I’ve spent the last two weeks learning about the affordable housing infrastructure — trying to find a point of entry to implement sustainable retrogrades without disturbing the multifaceted financing structure. I find myself observing a system that has little room for new ideas to penetrate.
An influential professor from my days at Cal described a professional mindset that I am now witnessing in the work environment. Her theory asserted that an expert develops certain tried and true practices and uses specific technologies that consistently yield the results they seek. However, new information or technologies that are introduced to the expert that would disturb their systematic approach to a problem are often dismissed for fear of the experts displacement or a strong aversion to change.
When it comes to bringing sustainability or any “green” technologies forward there is a palpable wall of dismissal. Busy experts working on performing their tasks with skill, precision and know-how have little time or interest in accommodating the greening of the larger system.
I’ve enter the system where the expert resides and as long as I don’t disrupt their daily functions than I will be tolerated. Adopting sustainable practices however requires that daily functions shift and soon I anticipate that tolerance will shift to resistance.
Sustainability is first and foremost about endurance. I know the road ahead requires the steady pace of a marathon runner and I’m glad I’ve got the shoes for it!
Lisa Goddard
