There’s an interesting article in the Columbian about what builders are doing to make green homes affordable. “We’re not just throwing economics out of the equation and going full-tilt green,” said Vancouver City Council member and civil engineer Tim Leavitt. On his own home construction, counters will be made of recycled concrete and rain will be captured from the roof for irrigation. As a financial compromise, he can’t afford solar panels or a geothermal ground source heating system but is able to wire and prepare the home so it can be installed later when the equipment becomes less pricey. For now, Leavitt wants to build his home no more than ten percent more expensive than a traditional one while cutting the cost of utilities in half.

On the “full-tilt green” side of the dialogue, promoters are looking into government or foundation grants to help underwrite construction for “premium homes.” One demonstration home with a commitment to a Living Building Challenge certification (generate as much energy as it uses, reuse all water, mindful of wildlife) can hopefully serve as an example for this type of green initiative. “Local building codes are in the process of being changed as a result of this project. Products manufacturers are rethinking how to bring the goods to market. Water harvesting is being reconsidered at the state level, and our project is the first attempt at packaging these efforts and bringing them to the market," said Project Green Build President Brandon Tauscher, founder of a non-profit organization to promote green building techniques.

Our only concern: Premium homes immediately conjures images of suburban sprawl, or worse, those dastardly McMansions. But the thought of building codes changing to a stricter sustainable program is exciting. More.

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