apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

While I support the idea of Green Design, its implementation in a nearly 3 Million Dollar residence is not helpful to the cause...

...there have to be less expensive options for some of these products: There's absolutely No Way On Earth that a family of above-average means is going to splash out $15,000 or more on a Hastens bed in the Kids Room because it's "environmentally friendly".

And a hybrid vehicle is NOT environmentally sound, either.

It continues to sadden me how AT's coverage of "green" building is seemingly limited to ultra-high-end projects and experimental prototypes that are supposed to "trickle down" to the middle class eventually, when new green construction priced for the middle class already exists and is financially viable.

One of the new condo developments we viewed in Minneapolis (which would admittedly be covered by AT:Chicago), Eat Street Flats used green construction methods and energy efficient utilities. The condos are modestly sized (550 to 1150 sf) and sell in the mid-$100s to very low $200s. No hybrid SUV is included, nor is one needed, as the project is served by multiple bus lines and is within walking distance of downtown Minneapolis. In fact, it's splendidly walkable, as there's a CVS at ground level and the surrounding neighborhood is known for its restaurants. (We used to live nearby.)

When y'all cover only the stuff that's meant to "trickle down," you're implying that it'll be a while before the rest of us can afford to be "green." Not so!

Wende: I would absolutely love to post more about affordable green-built solutions for lower income renters and middleclass home buyers like myself. It's a topic I particularly try to post about for our LA and Southwest readers. The truth is green design and construction is not as common in the moderately priced range as in the higher end as anyone would like (I feel the same way about prefab housing and alternative energy). Contractors have mentioned growth in environmentally friendly housing and building materials, but it is still in its infancy, limited by cost and availability. Los Angeles low-mid income housing developers aren't really moving toward integrating eco-friendly solutions yet; only a select minority is asking for it, and you'll be pressed to find anything eco-designed below the $600K range here in LA.

Personally, I think being "green" has little do with what we decide to buy, and more about how we can learn to contently live with less and resuse what we already have. I'd rather discuss recycling, reusing, sharing and an appreciation of what is already in our lives (including the environment itself) when having a discussion about green living. But when people do need to purchase something new, the greenest choice you can make is purchasing the product you'll keep longest and cherish, so I try to remain price agnostic.

This particular Los Angeles home is noteworthy because it was awarded a LEED Platinum award, no small accomplishment, and a development worth commending (the SUV thrown in was a tasteless addition, but indicative of the tanking real estate market), irregardless of whether I can afford it or not. Sure, I won't ever find myself in the market for a $3 million dollar home, but I'm glad that someone who was going to purchase an expensive home anyways might find themselves considering one designed with eco-friendly construction behind it. Architecture, even more than fashion, remains a top-down industry. So for now, eco-friendly developments are outnumbered 100-1, but we should start seeing more and more of these high-cost solutions float down after a growing number asks for it.

AT's greatest resource remains our readers, who like you, point us toward to specific local and notable solutions that have yet to be reported. So keep those tips coming and we'll do our best to keep posting about them. We want to, scout's honour!

Wow! Thank you for a very thorough answer.

Now you have me wondering if "green" has caught on faster in earnest Minnesota than in cutting-edge California... which is actually very possible and culturally interesting, if so.

Again, thanks -- and keep workin' to find the good stuff!

Thanks Wende...I'm sending your heads up information about the Eat Street Flats to our AT Chi team.