[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Housing Starts

[Lawrence Lile]

Building materials are extremely expensive.  Last I checked, copper wire went up 280% this year.  That is not a misprint.  And the worlds largest copper mine is shut down for a strike, because the greedy bosses have not shared their windfall profits with the workers. Steel has doubled int he last couple of years, sheetrock is up from $5 a sheet to $13 a sheet, Foam insulation has gone up by 25% since last year.  Asphalt roofing is expected to go up 8% PER MONTH for the rest of the year according to my contractor. 
 
In my county, housing starts have evaporated.  Crews that were digging three foundations a week are now looking for service work to survive.  The construction industry is looking at a huge economic downturn.  National numbers aren't reflecting this, because they are still rebuilding like mad in New Orleans and elsewhere.  
 
I was just listening to some contractors forecasting a grim Christmas for the construction industry.  
 
What's this got to do with Green building?  Well, falling tides strand all boats they say.  In hard times, things seen as "luxuries" like green-ness (I don't consider it so, but it is widely seen that way) tend to fall by the wayside.  
 
Hang on for a bumpy ride, folks.  
 
--Lawrence Lile