Comments on: 3P SoundBite: Clark Wilson CEO of Green Builders Inc.

By: dan

dan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:06:33 +0000

I believe giving customers a choice to go green and save money at the same time makes a lot of sense. I currently have a large home on an acre lot, but I’m interested in the community gardening aspect I read about in the New Sweden development.
When will we see the New Sweden development come online?

By: Racer 5

Racer 5 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:46:38 +0000

Oh one more thing I just noticed – most homes have the car entrance in the rear via an alleyway – that is very cool, nice work.

By: Racer 5

Racer 5 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:45:00 +0000

Thanks for replying, i’m impressed, basically, by what I’m seeing here, especially the modest size of the homes, but I have to again emphasize the infrastructural issues. Checking out the neighborhood with Google Maps (link here) it’s obvious that walkability was not even remotely considered, even if there is a grocery store technically within a mile, by the layout of these roads, and the highway you’d have to walk along, it’s obvious no one in their right mind would navigate them by any other means than a car, although yes, it’s nice that kids can walk to the pool.
There appears to be an actual downtown in Georgetown, but this development appears to have no relationship with it at all, and shopping will likely be done at mini-malls and big boxes – not green, and not cool.
Nonetheless, I realize that even with best intentions many times you can’t incorporate anything out of the ordinary, much less a small store in the actual neighborhood due to draconian zoning restrictions and the conservative nature of the building industry.
A good start!

By: Clark

Clark — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 08:33:16 +0000

Racer is correct that efficiency is a big key in green building. Our homes use up to 50% less energy than a home built to pass local building codes.Our homes are also extremely water efficient.Last month, even with the 100 degree heat our homeowners electric bills was 58$$.
The rise is gas prices has really brought the desire to live close in and that has caused land prices to soar for close in locations. The perception that cars are the biggest polluters is incorrect, It is buildings that cause about 30% of greenhouse gases. Autos are less than 10%. It is great that we are finally really concerned about gas mileage but extremely efficient buildings will be an even greater accomplishment for the environment.
The place where this home located ( Georgetown Village) is within a mile of a grocery store (HEB),a pharmacy (CVS), Sun City, a local coffee shop, numerous restaurants and it is affordable. It is a master planned TND design and very walkable. The home is across the street from a city park that has a nice pool. There is a blue ribbon elementary school that you can see from the porch of this home.

By: Racer 5

Racer 5 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:04:47 +0000

A bit light on details! But I guess it is a sound-bite. I just want to make sure that people understand two things that did not get mentioned:
1) Efficiency – this is way more important than having solar panels or whatever
2) Infrastructure – A green home way out in the suburbs where a car is required for everything you do is less green than a non-green home that allows you to bike or walk most places.