Driving through Southern Utah, there are three things that always catch my attention. The red rock terrain, the green golf courses, and the heat. Just last week, my wife and I drove through St. George and it was probably 85 degrees...in April. Temperatures start to average in the mid 80's starting in May and usually last till October, getting to the upper 90's and 100's in June, July, August and September. The heat provides the perfect opportunity for residents to embrace green building...and that seems to be the case in St. George. A housing panel is weighing plans for the construction of a green housing development aimed at households earning between 60% and 110% of the area median income. The Flats at South Point will save residents 50% or more on heating and cooling costs and will have a targeted home value between $180,000 and $230,000 . An affordable green development in the ballpark of $135 per square foot. That's awesome! The first phase of construction is slated for completion around July 2008.
++The Flats at South Pointe [website]
++Eco-Aspects of The Flats at South Pointe [website]
++Housing Group Hears About 'Green' Project [The Spectrum]
10 cities have been chosen by the AIA's Center for Communities by Design to work with architects and local stakeholders to work out a plan for implementing sustainability. By participating, the cities, which include Detroit, Tampa, New Orleans and Fort Worth (and 6 other cities), will be able to mentor and provide a blueprint to neighboring cities on how to implement various aspects of sustainability. The program will address neighborhood revitalization, transportation infrastructure challenges, as well as offer strategies to improve air and water quality.
As a consumer, this is a great story. Marin County (north of San Francisco) is taking on energy giant, PG&E, and wants to change how and where their residents obtain energy. And they want to change it now. They are calling the movement Marin Clean Energy. They have created a CCA (community choice aggregation), which allows a local board to not only negotiate energy rates but also the source from which the energy is being supplied, whether that be PG&E or another supplier. Although the Marin case could backfire if PG&E drops the rate of natural gas over the next couple of years, if more communities and municipalities join the fray and demand control of their energy, competition will ensue, which would drive the price we pay for energy down. I am curious to see how this progresses.
