Posted by Casey Williams on February 24th, 2009
In the next few days the Virginia General Assembly will have their last chance to pass legislation that would establish energy efficiency measures for the state. The 2009 General Assembly session has been filled with an unprecedented raft of bills addressing renewable energy, including bills for offshore wind farms and more traditional farms that turn manure into electricity, for green roofs and solar panels, for clean energy jobs and clean energy research. Several of these bills have come from Republicans, who have made a significant shift in embracing renewable energy opportunities (in addition to fossil fuels). Unfortunately, many of these bills have died either in committee or on the floor so far.
While it seems everyone wants to be in favor of green bills, a recent article in the Virginia Pilot (http://hamptonroads.com/2009/02/greenenergy-bills-abound-many-are-hung-out-dry) claims lawmakers don’t have the institutional knowledge or sufficient resources to understand and/or overcome arguments from “powerful anti-environmental forces”. In fact, a recent Senate committee killed a bill that aimed to set up a panel of scientific experts — including representatives of the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech — to identify and finance renewable energy research projects around Virginia
If only lawmakers had the resources available to property owners at Bundoran Farm have to assist them in making sound investments in sustainable design and construction approaches. If they did, our elected officials might be able to move through their legislative work with more ease, efficiency and certainty. By this, I mean are resources and tools available for use by the General Assembly equivalent to the design and construction tools that exist to help owners at Bundoran Farm envision their home in the rolling Piedmont landscape, design it to enhance the site using natural and regional materials, and construct it in a way that minimizes disturbance and protects the valued natural resources.
In addition to the Bundoran Farm Pattern Book and Green Book, the community has a Sustainability Director and a Natural Resource Manager dedicated to working with property owners to understand their particular interests, identify the characteristics and opportunities of each particular homesite, and assess the particular costs / benefits of creating a healthy, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible home. Beyond that, the Architects and Builders that make up the Bundoran Farm Guild offer an even greater depth of knowledge and expertise. If only our lawmakers could have a proportional amount of support and resources on hand, they would be better able to get the information they need to make the best decisions for our environment and economy.
Filed under: Education and Inspiration, General, Green Building