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Give Me a Home and Let the Buffalo Roam

Rates of home ownership are rising steadily around the world, yet the number of people per household continues to decline. This boom in ownership is spurred in large part by government policies and incentives that encourage it: in the United States, for instance, a full tax deduction on home mortgage interest enables people to buy houses of all sizes, encouraging larger homes in sprawling communities. In 2002, Americans alone erected 1.7 million new private homes, many in areas that were once forest or farmland. In the European Union, building construction accounts for more than 12 percent of economic activity, though more than half of this is for retrofitting existing buildings.

Houses—especially larger single-family homes—can be extremely land- and resource- intensive. Homeowners typically use large quantities of water for their sinks, showers, dishwashers, washing machines, and lawns.Homes also require high energy inputs—not just during construction, but over their lifetimes for heating, cooling, and lighting, and for powering refrigerators and other appliances.

People can live in a typical house for 10 years before the energy they use in it exceeds what went into its components—steel beams, cement foundation, window glass and frames, tile floors and carpeting, drywall, wood paneling or stairs—and its construction.

While the total number of households worldwide increased between 1970 and 2000, the number of people living under one roof fell from 5.1 to 4.4 in developing countries, and from 3.2 to 2.5 in industrial countries—mostly as a result of rising incomes, urbanization, and smaller families.

Shrinking household size alone accounted for a 20-percent increase in energy use per person in industrial countries between 1973 and 1992.

New houses in the U.S. were 38 percent bigger in 2002 than in 1975, averaging 210 square meters (2,265 square feet). This is twice the size of typical homes in Europe or Japan and 26 times the living space of the average person in Africa.

People in the U.S. and Canada consume 2.4 times as much energy at home as those in Western Europe.

People living in the United Kingdom use only about 70 percent as much water as the most water-thrifty Americans do.

Indoor water use in U.S. homes is estimated to average 262 liters per capita a day. Several fixture manufacturers are promoting tower-like shower stalls with multi-headed nozzles that deliver over 300 liters of water per minute—more than most people in the world use in a day.

The irrigation of U.S. lawns and landscapes daily claims an estimated 30 billion liters of water—a volume that would fill 14 billion six-packs of beer. The average irrigated lawn uses about 38,000 liters per summer.

One resident of water-strapped Orange County, Florida, was billed for 15.9 million liters of water one year—a volume roughly equivalent to what 900 Kenyans use in a year.

The world's first green “high-rise,” in the heart of New York City, will use 35 percent less energy and 65 percent less electricity than an average building during peak hours, with photovoltaic cells meeting at least 5 percent of the demand.

Since 1997, all toilets, urinals, faucets, and showerheads installed in the U.S. have been required to meet federal water efficiency standards. By 2020, these efficiency standards are projected to save some 23-34 million cubic meters per day, enough water to supply four to six cities the size of New York City.

Homeowners in many countries are realizing substantial water savings by planting native and drought-adaptive grasses, groundcovers, wildflowers, and plants. Planting rooftop gardens and painting roofs can reduce energy consumption by 10-50 percent as well.

Home improvement retailer Home Depot announced in 1999 that it would phase out all purchases of old-growth wood by the end of 2002. As of January 2003, it had reduced its purchases of Indonesian lauan by 70 percent and shifted more than 90 percent of its cedar purchasing to second-and third-generation forests in the United States.

People living in “ecovillages” in more than 40 countries are working to achieve sustainable lifestyles through ecological design and construction, renewable and passive energy use, community building spaces, and local, organic agriculture.

If you're building a new home or making improvements or repairs, ask your supply store or contractor to seek out “green” building products, such as less-toxic paints or wood that has been reclaimed or sustainably harvested (look for the Forest Stewardship Council—FSC—label).

Replace your aging washing machine, dishwasher, furnace, or other home appliances with more energy- and water- effi- cient models—you'll not only save resources, but cut your utility bills as well!

Create a community list serv or cooperative that makes it easier for you and your neighbors to share tools, lawnmowers, and other household items you may use less frequently.

Environmental Construction Outfitters (www.environproducts.com) is a source for information and materials on environmentally conscious construction.

Environmental Home Center (www.environmentalhomecenter.com) provides information on green building supplies including non-toxic paint, natural carpets, and sustainable wood.

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) (www.aceee.org) is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.