Texas Lawmakers Take "Green" Boot Approach to Sustainability

By DeeinAustin™

Let's face it. Non-Texans sometimes perceived our state as being behind on the times. Lately, Texas is being recognized for being forward-thinking when it comes to green practices and sustainability. Texas is not just growing a green thumb, we're passing laws that put a "green" boot in the backsides of corporations, developers and new construction builders to encourage them to adopt new practices.

Here's what I mean.

A friend who works for Pepsi-Co International mentioned that large corporations have implemented more strict green requirements from suppliers. In order to supply products or services to Pepsi-co, your company must regularly report measures in areas such as recycling, carbon footprint and sustainable practices. Round Rock-based Dell Computers, Inc. has similar green guidelines for suppliers.

Green requirements are being adopted by Texas State Agencies in the areas of green building, sustainable development of subdivisions, affordable housing, and commercial construction.

COOL GREEN INITIATIVES IN TEXAS

• According to Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, Adopting green design features will be critical to winning low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs) in many states in 2008. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has added green building features to its threshold requirement points.
• The City of Mckinney near Dallas is voting on a green initiative that involves more strict environmental practices, conservation measures. The City of McKinney says they're the fastest growing city in the United States.
• Austin was recognized as having one of the best green building programs in the nation and will host the much anticipated Congress on New Urbanism April 2008. Wells Fargo even opened a green branch in Austin at the Hill Country Galleria less than a month ago.
• Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas chapters of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will most likely take part in the Certified Green Professional program to be launched February 14, 2008.

One of the main concerns of green practices is how they affect the bottom line for manufacturers, developers, builders, and the end consumer. President Bush just passed an bill requiring auto makers to increase the average gas mileage of their cars from current regulations of 25 miles per gallon (mpg) to 35 mpg. I bring this up because it may have a significant effect on the price of cars in upcoming years.

As new urbanism grows in Texas, green building regulations raise concerns about affordability.

Does going green increase the price of homes and commercial property in Texas? If so, how will our young cowgirls and cowboys afford the cost of living in Texas when they grow up?

LIKE THIS STORY? YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN...

Modern Prefab Homes a Good Green Alternative.

Mueller Austin green, new urbanist community.

Clark Wilson Green Builders from a previous builder spotlight.

Congress for New Urbanism 2008 and UT Sustainability Conference in Austin, Texas.

Comments

[Candy]

Interesting. Kind of off the subject, but a colleague and I were having coffee last week and talking about the bill that was (not sure what the status is) up to stop plastic bags in Austin. So, you'd have to bring or buy your own reusable bags when you go to HEB or whatever. Sounds great to me, but I wonder how many reusable bags I'd have to buy before I started remembering to put them back in my car? *laugh* I even tried it for a week, bringing a bag with me. Half the time I forgot it, the other half of the time, the cashier was confused and put their plastic bag in my canvas bag. Small steps, right?

[Dee Copeland]

Hey, it's not easy when you're trying to save the world! :-)

Thanks for the comment, Candy. It's amazing what we can all do when we take small steps in the right direction.

[Charles]

Perhaps some Texans would be interesting in coming to a really interesting event called Energy Camp in SF right before Macworld in January of 2008. Its a free conference thats geared toward getting your business on a green path and opening up the doors to sustainability. Its being put on by Openeco.org and Sun Microsystems. Check out www.openeco.org/energycamp for "Energy Camp 08"

[Dee Copeland]

Thanks for the invite! That sounds interesting.

I'm on several Facebook groups for sustainability and there are so many great events coming up that I try to attend them as much as I can.