Sustainability

By now, most people have heard about “green design”, “sustainable design”, etc. These are the trends and terms d’jour. But is this just a fad, or is all of this talk really relevant? Well, of course there may be an element of faddishness about this issue, but at it’s core it really is about something important.

There is a lot of information out there about what sustainability is and how it can be defined—more than can be gotten into in this format. The real question is: how does it affect your project? It’s great to be a good steward of the world’s resources, but the clients I have need to pay attention to their own specific concerns, and the budget is always one of them. The good news is that sustainable design can be good for the budget as well as for the planet. These days, with energy costs rising, and greater increases forecast for the future, with transportation costs of materials rising due to the same forces, it makes more sense than ever to design in a way that saves energy both in the operation of the project, and in the construction of the project.

Both my education and my philosophy have made sustainable design a part of what I put into every project from the very beginning. I began my architectural training during the energy crisis of the 1970’s, and it was an emphasis at the time at Auburn University. Since then I have continued to extend and expand my knowledge to keep up with technological and other advancements. Along with that practical training, the organic tradition has always placed a high emphasis on conservation of resources—all the way back to Frank Lloyd Wright’s solar hemicycle house for Herbert Jacobs.

Thus I always try to put as much of this into each project as possible. Of course, there are sometimes considerations that might trump certain aspects of sustainability, such as a client who is more interested in the north-facing view than the south-facing passive solar requirements. So there will always be compromises, but the emphasis is there.

I have recently completed a Project for JMI Equity that has been certified LEED Silver. I also have completed a Passive House design in Augusta County.

LEED certification is becoming a mark of sustainable design and designers. I am currently working on the requirements to achieve that certification. I would be happy to discuss these issues further when we discuss your project.