Are Green McMansions Really Green?

jchait — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

More and more we're seeing controversy over what green building is, what's not, and how to classify it all in some neat little package. If you follow green building at all you've heard of the green McMansions. You likely have an opinion. I know I do.

For those who aren't obsessive over green architecture there was a great article recently via The Seattle Times regarding green mega homes (among other issues). This article is great as an intro piece to the issue of mega green homes, because it points out what's up on both sides of the issue. Such as:

Green advocates noting that there's no way a 4,000+ square foot home can be green; especially not when it creates urban sprawl into rural areas.

The mainstream builders on the other side, saying small steps are better than nothing. If we have to build these biggie sized homes, well, at least they're green.

And of course, the debate over some of these homes being officially categorized as "green" when there are clearly more green homes, smaller green homes out there. Does non-toxic paint make something green? Even if it's 4000 square feet of non-toxic green paint?

For certification purposes it seems people want a clear definition, yet no one can agree.

A while back I wrote a post about where I stand on the mega green home issue. You can read that if you like. There's a video about one of the biggest "green" homes ever that's being built - so it's worth a look.

I can just tell you right here that I'm not on board with green McMansions. I don't really care how green you paint it, a house with 10-15 extras rooms is not a sufficiently green home in my mind.

You're not only taking up earth's space in excess, but it costs more basic energy wise, it costs more human energy wise, and excess for unnecessary reasons will never add up to truly green in my eyes. Plus if you think about it, do we really want people seeing these mega homes and saying, "Now that's green!" It's unrealistic. I know I don't want my son to think that a McMansion can be ok, just because some green building methods were used.

In any case, this is not a debate that'll end soon, because there are plenty of people who agree that huge can still be green. What do you think? Can unnecessary excess ever be green?