When a house becomes just another product, what happens to the idea of home—and everything it was meant to protect?
Home.More than a house.
A quick search online renders:the capacity to maintain long-term psychological well-being.It involves self-awareness, managing emotional energy, setting boundaries, and fostering meaningful connections to avoid burnout and support enduring mental health.
Has the world ever been so chaotic, so uncertain?Have we ever been so universally divided and fearful of what comes next, what will be the crisis of the day?Was there ever a time when we were this distrustful of our institutions, of our leaders, of each other?Not in my lifetime.
Fortunate to be born after the mass suffering of the Great Depression and the global insanity of World War II, it wasn’t until the decade of the Sixties that people of my generation found ourselves in a world we could no longer explain.Marked by a series of shocking assassinations and defined by a foreign conflict that seemed to rip a fault line through our society, our country, we came to realize what it is like to lose all control.
It has been said that we only measure the things that we value and that we protect those things that we love.For most people that begins with their family and the starting place for securing those priorities is their home.It is the first line of defense against the otherwise uncontrollable forces of the world, just beyond the front door. Literally and figuratively, it marks the boundary between confusion and clarity.
At Green Builder Media, we talk a great deal about sustainability and what that means, about affordability and how that should be defined.But somewhere we have drifted away from the safe harbor that was symbolized by the home that we aspired to, not just the building, the physical structure that offers protection and shelter, but perhaps more importantly, the refuge, the sanctuary that allows us to keep dreaming.
I believe that sustainability is the condition that exists when intergenerational prosperity is made possible through ecological accountability.That means we need to manage our resources carefully and responsibly.It means that we meet our obligations with integrity and that we work toward the things that have lasting value rather than seeking instant gratification.
Similarly, when we speak of affordability, especially in the context of having a home of our own, it is necessary to look not just our current circumstances, but to the far horizon.We struggle with the difference between acquisition and long-term possession.We attempt to draw the distinction between first cost and full cost.There is a marked difference between buying a house and owning a home, not just financially, but in the commitment to build family wealth and security with intention and patience.
Home ownership was once the cornerstone of the American dream.Sadly, the commoditization of houses, much like any other consumable product, has altered that reality.In today’s world it seems that buying a house is not much different than purchasing a car, and we simply occupy it until it’s time to trade it in on another one.
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “the strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.”It refers to the foundation of security and prosperity necessary for nations and for families.I can’t help wondering if the notion that a house, four walls and a roof, lacking the emotional value that makes it a home, represents anything sustainable at all.
Ron Jones, Co-Founder and President of Green Builder® Media, is recognized as one of the fathers of the green building movement. Instrumental in establishing guidelines and programs through NAHB, USGBC and a variety of regional initiatives, he has more recently worked with the International Code Council in the development of both the National Green Building Standard (ICC 700) and the International Green Construction Code. He is the charter chairman of the Green Builder Coalition, a grassroots non-profit advocacy group whose goal is to promote integrity in the building industry, and beyond, in an effort to return balance and harmony to the relationship between the built environment and the natural one. A recognized author and keynote speaker on four continents, his industry credentials and leadership experience, combined with his inspirational message and “take no prisoners” style, make him a high-demand presenter for conferences and events of all kinds.
Emotional Sustainability
When a house becomes just another product, what happens to the idea of home—and everything it was meant to protect?
Home. More than a house.
A quick search online renders: the capacity to maintain long-term psychological well-being. It involves self-awareness, managing emotional energy, setting boundaries, and fostering meaningful connections to avoid burnout and support enduring mental health.
Has the world ever been so chaotic, so uncertain? Have we ever been so universally divided and fearful of what comes next, what will be the crisis of the day? Was there ever a time when we were this distrustful of our institutions, of our leaders, of each other? Not in my lifetime.
Fortunate to be born after the mass suffering of the Great Depression and the global insanity of World War II, it wasn’t until the decade of the Sixties that people of my generation found ourselves in a world we could no longer explain. Marked by a series of shocking assassinations and defined by a foreign conflict that seemed to rip a fault line through our society, our country, we came to realize what it is like to lose all control.
It has been said that we only measure the things that we value and that we protect those things that we love. For most people that begins with their family and the starting place for securing those priorities is their home. It is the first line of defense against the otherwise uncontrollable forces of the world, just beyond the front door. Literally and figuratively, it marks the boundary between confusion and clarity.
At Green Builder Media, we talk a great deal about sustainability and what that means, about affordability and how that should be defined. But somewhere we have drifted away from the safe harbor that was symbolized by the home that we aspired to, not just the building, the physical structure that offers protection and shelter, but perhaps more importantly, the refuge, the sanctuary that allows us to keep dreaming.
I believe that sustainability is the condition that exists when intergenerational prosperity is made possible through ecological accountability. That means we need to manage our resources carefully and responsibly. It means that we meet our obligations with integrity and that we work toward the things that have lasting value rather than seeking instant gratification.
Similarly, when we speak of affordability, especially in the context of having a home of our own, it is necessary to look not just our current circumstances, but to the far horizon. We struggle with the difference between acquisition and long-term possession. We attempt to draw the distinction between first cost and full cost. There is a marked difference between buying a house and owning a home, not just financially, but in the commitment to build family wealth and security with intention and patience.
Home ownership was once the cornerstone of the American dream. Sadly, the commoditization of houses, much like any other consumable product, has altered that reality. In today’s world it seems that buying a house is not much different than purchasing a car, and we simply occupy it until it’s time to trade it in on another one.
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “the strength of a nation lies in the homes of its people.” It refers to the foundation of security and prosperity necessary for nations and for families. I can’t help wondering if the notion that a house, four walls and a roof, lacking the emotional value that makes it a home, represents anything sustainable at all.
By Ron Jones
Ron Jones, Co-Founder and President of Green Builder® Media, is recognized as one of the fathers of the green building movement. Instrumental in establishing guidelines and programs through NAHB, USGBC and a variety of regional initiatives, he has more recently worked with the International Code Council in the development of both the National Green Building Standard (ICC 700) and the International Green Construction Code. He is the charter chairman of the Green Builder Coalition, a grassroots non-profit advocacy group whose goal is to promote integrity in the building industry, and beyond, in an effort to return balance and harmony to the relationship between the built environment and the natural one. A recognized author and keynote speaker on four continents, his industry credentials and leadership experience, combined with his inspirational message and “take no prisoners” style, make him a high-demand presenter for conferences and events of all kinds.