Book encourages Virginia to do better

The Suffolk (Va.) News Herald's Tracy Agnew wrote a story Saturday that highlights the Center's new Getting Greener book as a call for Virginia to do better with energy and the environment.

"Although green buildings -- those that conserve water, use more environmentally-sensitive construction, manage the underlying and surrounding land and reduce indoor air emissions n cost 2 to 5 percent more to build than regular buildings, the building pays for the cost quickly, Brack said. A school that is housed in a “green building” can afford to hire two more teachers each year, according to the book.

“'I don’t know anybody, anywhere, that says, ‘We don’t need more teachers,’'” Brack said.

"According to the book, Virginia uses 31 percent more energy per capita than the national average. However, there are things Virginia is doing well. For example, he pointed out Virginia’s program of providing state tax credits as an incentive for private land conservation.

“'Not everything in the South is backwards,' Brack said, 'but we still have a lot to learn from other places on how we can do things better.'”

• Read the full story.