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USGBC California's Wildfire Education Efforts - Working to Rebuild and Prevent Future Loss and Damage

Allison Friedman MA, United States 0 Ratings 105 Discussions 131 Group posts

Posted by: Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

USGBC California's Wildfire Education Efforts - Recovery and Rebuilding


I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and point people to the great work being done by USGBC California (USGBCCA) regarding wildfires, both in support of the long road to recovery for those affected by these and other fires and to help prevent future crises in California and elsewhere.  
 
USGBC California recently hosted a webinar on Rebuilding for Sustainability & Wildfire Resilience (USGBC-CA Wildfire Defense, which the organization has since posted on YouTube along with several other related videos.  I really appreciated hearing an overview of the work the organization has been doing for years now, as well as the introduction to some top considerations for rebuilding planning for structures as well as for landscaping.  I thought this webinar respectfully represented the tension between rushing and getting it right in rebuilding, and also presented a sincere sprit of community building and a desire for repair in the middle of a pretty much impossible situation.  The people speaking in this recording are all active members of the green building community who design and build well ahead of code requirements and were also affected by these and other fires. These are their communities.  In one of the previous videos mentioned below, a speaker warns that if he’s not available, he may literally have evacuated.   
 
USGBC CA has undertaken a growing list of related activities and created resources including:
 
  • Creating a Wildfire Defense Toolkit for homeowners and occupants 
  • Community workshops with assistance to those affected by fires on topics such as energy efficiency, electrification, water conservation, defensible landscaping, fire resistance materials and strategies, renewable energy, and available credits and incentives
  • Professional training for contractors and landscape professionals, including a certificate program 
  • Educational workshops and  panel discussions, including in Spanish 
  • On-site tours of firewire properties 
  • Connecting those in need with those who have materials, other than resources or service or expertise to offer 
 
The organization is also developing a Green Rebuilding Toolkit, and a Rebuilding Certification program. An existing green building BuildSmart trailer will soon be retrofitted to showcase fire resilient materials and building strategies in addition to the 350+ materials library in place. 
 
USGBC CA has created a helpful landing page for Wildfire Resources, and it looks like should remain a valuable place for finding tools and connecting if you have related needs or resources or expertise to share.  You can also find events and training on the USGBCCA Events page. 

 
Additional items of note:
  • Note that Greenbuild will also be hosted in Los Angeles this year
 
 
When I first started to receive information during and right after the recent Los Angeles area fires, I was of course heartened to see people come together in times of crisis in addition to the concern for friends and so many others going through this nightmare.  But I admit I also worried that some of the information could be a little misdirected or maybe just "too soon” in  a sense.*  Partly, I worried some of the information was going to be wonderful for helping to prepare in other places, if everyone listens.  But maybe the ’too soon” part is a worry that prevention information might be critical, but let’s face it, It doesn’t help if you just lost everything to read about how you might have built better.  
 
One thought I have is continuing to worry when thinking about this crisis and others, why don’t we talk about the risks more before, and listen (by taking action) to those who were trying to prepare and warn of the possible losses?  We need to keep thinking about that question, and how we can get information out more widely, and how we can do our best to share needed and actionable information in advance.  How can we become more proactive and not as reactive, and how can we do this more inclusively to address socioeconomic and other barriers as well.  How can we share in ways that inform but don’t overwhelm and respect the perspective of the real people who live in affected communities.  When there are competing needs and budget items, what is even practical and possible for most people to do?  What is the role of the occupant, and what is the role of the public sector? And, importantly, how can all of us in this wider community be of help?  
 
I’ve been pleased to see that some organizations have already been working to build back in addition to new efforts that can make a difference.  Given that the media does tend to move on and that people and organizations do also have other competing needs for their resources, there’s a reasonable concern that some actions will be taken, but not enough to best mitigate longer-term disaster, especially for homes not directly affected by fire.  Even occupants who know they’re more likely to be affected by a future fire sometimes feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, or don’t know how to prioritize or how to pick between competing budget items and many eventually end up not taking action.  Add red tape and conflicting policy priorities, and it can be a fight or a never-ending cycle even when someone decides what they want to do.  
 
Addressing wildfire risk and rebuilding  isn’t a new USGBC CA effort, and the organization is committed to continuing these efforts.  Please feel welcome to share the great efforts of other organizations and to share any information about products or services you think can be of help.  We’ll work to support impactful ideas and solutions, and to recognize and point to others who are also doing great work.
 
 

 
 
 
 
*Part of me felt unsettled that some of the information could perhaps be a little opportunistic. But on that last, I don’t want to be unfair.  If a person or organization provides a services or creates a product that can help, then by all means those affected and those who will rebuild need the information.  Look it’s clearly worth the small risk of a slightly less appropriate pitch if one person or one family, or many more, can be helped.  So I take back my cynicism.  This is the same worry that I try to push back against when companies that make great green building products fear being accused of greenwashing and are afraid to properly celebrate what they do so well. We have to just keep doing and keep celebrating great work. I am pointing this out so we can all do better and resist this nagging worry.  

What organizations and efforts would you like to highlight?  What challenges can you identify and how can they be overcome? What are your questions? How can we at Rate It Green be of help in sharing information more widely? 
 
 
 

 

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