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Thu, Apr 10 2008 “Hi Folks,
For what it's worth, I'm a charter subscriber and have saved every copy of Fine Homebuilding. The back issues are in my shop, yellowing along with Whole Earth Review, Solar Age, et. al. Interesting to watch me, you, and the real world change over half a working lifetime.
Ultimately, I will let my subscription expire because you aren't green enough. I'm tired of 5000-sq.-ft. homes and wasteful industrial processes that claim to be green and are anything but, and ridiculous nonfunctional materials (countertop of the month) chosen only for style. You follow the herd—only green enough to not offend—rather than leading the way. Perhaps that's your economic reality, but my economic reality is supporting organizations that endorse a more sensible set of priorities, like the full spirit of LEED (small is beautiful), not builder-driven faux-green. With luck, as the world changes, you'll change fast enough to survive and prosper.
Thanks,
Bob…”
Dear Bob,
I've been an editor here at Fine Homebuilding since 1986, which means that you've been helping to pay my salary for a long time, and I thank you for that. I also thank you for writing to explain why you won't be renewing your subscription. Still, it pains me to lose a charter subscriber, and while I don't imagine I can change your mind, I can't help but defend the magazine just a bit.
Perhaps if you had simply said that Fine Homebuilding isn't green enough, I could not have argued. I don't think any person, group, or company can defend the claim that they are green enough. None of us is. We've all got to do better.
But it has been a long time since we've published a 5000-sq.-ft. house. Last year's Houses issue, for instance, had six houses at 2500 sq. ft. or less and included an eight-page article on designing small houses. I'd sure like to know what magazine is publishing more small houses than we are.
I also don't think it's true that we're following the herd. If you look back at some of those old issues on your shelf, you'll see that Fine Homebuilding has promoted small homes, quality detailing, environmental responsibility, and energy efficiency for a long time. We published the Amory Lovins essay "If it's not energy efficient, it's not beautiful" way back in 1991.
The final point I'd like to make is that we also get letters (and emails) from readers who are canceling their subscriptions because we are too green. In some ways, it hurts even more to lose these readers because they're the ones whose minds I would like to change. If we are too conservative in our green stance, it's because we want to keep the naysayers reading so that we can convert them.
I'm sorry to go on so long, but you've definitely hit me where it hurts.
All the best,
Kevin Ireton, editor, Fine Homebuilding |
