SUSTAINABILITY

by Michael J. Crosbie, PhD
Contributing Editor

Summary: It’s time for some sustainable New Year’s resolutions. You might have a better chance of making them stick, unlike that vow to go to the health club every day or to give up those cigarettes. Here are 12 resolutions one for every month of 2007. Happy Green Year!

1. Start early. Thinking green, that is. One of the most difficult things in a project is to decide to be sustainable in the middle of it, after the building has essentially been designed. Make the decision for your next project to be sustainable even before you get the job. Use sustainability to stand out from the competition.
2. Try a new green material you’ve never used before. Bamboo flooring, wall panels made out of straw, carpet made out of plastic bottles—just try something you’ve never used, but do your research first. There’s lots of good source material on the Web.
3. Consider PV. This technology is not suitable for every project, but with the right client looking to sever that tie with the grid, a photovoltaic system might be the perfect solution. Check with the state or city to see if there are incentives and rebates for your client to install a PV system.
4. Get rid of the asphalt. Try a green parking lot, with a paving system that allows grass to grow up through the pavers, but is strong enough to park a fire engine. Warm climates without snow are perfect for a green parking lot because you’ll never have to plow it.
5. Sell green as a greenback-saver. Architects, optimists that we are, often try to sell our clients on green strategies because it’s “the right thing to do.” Many of your clients won’t care, but money talks. Show them how going green will save on their energy bills.
6. Register your next project for LEED®. Never had a LEED registered project? Try your next one. It’s only $450 if you’re a U.S. Green Building Council member, $600 if you’re not. Talk to your client about the advantages of a LEED-registered building, including USGBC information resources.
7. Super shrink your next house. Do you have a client who believes they can’t live in less than 10,000 square feet? Sit down and talk some sense to them. Explain that the current trend is smaller houses—easier to maintain, cheaper to heat and cool.
8. Reuse a building. For a client thinking of building a brand new facility, suggest finding an existing building that can be adapted for their new use. It will ultimately be cheaper than building a new facility, and it’s sustainable.
9. Use a green consultant. Not really up-to-speed on green ideas? Try hiring a green consultant, who will work with you to determine the best green strategies on your next project.
10. Deep-six the AC tonnage. Believe it or not, it’s possible to keep buildings cool in all sorts of climates without resorting to conventional air conditioning. Look at natural ventilation, passive solar shading, and geothermal cooling, just for starters.
11. Try a green roof. Plant grass on the roof? It can reduce water run-off from your site, and it can also reduce the “heat island” effect around your building.
12. SUV RIP. Stop driving that ridiculous SUV. An architect should not be caught dead in one of the most environmentally destructive vehicles known to man. Sell it and buy something fuel efficient and less dangerous, and improve your chances of being here in 2008!