I begin with a little story to illustrate my point, bear with me.
I’ve been working at one of those McMansions for the past month, they spring up in edge suburban developments with regularity. Acre or bigger lots, houses under 10,000 feet, prices in the 2 million or so range. You can get a lot of house out where the land stretches all the way to the horizon.
The owners are new, just moved in, probably want to make it their last move, they’re in their mid 50s, last kid set to start high school. Originally from California they’ve lived most places. Tech background and a great mind for business. Had a good idea, made some software, and found a way to help companies grow into niche markets.
Before they moved in I noticed both air conditioning units running. We’re in a heat wave, temps in the mid 90s every day. 7,000 square feet of nice cool empty house. No cats, dogs, not even plants to keep cool. At one and a half stories the house is spawling. Big concrete foundation, even have those new faux slate roof stuff made out of inch thick concrete tiles.
The people are totally nice too. Not superficially nice to the help but genuinely kind and thoughtful people. The guy was there alone for a while and he came out and talked once in awhile. I’m betting the guy worked his rear end off for thirty some years. I also bet they are living way below their means. It’s just a house. Their cars look to be not brand new and not thought out well for the coolness factor. A Suburban and some sedan.
Couple more houses being framed while I was there, all the houses the same, stucco and concrete roofs, acre of bluegrass getting lots of water. Big SUVs, a couple three people, maybe a dog or three, six to eight thousand square feet, tropical hardwood floors, furniture hand carved in Vietnam of Indonesian wood. Ten or twenty flights a year. Maybe a beach house in Ventura or something.
1% or maybe 5%ers. Depends on how the markets do that year.
I’m sure those houses are built green, everything is these days right? Except no unsightly solar. Each house a small carbon catastrophe of concrete. Any idea what it costs in energy or released CO2 to make concrete? A lot. When I read estimates for the carbon footprints of houses they estimate the energy used to build it but spread it over a supposed 100 year life. That carbon goes up in the air today. Every house also has a support staff. Cleaning ladies for four or five hours a week, lawn guys, lighting techs, security, there is a constant coming and going of service people during business hours.
This is the life people around the world want to come live. It’s so ubiquitous that my customer who was not into the material life at all just fell into it. Just like moving to a new town and getting an apartment. There are people to do everything for you.
Until I see these types of houses taxed based on their carbon I don’t see how we can begin to stop being such energy hogs. Empty nesters do not need 7,000 feet to live in. People making horrid climate choices are not bad people, they recycle and use reusable shopping bags.
Multiply this scenario to a greater or lesser degree times 350 million, that’s us, the USA. I see just about no difference between liberals or conservatives, the conservation minded or those who don’t care. We all burn carbon at about the fastest rate we can.