Green building standards and how operations factor into them really do matter. I’m a former journalist, University of Maryland College of Journalism grad, a former Marine, and a USGBC LEED AP who witnessed something during the past few weeks’ DC-area heat emergency. What I saw blew my mind. Is it corporately-sanctioned waste? What was it? Retail store doors propped open in multiple locations on days where temperatures ranged from 95 to 100 degrees. Why? I asked the same thing and recorded the responses here. The answers ranged from an embarrassed, “Our district manager told us to do it to attract customers,” to “that’s our corporate policy” or “we do that so the scent of the candles flows over the sidewalk.” Incredulous, I persisted and asked, “Does it bother you… the energy wasted?” Apparently not, but that just means it’s time to educate and I was just interviewed by the Washington Post for an upcoming article on this matter (on July 14th, 2010). Those of us who have devoted our lives to improving energy efficiency and eco-awareness experience many ups and downs. But this one simply left me speechless. The fact that it could be nationwide corporate policy got me mad enough to take action. It’s a perfect example of why the US Green Building Council gives weight to occupant education in its LEED rating system. What good is a green building if the end-users undermine the features that make it so? Not much. Needless energy use increases pollution and places undue burden …
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