‘Green’ building rules good to establish

• Reprints

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:44AM

Deerfield officials are in the process of making final important rules on the construction and development of “green” building projects in the village.

This is a good idea, and Deerfield officials are right to do so. But as those rules go into place and start being applied to real projects, we ask that they keep in mind that further change might be necessary.

As sustainability and energy become greater issues nationally, more and more residents and businesses will look for ways to save on energy costs and be better stewards of the environment.

Already, a few homes in town have solar power. Others have installed geothermal heating. Walgreens wants to install a wind turbine at its headquarters.

People will need guidelines from the village to understand both what’s acceptable and to know exactly how to best install these devices at their homes. Otherwise, residents and businesses are left to themselves, and unfortunately, even the most well-meaning people can make mistakes.

Deerfield can have a hand in making sure the work is done right by having zoning rules, inspecting the work that people do and making sure that whatever people put onto their homes and businesses does not end up being a distraction for neighbors.

In the same vein, Deerfield ought to be cautious that its rules do not prohibit the installation of sustainable items in town. Making rules too restrictive, or the process of approval too cumbersome, will only discourage people from moving forward with otherwise useful projects.

Officials say the new rules will not inhibit green initiatives. If they do so in some unanticipated manner, officials should maintain flexibility, making changes to the rules if necessary.

This is still a new issue, after all. New rules could be imperfect.

But as with all manners of public policy, officials know flexibility is important. We encourage Deerfield officials to be so in this matter, as well.

This is a growing industry, the future, as Trustee Mary Meirose Oppenheim has said.

“But there have been problems in other places,” she said. “We want it so people can install these things and they won’t be an imposition on their neighbors.”

May Deerfield learn from these early mistakes, then, and also be willing to admit to any they may make in the establishment of these new building rules.