As my internship with the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) draws to a close, I have pondered on my position and views on the state of green building today. As someone who was raised building houses and heavily influenced by builders, this internship at EEBA has offered me a more comprehensive perspective on what green building is and how high-performance homes are built. Even through the eyes as a youth today, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the concept of green building has gained remarkable traction in recent years as our society grapples with the need to address environmental concerns.
Intern
As an intern at EEBA, my eyes have been opened to the vast wealth of knowledge and resources that promote sustainable building practices. Before interning here, I did not have much experience with anything dealing with sustainability or the environment besides an oceanography trip in college and learning about the effects things like oil spills have on oceanic ecosystems.
Now, I’m aware of the products and the ways homes can be built to not only endure over the years, but that can also immensely benefit our planet. I have also seen the efforts and the lengths organizations go to in order to educate the public on these methods and promote them, advancing their homes and the earth’s health.
Young Person
Growing up in today’s world, phrases like “climate change” dominate the conversation. As a child, I had no idea what this meant, nor did I care. I knew I loved the earth, but how was I to reverse the effects of years, decades, or centuries of abuse towards our planet? This, unfortunately, is probably the stance that too many people take today.
I will acknowledge that our generation is increasingly environmentally conscious and values sustainable living. I think that green building is something that resonates with most young people’s values, offering ways to reduce our carbon footprint and create a healthier living environment.
Member of a Builder Family
I was practically raised with a shovel in my hand, with my dad teaching me everything I know about digging foundations and building houses. Harber Construction, my dad’s company, is where I draw on a lot of my values and work ethic. Before my dad, my grandpa was a general contractor, and his father before him. The line of builders I am descended from spans the last 100 years and stretches from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Las Vegas, Nevada, to San Bernardino, California.
Young Jake, shovel in hand
Values I learned from being in a builder family include creating a quality product. I loved seeing houses come together and even getting to help roof it or pour concrete. At the end, the Harbers had created a beautiful product that truly would stand the test of time. I have a deep appreciation for quality building and the process that goes into it.
Telling my grandpa I worked for a company this summer that promotes green building was an eyebrow-raiser, as traditional building prevails in the Harber family. We found common ground as we discussed the things I was learning and talked about sustainable practices he had applied in his work. Everyone’s work has room for sustainability, and it will be equally beneficial for them as it will be for the earth.
Harber Construction in Pinedale, Wyoming
I’m grateful that I have all these different perspectives that form my view on the state of green building today. Through all these different lenses, I can see the impact that green building has on our earth and how it benefits our buildings not only now, but in the years to come. I look forward to seeing many more different perspectives come together and continue to strive towards everyone’s common goal of healthier homes, a healthier environment, and a healthier earth.