As Grist readers know — and are furiously debating — there were some arsons in Seattle on Monday which have been attributed to shadowy (perhaps mythical) activist group Earth Liberation Front.
The following is a letter to Grist from the owner of one of the houses that was destroyed, Grey Lundberg of CMI Homes, Inc:
I am writing you today in reference to your recent article "Know Thy ELF: ‘Eco-Terrorism’ Suspected in Seattle-area Arson."
I am the builder of the home which suffered the most damage from the fire in the Woodinville area — it was completely destroyed. I would like Grist readers to know how deeply I am committed to green and how surprised and saddened I am that people would choose this award-winning project as a target. I have been building green homes for over a decade, always employing the highest quality practices and products. I understand that this home was not perfectly deep green, but people need to make changes step by step; people need choices. The Urban Lodge is a home that was certified as a 5-star Built Green home through the Built Green Program of King and Snohomish Counties and verified to the Gold Level through the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. It would have used 30% less energy, offered significant water savings features, and was half the size of the usual Seattle Street of Dreams home. With the projected 40,000 people moving into the Puget Sound region this year alone, not all are going to want to live downtown, some will want places in the suburbs to raise their families. My company is a recognized leader in the green building industry in the Pacific Northwest region and we are committed to the continued education and inspiration of the public about the benefits and importance of building green, for people as well as the planet.
Grey Lundberg, President
Grey Lundberg, Inc. / CMI Homes, Inc.
Here’s a picture of the Urban Lodge:
The Seattle Times shows what the house looks like now.
