Solar Energy 2
[ SBN-P Editorial, 3/28/2005 ]:
A brighter future for solar?
3/28/05
OUR OPINION
Solar energy and green building vs. aesthetics and Santa Barbara-style. We've argued over the last years that it doesn't need to be one or the other.
Instead of the either/or mentality that can dominate construction discussion, designers, builders and government officials can get creative to accommodate all these principles.
Part of the problem in the city of Santa Barbara is that citizens advisory panels, from the planning commission to the Architectural Board of Review, don't really have green mandates.
Consider the Granada Garage now under construction. It will stand as a monument to a wasted opportunity. City officials and advisory boards focused on appearance, rather than incorporating discussion about building a more environmentally friendly structure that still would meet Santa Barbara's architectural requirements.
Because green structures have long-term financial savings, in energy and other costs, government buildings are perfect candidates. Governments own their buildings for decades and taxpayers benefit from these savings for years to come.
This is in contrast to some private developers who quickly sell their properties after they complete construction and, thus, ignore building green.
Perhaps the mind set at Santa Barbara City Hall is changing. Council members Iya Falcone, Helene Schneider and Das Williams, on several different occasions, have talked up green building. Ms. Schneider, for example, brought up the matter while the council was discussing a call for proposals for city-owned land near the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.
The Santa Barbara Contractors Association is beginning a "Built Green" program.
Solar power also is getting new attention in part thanks to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "million solar roofs" campaign. Proposed legislation in Sacramento would provide rebates for homeowners and businesses installing solar panels.
The Community Environmental Council also is trying to take a lead with its "fossil-free by '33" effort. Showing progress, the City Council recently has been receptive to the group's goals.
Don't forget that in November 2003, CEC felt the need to write to Mayor Marty Blum about one project then before the city. The letter noted that "denial of photovoltaic systems based on aesthetic issues alone seems counterproductive to the need to develop alternative sources of energy in our community."
To the city's credit, though, Santa Barbara has seen 136 projects approved since 1998. Beyond notable projects in the the city such as Marborg Industries, Campanelli Construction and the Santa Barbara County Federal Credit Union, others in the rest of the county have included Great White Dental in Santa Maria, Midland School in the Santa Ynez Valley and Harley-Davidson in Carpinteria.
Next up, in April, the Santa Barbara City Council will discuss installing panels on the downtown library's roof. We wonder why they aren't already there.
[ SBN-P online edition:
A brighter future for solar? ]
A brighter future for solar?
3/28/05
OUR OPINION
Solar energy and green building vs. aesthetics and Santa Barbara-style. We've argued over the last years that it doesn't need to be one or the other.
Instead of the either/or mentality that can dominate construction discussion, designers, builders and government officials can get creative to accommodate all these principles.
Part of the problem in the city of Santa Barbara is that citizens advisory panels, from the planning commission to the Architectural Board of Review, don't really have green mandates.
Consider the Granada Garage now under construction. It will stand as a monument to a wasted opportunity. City officials and advisory boards focused on appearance, rather than incorporating discussion about building a more environmentally friendly structure that still would meet Santa Barbara's architectural requirements.
Because green structures have long-term financial savings, in energy and other costs, government buildings are perfect candidates. Governments own their buildings for decades and taxpayers benefit from these savings for years to come.
This is in contrast to some private developers who quickly sell their properties after they complete construction and, thus, ignore building green.
Perhaps the mind set at Santa Barbara City Hall is changing. Council members Iya Falcone, Helene Schneider and Das Williams, on several different occasions, have talked up green building. Ms. Schneider, for example, brought up the matter while the council was discussing a call for proposals for city-owned land near the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport.
The Santa Barbara Contractors Association is beginning a "Built Green" program.
Solar power also is getting new attention in part thanks to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "million solar roofs" campaign. Proposed legislation in Sacramento would provide rebates for homeowners and businesses installing solar panels.
The Community Environmental Council also is trying to take a lead with its "fossil-free by '33" effort. Showing progress, the City Council recently has been receptive to the group's goals.
Don't forget that in November 2003, CEC felt the need to write to Mayor Marty Blum about one project then before the city. The letter noted that "denial of photovoltaic systems based on aesthetic issues alone seems counterproductive to the need to develop alternative sources of energy in our community."
To the city's credit, though, Santa Barbara has seen 136 projects approved since 1998. Beyond notable projects in the the city such as Marborg Industries, Campanelli Construction and the Santa Barbara County Federal Credit Union, others in the rest of the county have included Great White Dental in Santa Maria, Midland School in the Santa Ynez Valley and Harley-Davidson in Carpinteria.
Next up, in April, the Santa Barbara City Council will discuss installing panels on the downtown library's roof. We wonder why they aren't already there.
[ SBN-P online edition:
A brighter future for solar? ]
Posted by Malcolm on
3/28/2005
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