Environment Friendly or Technology Friendly?

“Greentime  in America?” by Charles Wardell, published in Popular Science May 2003, addresses  the issue of suburban homebuilders moving towards more environmentally friendly  construction or technology advances of hardwiring. Many of the more “green”  techniques include hot-water heaters that will keep a house warm without  a furnace, extra-thick insulation that reduces air-conditioning costs, and  recycled materials. Wardell further discusses how  there is more of an increase toward technology driven homes rather then more  green” constructions.

   Even with homebuilders  stating their more “green”techniques, homebuilders are jumping on the increased  popularity ofhome electronics. Only a small percentage of American homes are environmentally friendly whereas over half of the new homes being built are hardwired for such things as audio, video, and data networks.

With  such an increase in hardwiring, it is clear that more builders are saying  they are “green” to gain increased popularity. Some  of the more environmentally friendly builders are actually more damaging tomother earth. Some say they used recycled goods, etc. only they leave behind their entire construction mess to pollute mother earth. Realistically, the term “Green” homebuilder ismore ofa con to get business from the ever-so-growing popularity of environment consciousconsumers.

Many Americans, today, join the bandwagon with becoming more environmentally  friendly just to say they are doing their share. Even  with the increased popularity of this image, many homebuyers are more concerned  that their housewill be advanced enough for their new technically advanced  electronics. Instead of being so concerned with personal  images, individuals need to take responsibility for their lifestyles. By placing environmental issues as priority, we would beaddressing more of the problems of tomorrow, rather than being so concerned  with our instant gratification today. Many individuals  do not ever stop to think about how their actions today can drasticallyaffect  their children’s life tomorrow.

   Instead of the issue of more environmentally friendly homeconstruction  or technically advanced houses, thereshould be a medium groundwhere both can be achieved. It seems unrealistic toask individuals to give-up their instant gratificationof advanced technology,  but it is still important to help preservewhat is around today for future  generations. There should be new building restrictions  that force builders to usea certain amount of recycled goods in every home. Or another solution is for homebuilders to price a house  only on usingmore “green” techniques and have such things as hardwiring beadditional. This would also solve the problemof someconsumers not having to pay for the electronically advanced optionsunlessthey would really use them. Everyone, includingthosewho are not born benefit from using more green techniques, whereas onlyanindividual benefits from having electronically advanced homes.

Source: Wardell, Charles. “Greentime in America.” Popular Science 262.5 (2003): 86.