An Interview with Green Builder George Bialecki

Written By Daniel on February 6, 2008 at 10:32 pm | In society, environment, energy, Olympics, architecture, design, technology, China

Overview

It’s projected that over the next few years China’s urban population will grow by 250 million – on average these city dwellers will use three times more energy than their rural counterparts. At the turn of the millennium, China consumed about 8% of the total energy used in the world, more than any nation except the United States – at current rates this figure will double by 2020. Given Chinese reliance on coal as a primary energy source, this is a prospect that is causing serious concern, both in China and the rest of the world.

Many individuals, organizations, and the Chinese government, feel that a committed drive toward sustainability is the only way that the country can reduce the size of its ever-expanding environmental footprint. Since China won the bid to hold the 2008 Olympics, renewed vigor in learning about sustainability in Chinese circles abounds, not least because Beijing has vowed to make these Olympics the most “technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable ever”.

George Bialecki, founder of the American NGO Alternative Energy Builders (AEB), and developer of the comprehensive Home Biology 101™ sustainable housing system, feels energy efficiency is the area where green homes and offices can bring the biggest benefits in China. As part of a project authorized by China’s Ministry of Construction in 2003, Bialecki and the AEB are currently involved in construction of Future House USA, a showcase sustainable house being built as part of the Future House Village project outside Beijing.

The Future House Village will debut during this summer’s Olympics, with an estimated 100 million people given the chance to tour a globally-inspired neighborhood of eco-friendly demonstration homes created by visionaries from Canada, China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United States. Future House USA, a Frank Lloyd Wright-style home that integrates the Chinese practice of feng shui with some innovative Midwestern eco-technology, will be a zero net energy home, generating all its own energy.

CScout China had a quick chat with George about his work, and about how he views the future of sustainable housing in China.

Interview

Hi George - thanks for talking to us. First of all, can green building really make a difference in China?

“Now there is a debate over which causes more pollution – a home or a car. Even applying conservative estimates and using a ratio of 1:1, we can see that if China’s next 100 million homes are green, with drastically reduced energy requirements, then we are preventing a pollution increase equivalent to that caused by 100 million new cars. This, in itself, would be an incredible achievement.”

Can you give us a brief rundown of where the Future House project stands now?

“Future House USA, at this moment, is assembled with windows, house wrap and roofing installed. In other words, it is weather tight. Presently, there has been 7 containers shipped from the US with one last one, to be delivered mid to end of March. In March, we will be shipping our solar, solar thermal, geothermal and radiant products for the US house. As more US professionals from around our country see the importance of this global initiative and join our team, Future House USA continues to be challenged. The Future House community is a big step towards global initiatives. One can only imagine the complexities of not only inviting and organizing seven nations (plus China) onto one property but also the actual construction of each home.”

In your opinion, do you think projects like Dongtan are merely “greenwash” or are they genuine attempts to move toward sustainable housing? Do you think eco-cities are the way forward for China, given that 400 new Chinese cities will have to be constructed by 2020?

“I feel that when speaking with our Chinese partners and friends that “green” eco-cities are definitely on the Chinese agenda. The Chinese know that they are amidst a very large growth within their middle class. We must not forget other countries around the World like India that are emerging into the same situation. With this in mind, many people are wanting housing and automobiles. With an emerging middle class, there also comes a change in country philosophy. We must also remember that China is over 5 times larger than the US in population.

In order to meet these enormous housing and transportation demands, there needs to be a change. But a change towards solutions. We need to move away from round table discussions and begin the process. We can take steps to change our processes and utilize renewable energy sources or different technologies like geothermal, solar, better windows, compact or LED light bulbs, gray water systems, recycling storm water etc. to offset this growth and the tremendous burden on our present natural resources.

We must also remember when voicing concerns about energy and the environment not to omit the discussing and preparation for “water”. Water will be the next resource that there will be an immense concern about. In fact, it is already occurring around the world including in the US. We need to look to better stormwater management etc.

Overall, the move toward sustainable buidling is obviously a long-term process - nothing changes overnight. The conversations are there. The intentions are there. But, the process and solutions needs to occur not only in China but around the world. I do give credit to China for initiating discussions about the development of “eco-cities”. I believe that when the first city or even partial city is built “eco”, everyone around the world will see it as a standard and there will be no turning back.”

On the commercial side, how does the cost of a green house such as the Future House equate to the cost of a conventional house?

“It’s very hard to compare costs because it would be like comparing apples and oranges. Costs will naturally differ since a ‘green’ home or commercial structure will have more benefits to the homeowner and environment. We analyze costs based on a “life-cycle” cost. The money spent today and the return on its investment. For example, in the US, we are building homes that are saving the homeowner up to 85% on their utility bill. This savings occurs by changing the traditional process and utilizing better windows, roofing, insulation, light bulbs and adding a geothermal heating and cooling system. By implementing and installing a solar and solar thermal system, the savings can be even greater. Integrating technologies and practices will be a key. It will add a great savings not only for the home owner for also for the environment. As more green homes, communities and commercial building are built, the cost of equipment, technologies and materials will come down.

Geothermal or geoexchange systems are a rapidly growing technology in the US. As people around the world recognize this 30+ year energy utility, it will be replace present utilities as natural gas and coal. As installations of this technology continues within residential and commercial market, the purchaser, by taking advantage of the energy under their feet, will begin receiving an immediate payback. The measurement of costs cannot be compared to conventional construction - conventional construction will cost the home owner more money to operate and continue to degrade our environment.”

Is China actually leading the way in any areas of sustainable construction yet, or is it stil using technology/expertise imported from the West?

“Chinese innovations are not currently being featured in Future House USA. The technologies and features have come from the West. In fact many, if not all, the other countries involved are bringing their own technologies to their respective country’s home. There are many advanced technologies all around the world. However, the Chinese have voiced the interest to learn about these different technologies. They have spoken with different manufacturers not only in the US but around the world about their products. Our goal, through our non-profit educational organization, is to be able to teach environmentally-based solutions.”

Further Info

Learn more about AEB’s homes and developments at www.123aeb.com. For more information on Future House USA and the Future House Village at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, visit www.futurehouseusa.org. To read about the AEB Living Foundation, see www.123aeb.com and click on “alternative energy living.”

Images courtesy of George Bialecki/AEB and by Daniel Allen