light" cannot be overstated. Caution in innovation is always good, though it cannot lead to a "red light" or we stagnate.valentino handbags

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