1. How do you think these stronger building codes will effect the economy?
2. Do you think Cleveland should adopt these new building codes?
3. What do you think people focus on more when buying a house. The cost of the house? OR The money saved in the long run with a more energy efficient house? Explain.
I think that these stronger codes will definitely help the environment by saving energy and using energy more efficiently. However, I do think that the economy will take a hit from these stronger codes. With the current economy, some people are already struggling to pay for their homes. Although I think that the stronger codes will help us take another step towards sustaining the environment, we should not enforce the stronger codes through the whole nation; only the parts of the country where the citizens can afford the change in the price of the houses. The government should also loan the people in need for money to help them get on their feet in order to pay for these houses because they not only will help the environment but also save more money in the long run with a higher energy efficient house.
ReplyDeleteI do think that these new building codes are a step in the right direction. The intention is to save energy. However, like Isaac, I believe that the economy will definitely take a hit from the new codes, considering that it raises the prices on these new energy-efficient homes. There is still the notion that the US is recovering from an economic crisis, and in a time where prices on things like gas and food are rising, raising the price on another necessity would only make it harder for one to afford basic commodities and maintain a stable financial standing. And giving out significant loans for homes would probably just cause another stock market crash, considering that the allocation of these big loans to people who could not afford certain houses is what contributed to the cause of the crash. I agree with Isaac in saying that these new building codes should only take place in cities of the country where citizens can afford the rise in home costs. With that being said, Cleveland should not be one of these cities since we are a economically struggling city (one of the poorest cities in America). I think that people do focus more on the initial cost of the house than the money saved in the long run when it comes to energy-efficient homes. Those types of homes are usually more expensive, and that is money spent that will not immediately be reimbursed to an individual who purchases it. It takes some time. People want to buy what's in their price range, and buying a regular home that they can afford sounds a lot better to them than spending money that they don't have and risking debt or foreclosure.
ReplyDeleteThe new codes on the buildings will be a big help to the "green era". I think that by implementing these codes it allows us to make those necessary steps in the right direction towards a better future. However, like both isaac and chelsea, i do think that the economy might take a small hit. However there could be ways of overcoming that because this may create jobs. The people in charge still have to figure out some stuff and should try to figure out a way to make this cost friendly. However I do think that at some point no matter what the status of the economy, that these steps need to be taken. I do think that cleveland should adopt these new building codes. I think that with the wind turbine project and these codes cleveland could be a leader in the pursuit of a greener environment. I think cleveland could show leadership and make this count. I think when peolpe are originally are paying for a house they worry about the initial cost. I think that they do this because they do not know what sorts of breakthrough technology will be put in place. I believe that some people need to take risks and try to help the environment right now with crucial steps such as building houses that follow the building codes.
ReplyDeleteI think these building codes, while essential for moving our society into a more sustainable and "green" way of living, will negatively impact the economy. I agree with the previous posts and do not think it will be a large negative impact because it will bring good media to the city as well as possibly new jobs, which will hopefully make up for the negative impact of the more expensive building materials.
ReplyDeleteCleveland has been at the forefront of many environmental issues and I think this one would be another great way for the city to get involved if it can. The housing economy in Cleveland is especially poor and not many new houses or buildings are being constructed, so these codes may not have a huge impact on the city. Nonetheless it would be a good small step to continue Cleveland's green initiative.
I think most people still see the initial cost as the most important aspect of buying a home, but as the nation is continuing to be educated on the affects of living sustainably, hopefully more people will be able to understand the necessity of an energy efficient home. Hopefully they will realize how important it is for the future of the world as well as, that buying an energy efficient home will save them money on heating and cooling bills.
This seems to be the constant debate: economic vs. environmental. Anything thats green seems to initially have a negative impact on the economy. These building codes are no different. At one point though, whether we choose to or are forced to will ha to bite the bullet and take the leap in conforming to codes like these...and probably much stricter ones soon after. It will sting in the short term, but like we always have, we can recover, and this time with a potentially environmentally friendly planet.
ReplyDeleteThese stronger building codes I believe will help the economy, not only in terms of providing jobs for the workers that build the structures but also in terms of the more energy efficient homes and businesses. With these homes and businesses not having to spend as much money on their energy use, this money that could be used for other things such as investments or consumption thus aiding the economy. I do think that Cleveland should adopt these stronger building codes because these changes can only be a benefit to the community. Due to Cleveland's extreme winters these more efficient homes and businesses could greatly lower energy costs for families and companies which is always a good thing. These improvements can also provide more jobs which helps the community even more. People definitely focus on how much a house costs. I believe that the energy efficiency of the house is not a top priority for the buyers, but is important nonetheless. An ideal situation I believe is a efficient cost effective home that is adequate for the family and suitable for their income.
ReplyDeleteI think that these new building codes can be harmful to the economy because they cost a lot of money to implement and the extra cost can deter people from purchasing a new home, especially when the market is already having trouble due to the status of the economy. I think that it is a great thing to build homes that can last as long as these do, but that could also hurt the real estate business. But, people can save money after a substantial amount of time because they are saving energy. I think that it is definitely something that Cleveland should look into. Many people might be hesitant because there are economic effects but I believe that this is something incredibly important, and once it becomes the norm, not only will it have less of an economic effect (because people are prepared for it and work accordingly), but it will also make a very large impact environmentally. Many people are probably hesitant to purchase a house with these kind of restrictions because the price is high. Especially at this time when the economy is having trouble, people are hesitant to make a large investment. I think that even though you could end up saving money because you are saving energy, the initial investment scares people too much to purchase this type of house.
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