The White House may soon be a “green house” if President Obama has his way. 

President Barack Obama wants the White House to achieve LEED certification. Photo Courtesy Flickr.

The president’s home is well on its way to eco-friendliness with features such as an organic vegetable garden and a swing set made from recycled materials, shredded tires and nontoxic dyes. President Obama, however, wants to take it a step further with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

In order to meet LEED standards, a number of major changes would have to take place at the White House, including updates for energy, water and waste systems. The home’s historical status and required security will also make the process more difficult. Christine Glunz, White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) spokesperson, says the CEQ is looking to reduce the White House’s carbon footprint with features such as computerized energy management systems; automatic light sensors that turn off in unoccupied rooms, low-flow water valves and windows that lessen UV rays. Other efforts include using low-VOC paints and sealants and switching to biodegradable cleaners and recycled equipment for the groundskeepers and engineers. Leftover materials from the renovation will go to local reuse organizations. 

The administration has already taken steps to green visitors’ experience at the White House. Recycling is more accessible, and water fountains have been modified to make it easier for visitors to refill their water bottles. 

President Obama isn’t the first president to make energy-saving changes to the White House. In 1979 President Jimmy Carter had a solar water heater installed on the roof of the West Wing (later removed by the Reagan administration), and President George W. Bush installed a small photovoltaic system and two small solar water heating systems. 

These small steps are good, but we believe it’s high time for a full-on green renovation. What do you think? Should the White House aim for LEED certification? Tell me your opinion in the comments section!

As tough economic times hit the renewable energy industry, unsold solar panels are collecting dust in warehouses in many parts of the country. But in Gainesville, Florida, homes, buildings and schools are glittering with brand new panels, installed after the city passed a feed-in tariff law, requiring the power company to buy renewable energy from local producers. Since the law passed in February, Gainesville solar contractors have more work than they can handle. Paradigm Properties, a local real estate company, is installing solar panels on its main building and 50 apartment buildings in Gainesville. Another investor is installing $16 to $20 million worth of 25-kilowatt systems on 80 rented roof spaces around the city. He believes they’ll yield $1.4 million in annual earnings.  

Solar panels are gaining popularity in Gainesville, Florida. Photo By Powerhouse Museum/Courtesy Flickr 

Gainesville is the first U.S. city to institute a feed-in tariff, which encourages entrepreneurial investment in clean energy by guaranteeing a market. Germany implemented feed-in tariffs in 1991, and they’ve been incentive enough for German companies to dominate the green energy market. Several countries have followed suit. 

Feed-in tarrifs are an elegant solution to many issues, and Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington wants to see it work for the rest of the country—not just Gainesville. He’s introduced a bill for a federal feed-in tariff just as they’re beginning to slip into the national conversation. Toby Couture of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory told Washington Monthly that six to eight months ago many of his colleagues had never heard of the tariffs. Now, he says, "Everyone on my team is asking, 'Why aren't we doing this?'"