Is a "Green" McMansion Socially Acceptable?

A modern, single-residence, 2,675-square-foot house in Chicago is attracting attention from both the neighbors and the world. The city's one-of-a kind net-zero home, reports The Chicago Tribune, tucks 48 photovoltaic panels and a rainwater collector within a "butterfly" roof, among other green features, and will produce as much energy as it consumes, if not more.

Photo courtesy of The Chicago Tribune

While there are many good things we can point out about this house--the attention to energy consumption, the global message that is perhaps stronger due to the size of the house and the slick, well-thought out design packed full of recycled materials by architecture firm Farr Associates--we can't help but struggle with the message: Is big and expensive OK if it is green?

Photo courtesy of The Chicago Tribune

The house, clocking in at a cool $1.6 million, will only serve one person with its four bedrooms and two bathrooms: Michael Yannell (and his two cats). Yet, clearly this is exponentially a better solution than the likes of a 15,000 square foot "green" home.

Ideally, we promote living large in small places. This story, like many green stories touches on the controversial topic of what is green. Is any green step a step in the right direction? How do we differentiate between progress and just plain treading water?

If we compare the Chicago house to another example of green living in the news this week, the story of Daniel Suel, the modern day caveman who stopped using money (not to mention running water), perhaps the answer is clearer: Progress is somewhere in between.

More From Planet Green and TreeHugger on Green McMansions
9 "Green" Monsters: Can a 15,000 SF Mcmansion be Green?
Whither the McMansion? Opinions from the Wall Street Journal and the Atlantic
When it Comes to Green Building, Does Size Matter?

More From Mairi Beautyman on Huffington Post
Creators of the Hydrogen 'Urban Car' Attempt to Crush Hydrogen Car Challenges
Germans and Their Scornful View of Tap Water
Could You Live Without a Refrigerator?
The Octuplets and their Massive Carbon Footprint: 30,400 Disposable Diapers and Counting

Follow Mairi Beautyman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mbeautyman

Comments

[noneIn2008]

It is not green, it is neogreen. Buy your good feelings instead of actually living. If you want real green move to an 800 sq ft apartment to conserve.

[GetAbike]

Hello Mairi,
May I comment that you axed an interesting question in the title of your blog (and many thereafter), yet provide no opinion nor take a stand except at the end:
"perhaps the answer is clearer: Progress is somewhere in between."
Wow. we are going to make big progress here.
You don't have to be so milque-toast with the issues of the day- especially "green" issues- these are too important.

Ok, try this for domicile parameters;
1.400 s.f. commons plus 200 s.f. per person.
2.within 1.5 miles of transit or services.
3. $3 per sq ft cost.

For me and my family, this is reasonable comfort and affordability; and a low energy footprint.
See, giving an opinion is not so hard, and creates a point of discussion, thereby elevating the number of people who might participate and comment on your blog.
Carry on, soldier. :)

[GetAbike]

Opps! try .30 cents/ sq ft/ month

[entropygal]

What is your carbon footprint? That is the only question that needs to be asked and answered; no matter how much money you have. The U.S. is the largest consumer of resources in the world...by orders of magnitude. That is why we had to do this complete shutdown of our economy for 1 - 2 years to force a paradigm shift in the me generation. China went through a simliar forced slowdown in years past since their growth rate was overheated.

I heard one woman say that "I still want to be able to drive my SUV". Well, of course, everyone would like to drive their SUVs. We cannot have the roads loaded w/gas guzzlers, so the fight is now, everyone should give them up except me? Hence the class struggle.

[noneIn2008]

Neogreens will say they are green because they buy credits and drive their SUV. They buy credits and fly their private plane and go out on their private yacht. The most impressive neogreens are the ones selling the credits.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

A lot of the "green movement" is becoming self-indulgent Any new build is worse than re-using an old build, due to the sourcing, transport and creation of the new and the necessary tearing-down and disposal (where does it go?) of whatever was there before. That being said, anything which raises the public consciousness about living a greener lifestyle must be a good thing. The next step is to make some of these processes and products available to the public at a competitive price.

[BobLablah]

I would find some respect for Al Gore if he would sell all his mansions and buy something like this. 2,675 sq ft is still more than anyone needs but that seems like a nice compromise size for people who could afford much more.