The Pew Center report on a Climate Friendly Built Environment – to which I referred in my previous posting – makes an emphatic assertion for the needed political will to act now in three policy areas. It correctly observes that the building industry’s fragmentation makes decision making almost impossible for comprehensive solutions to environmental problems.  

The report notes:

“An integrated approach is needed to address GHG emissions from the U.S. building sector—one that coordinates across technical and policy solutions, integrates engineering approaches with architectural design, considers design decisions within the realities of building operation, integrates green building with smart-growth concepts, and takes into account the numerous decision-makers

within the fragmented building industry.”

History is perhaps unfolding as it should in this regard – though opportunities can be lost if not recognized and acted upon quickly.

As the new U.S. administration takes shape (and at the time of this posting, a possible new Canadian one too) it might be worthwhile if people began to press for public expenditures where the environment, the social benefits, and the economy can all be helped at the same time.

In several of my next posts, I’ll be examining some of the particular benefits to be derived from focusing on the built environment in these respects .

Please return.