Where the responsibility lies: Greening our nation with Steve Thomas
January 22, 2010
Where the responsibility lies: Greening our nation with Steve Thomas
By Morgan Zenner
You may have heard his name before. Steve Thomas is the former host of “This Old House” and now host of “Renovation Nation.” NARI had a chat with Steve Thomas about what he thinks it’s going to take to get our nation to reduce energy consumption. Currently, the built environment takes up 40 percent of energy use in the U.S.
So whose responsibility is it to make homes energy efficient: Remodelers, homeowners or the government?
Thomas’ answer? Everyone combined. While some groups have more influence than others, all are equally important to get our country to be more efficient.
On one side, many remodelers claim that homeowners are not interested in going green because it is too expensive, so those remodelers do not market sustainability to their client base. The law of supply and demand proves that if homeowners were to demand green, then remodelers would be obligated to fulfill their requests in order to stay in business.
In this case, homeowners need knowledge and facts about green building, the processes, the costs, maintenance and energy efficient lifestyle changes. More homeowners need correct information in order to realize the value in green and not distracted by misconceptions.
“The remodeling industry needs to face this head on-green does cost more,” Thomas says. “Think about it, if you are adding more of something, like insulation, then it will cost more than having less insulation. There is no secret behind that.”
However, emphasizing the cost savings and benefits will resonate with homeowners, and that’s where the responsibility transfers to the remodeling community.
According to Thomas, ultimately it is a remodeler’s responsibility to make homeowners aware of the energy-efficient options and incentives available.
“It’s our job, as industry professionals, to explain energy efficiency to our clients, even if they don’t care,” Thomas says. He goes on to say that even if the environmental issues like global warming are not a main concern, there are universal benefits that appeal to everyone regardless of age, income level or region.
“Everyone is concerned about the cost of energy and how that can fluctuate,” he says. “People know that energy costs will increase over the next year, and they are concerned about affording heat during the winter, especially when they feel a draft in their home and can see money flowing out the door-that resonates with everyone.”
The other area that resonates with people is energy and foreign oil. “People understand the connection between energy and the economy and depending on other countries for resources,” Thomas says.
Thomas believes that if all remodelers were well-versed in energy efficiency, and if they had the right tools to explain green building and the benefits to clients, it would be of higher priority and value for people.
There’s no a conversation about energy without including the federal government. With the recent energy tax credit increase, it is obvious the government is placing higher importance on energy efficiency; however, Thomas believes it could be doing a lot more.
“The government could be doing a lot more when it comes to energy efficiency by way of tax policy and mortgages,” Thomas says. He adds government benefits have a big hand in pushing clients over the edge if they are considering green.
Thomas would love to see the government implement an aggressive tax policy that favors green upgrades and gives incentives based on how much energy was used per household.
“Add up the total amount each homeowner paid in energy bills and give those at a certain amount a break,” Thomas says.
The other area of improvement is in home mortgages, something that is few and far between these days. Thomas would like to fix the way mortgages are written so that homeowners who buy green or renovate their homes efficiently would receive better interest rates or more money upfront for those efforts.
“Mortgages should reflect the lower cost of homeownership that efficient homes have,” Thomas says. “If your home costs less to maintain, you should be allowed more money to put into it at a lower rate.”
Overall, homeowners, remodelers and the government all play an intricate role in advancing the green remodeling industry. It is imperative for everyone to have the correct information when engaging to find a solution. Without proper knowledge, the value of energy efficiency may never be realized.