www.greenbuildermag.com 07.2012
EDITOR’S NOTE The Inside Scoop
2 What Really Matters E
VERY SO OFTEN, it’s good to look back at how we got here. A builder might think fondly about complet- ing his first home. An architect may recall a
college project where she designed a completely original structure, made of recycled automobile parts. A politician might fl ash back to what it felt like to be human (sorry, a little jab there). The same is true of editors. We need to remember why we got into this busi- ness—how we thought we could change the world with truth and transparency, and not become mere standard bearers for corporate interests. It’s a constant challenge. So this month, I’m reinstating the Editor’s Note in Green
Builder. It’s a chance to give you what you so rarely get from mainstream media sources these days—full dis- closure. We know that as advocates for green building and sustainable lifestyles, you’re bombarded with “BS.” Products often don’t do what they promise. Sustainability claims seem weak, or even purposely false at times. That’s doing no one a service—not you, not us, not those manu- facturers who are serious about sustainability. You’ll notice that’s the top-
ic of this month’s issue: Eco- Leadership. Initially, we had intended to simply highlight companies outside the build- ing industry that provide ex- amples of green leadership. But we found the closer you look at most companies, the more mixed their environ- mental record. For example, a resource-devouring global corporation such as Walmart is hardly a paragon of sustain- ability. But it does have a green labeling initiative that could change the face of retailing
(for the better). The same can be said for many companies, large and small. At least part of what they do is green, even if they have far to go. So instead of greenwashing the is-
sue, we decided to focus on individual deeds—initiatives that show promise, such as take-back programs and solar leasing. A company that could put all of these ideas together would truly have an eco-leadership story to brag about. Also in this issue, you’ll find the
fi nal chapter of our Los Angeles VISION House®
project. We had a great opening
last month. The house is a jewel, peace- ful and serene, a combination of good design and the latest green technology. Our fi rst groups of visitors didn’t want to leave.
Finally, there’s a piece I wrote about a government-spon-
sored tour of Ireland I took last year. As an island nation, the Irish are in a tough spot. They have lagged behind other parts of Europe on renewable energy, green-tech jobs and energy-effi cient housing. But we shouldn’t point the fi nger too much. In many ways, the U.S. has been just as short-sighted. Our transition to a self-sustaining economy has barely begun, and the Irish experience (see photo below) illustrates why we can and should act now. —MP
By Matt Power, Editor-in-Chief
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