First Family to Renovate Historic White House into Energy Efficient Exemplar-

In a refreshing change of pace, the newest First Family is really “putting their money where their mouth is” in respects to establishing a more economically and environmentally sustainable country. While First Lady Michelle Obama is doing her part by planting an organic garden to supply healthy food and fertilizer, President Barack Obama is now seeking to attain LEED Certification for the colossal, energy-consuming White House. Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and president of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has loaned his knowledge in energy efficient home design to aid the White House during its demanding transition, stating, “LEED certification of the White House is absolutely possible and viable… A normal building is already a challenging assignment, and this is something that’s a historic structure, one of [the] nation’s most historic structures,” he says. The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are working under the USGBC’s guidelines to implement computerized energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems, as well as other energy efficient appliances, automatic light sensor monitors that turn off in vacant rooms, low-flow water systems to avoid waste, and window films that help lower UV rays and save energy. LEED standards usually require windowpane replacement to improve efficiency of the building’s envelope; however the renovation cannot support this due to their ancestral glazing. To lower household toxicity levels, paints and sealers with low-or-no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will be utilized, as well as biodegradable cleaners and recycled products. To add, the White House staff will be accountable for making improvements into procurement policies; responsible for considering toxicity levels and life cycles whenever purchases are to be made. Both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton made energy efficient advancements to the White House during their Presidencies, and George W. Bush invested in a small solar photovoltaic system, as well as two solar water heating systems. Nonetheless, President Obama and his family have indeed raised the bar for environmentally-sound living standards, and have continued to exercise what they educate.