Being involved in an industry affiliated with opposing political views has helped me see different points of view. But I was always more interested in finding what my friends and co-workers had in common despite our disagreements. Like many millennials, in my civic life and career, I am tired of the strident divisiveness that paralyzes our country and leads us to miss the mark America represents.
Some may think that, as a conservative millennial, I may have a hard time connecting with peers who often hold different political views. That simply is not true. When facing different points of view, I’ve always strived to find common ground. What does that mean for the future? Perhaps it means a little less divisiveness and a little more common sense when it comes to policy on all levels.
Last month, the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton announced new research looking at the economic impact of green construction and LEED-certified building construction. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the council’s system for rating the sustainability of buildings. It measures whether a building is environmentally friendly and people-friendly. LEED currently certifies about 1.85 million square feet of building space every day across the globe.
Conservatives and the private sector could lend a hand to commonsense policies with regard to the environment by supporting programs like LEED. LEED-certified buildings are constructed to be sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-saving.
The study has some significant findings for the private sector. It shows green construction is positioned for a growth rate that outpaces traditional construction over the next four years. During that same period, LEED building projects are expected to save $2.4 billion in energy costs. More immediately, the report finds that, in this year alone, green construction is slated to have a total impact on employment of more than 2.3 million U.S. jobs.
In Georgia, which ranked eighth in 2014 for total LEED-certified square feet, LEED construction will support almost 100,000 jobs between 2015 and 2018. That means nearly $5.8 billion dollars in wages for Georgians over that time period.
Over the next four years, the sustainable construction industry is expected to save $2.5 billion in energy costs.
As a conservative person concerned about the future, being a good steward of our environment is a moral decision for me. Making good business decisions and making moral decisions is the foundation of American exceptionalism.
Millennials need to step up and be involved in the process. We live in an “American Idol” world where we expect immediate results, but without proper and responsible planning, we will miss the mark. Commonsense, sustainable building efforts are not only economically sound in the long-run; they are conservative in principle.
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