Private Market Shows It Can Promote Green Building

The city of Annapolis, and more recently the state of Maryland, have taken to the idea of legislating green building standards. Since my posts these days are harder to come by than a home victory for the Terps' men's basketball team, let me refresh my position on what the government should be doing:

1. Enforcing contracts and property rights.

2. Providing public goods, whereby 'public good' is a specifically defined economic term.

3. Promoting the free flow of information.

4. Investigating steroids in baseball.

5. Nothing else.

Most other things, if not all other things, can be provided by the private market. Not only can they be provided--they can be provided more efficiently and with better quality. Let's take the case of Green Building.

The Capital today ran an article chronicling a brief history of the growth of the green building industry in Maryland, dating back to when the mention of green building prompted responses like "I don't care what color you paint it".

"We've come a long way", remarked Joe Miedusiewski, keenly summarizing the fact that registered LEED projects have increased 3376% since 2002.

"But wait!", you are probably shouting, "how has Green building managed to grow without the help of government? Heck, they haven't even passed the LEED bills yet."

Well, my friend, the private market industry of green building has provided value to the market:

"Green buildings in general are just environmentally responsible, and also
profitable and healthier places to live and work," she said. Studies show that
inhabitants of green buildings - whether apartment complexes or offices -
experience reduced instances of asthma, take fewer sick days and are more
productive.

"A lot of people have noticed how fresh and clean the building feels,"
Belfiore said. "Kids who used to suffer from allergies don't seem to in this
building. People remark on how fresh the air is, and we've had fewer absences.
[The kids] seem healthier, and that's got to contribute to better learning."

Wow! Ok. So, green buildings save money in the long run because workers are healthier and more productive, plus energy bills are less. So the choice is to buy expensive but healthy green buildings, or cheap and dirty normal buildings. Most people will stick with the old stuff, but gradually the green building will gain ground, as long as it continues to create value. And, once enough rich people use the green construction, the green builders will figure out how to do it more efficiently and it will become more accessible to us normal folk.

Notice that I am a conservative, yet I'm not against the environment. (Notice also that the world needs rich people). Some of you don't understand that this is possible. The point is that the private market can take care of these things. Once the government mandates these standards, green builders will have no incentive to innovate because they will have a guaranteed rate of return.

Now then, let's take care of those steroids.

Alderman Stankivic: Silver LEED Standards Not Enough**

**Rumor Alert.

In technical terms this is a rumor because I did not hear it first hand, but I am quite sure of the accuracy, so read with courage. You can also try the original source in case he posts on the subject, or the original original source.

I recently noted how every Alderman except Stankivic and Hoyle co-sponsored the conglomerated environmental bill, a.k.a. O-27-07. Part of the bill would apply Silver LEED standards to all city funded construction, adding certain up-front cost but possibly saving in the long-run.

I have since learned that Alderman Stankivic's dissenting view originates from her belief that the bill doesn't go far enough, and that Platinum LEED standards should constitute the degree of compliance!

I suspect that the platinum standards are so named because the taxpayers will need platinum credit cards to pay for the customizations.

Mayor Moyer Seeks To Impose New Green Building Requirements

As reported, the mayor is seeking to impose new building requirements based on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system:

Mayor Ellen O. Moyer introduced a bill to City Council Monday
requiring all new construction and major renovations of any buildings greater
than 10,000 square feet meet green building standards set by the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system. The move would make Annapolis one of the few areas in the region to demand such requirements.

Single-family homes also are included in the bill, requiring that all new
construction and major modifications to homes within the city meet at least the
lowest LEED standards, as well.

Folks, this stuff is expensive. First, home prices will go up, as will commercial rents, which we will pay for in the form of higher prices. Also, we will no doubt have to fund another inspector in city government to make sure all of the buildings are meeting the new green code.

Conservatives are wary of all government spending to begin with, but we certainly demand that our taxes are used to actually accomplish the stated goal. In the case of reducing our carbon footprint, there is absolutely no way to enjoy such a guarantee.

There is certainly not consensus about climate warming. The very measurements we use to determine climate patterns may not be reliable, and even given a pattern of warming, the link between human effect on this warming is debated. It takes a great deal of arrogance to accept that a couple of generations of humans can alter the cyclical climate patterns that have been going on for tens of thousands of years. Aren't we still coming out of an ice age? For a great post on this subject, click here.

Liberals, especially Mayor Moyer, disregard any debate on the issue and accept the responsibility of humans to challenge mother nature as their divine birthright. And we pay the price. Think of how many small businesses will shut down because they cannot afford to implement the new designs. Now think of how they will feel in 50 years when it is determined that the LEED designs have no impact on climate change!

Such issues deserve consideration when so much of our money is being thrown at the "problem".