Although the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed significant segments of the society in the early part of 2020, it has not halted the forward march of innovation. With businesses and workspaces slowly reopening with the summer rapidly approaching, there will be many trendy office designs on display as employees make their way back to work.

Eco-Friendly Walls and Office Partitions

With vast segments of the population jumping on board in the fight against climate change in 2020, architectural designs that offer functionality while limiting the consumption of non-renewable resources are all the rage.

With that, there has been a significant movement to open up office spaces by installing large windows and tearing down walls, which allows for the flow of natural light, helping to reduce the cost of electricity.

However, although these open spaces and fluid floor plans allow both light and employees to flow freely, decreasing energy consumption while increasing collaboration, there are still scenarios where privacy is needed.

Therefore, decorative screen panel designs figure to feature prominently in the 2020 office aesthetic. Not only do these structures protect the integrity of that open-space feel while adding partitions, but they add some much needed decor to offices that may otherwise feel bland and sparse.

Some creative ways to implement these designs into the modern office include colorful screen backdrops in reception areas and sliding screens to help divide large conference areas into smaller offices, as necessary.

Aesthetically Pleasing Noise and Debris Barriers

Offices with a view are always desirable, and with the movement toward free-flowing light to reduce energy costs, not only do modern offices come with large windows, but, in some cases, entire office walls are made of glass.

While the sunny workspace is both pleasant and eco-friendly, work productivity can be interrupted by trash constantly swirling inches from your face or when cars honking and slamming on their breaks cause you to look up to see what is going on.

To prevent such distractions without inhibiting natural light from aiding your work efforts, designers are increasingly turning to architectural louvers. These structures do an outstanding job of catching errant debris and insulating office buildings from street noise, all while permitting the flow of natural light.

In addition to this functionality, while a rising stack of glass windows or a sheet of glass walls can appear boringly industrial, louvers provide an attractive facade for office buildings and are customizable to match the look your business is trying to attain.

Designs that Keep Social Distancing in Mind

Although innovation and design trends continue to move forward, there is no doubt that COVID-19 has caused a bit of a detour and will change some of the office designs we see moving forward into 2020.

Therefore, while open, inviting, and eco-friendly offices are not going anywhere, architects and designers will be taking increased measures to be mindful of employees’ concerns regarding social distancing.

Fortunately, there are ready-made solutions to this problem. By using a glass wall partition, designers can create customizable offices to help break up large gatherings of people. While traditional walls are unforgiving and permanent, these trendy structures can be moved and manipulated to obtain a look for any occasion, creating social separation without destroying the larger sense of community.

Home and Nature in the Workplace

As you have probably gathered from the previous sections regarding inviting, open spaces and free-flowing natural light, the traditional rigidity of the workplace will continue to be eschewed in 2020.

Just as many trendy companies are ditching the suit and tie as required workplace attire, contemporary offices are all about comfort in the environment. As such, expect to see more sofas and fewer office chairs, as well as more hanging plants and fewer cookie-cutter industrial light fixtures.

Skylar Ross is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. He is a blogger and content writer for the architecture industry. Skylar is focused on helping architects and building designers discover new techniques, find ways to save on costs, and discover new modern innovative materials to use in their next project.

Disclaimer: Carbon Design & Architecture does not represent any of the products or companies that were featured in this article.

Geometric shapes. Intricate weaves. Spider webs form strong, complex structures that function as homes and food traps for the arthropods. Sunflower florets line up at just the right angle for each to get the right amount of sunshine. Tall, majestic cypress trees don’t just look amazing. They have “knees”—woody projections growing vertically from their roots—helping them stay healthy. Nature’s designs are worth paying attention to because they present biological solutions for environmental challenges.

Nature Inspired Design: Silk, Sunflowers, and Cypress

The silk that makes up a spider’s intricate web has properties that go beyond the practical needs of spiders for home and food. Founders of Bolt Threads recognized the built-in softness, high-tensile strength, and long-lasting durability and believed they could develop natural silks that mimic the natural proteins in spider webs. The result? Bio-

designed fabric that’s as durable and biodegradable as spider’s silk.

Designers of solar arrays ran into the challenge of panels being too close together and shading one another. That meant sometimes they had to be so spread out, they’d take up enormous acreage. When researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology turned to nature for a solution, they realized if they mimicked the geometric positioning of a sunflower’s florets when they laid out the solar array, the problems went away. They could use less space, gain energy efficiency, and operate with better land management.

Less understood than spider’s silk or a sunflower’s florets, cypress knees—as I’ve discussed in a previous article—act as filters to break down waste into fertilizer and then convey nutrition to the rest of the tree. One reason this matters is the need for productive ecosystem solutions in built environments. We can study nature’s design in cypress knees and develop products that work like the trees to filter waste. It could be a flat disk at the bottom of a pond that filters heavy metals or a 1,000-gallon tank with bio-filters. The better we understand nature’s solutions, the better our designed solutions will become.

Bio-design in Built Environments

Built environments have faced sustainability challenges since we started relying on concrete and steel. A massive carbon footprint comes with those industries’ energy-intensive supply chains that burn fossil fuels and use excessive amounts of water.

To overcome these challenges, architects can take lessons from nature. When we’re working on a new design, that means asking, “How is this process accomplished in nature?”

For example, we’re studying the luciferin gene in fireflies. When the substance combines with oxygen and amino acids, it produces the light we see, (light that produces no heat) when fireflies fill up the night sky.The more we understand their lights, the more potential for developing rural lighting solutions that don't rely on cables. We could actually have nature inspired design that gives us greater security in rural areas.

We're also studying the calcium carbonate in conch shells and considering how to design and build sea walls with it. Calcium carbonate forms when conch shells and other sea animals pull carbonate from the ocean’s saltwater to combine it with their own calcium. The idea behind building sea walls with calcium carbonate is the saltwater will naturally help build the wall. We don’t have all the pieces to the puzzle yet, but if successful, a sea wall like this would be a carbon sink. Another biodesign that solves an environmental challenge.

Everyday lessons from nature are numberless, and designing more sustainable built environments depends on our ability to learn them well.

To find out more about how we look to nature’s design in our green architectural design services, reach out.

Don't let code minimums and first cost doom your design.

On the front page of the Sunday New York Times from June 25, 2017, there is a heartbreaking story of loss of life in the Grenfell Apartment tower. Authors David Kirkpatrick, Danny Hakim, James Glanz and contributors Zephira Davis and Nour Youssef tell us of the background that led to the disaster. Read the article here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/europe/grenfell-tower-london-fire.html?_r=0

The story is about how a flammable exterior building skin was added to the building and the skin caused the building to burn from the outside inward.

From my architecture perspective, I want to focus on 2 things gleaned for the article: the idea of designing to the code minimum, and using lowest first cost as a driving factor to decision making.

I have said for a long time, code minimum building design means if it was designed any worse, it would be illegal. Yet we live in an environment of development that looks for ways to design to the code minimum as the goal and as a desirable approach. Why do we want our buildings, that should be around for 100+ years, to be barely legal at the time they are constructed? Why would we want to design to a higher standard than code minimum? In the case of Grenfell Towers, (and the dozens of other apartment blocks in London evacuated since the fire), exceeding the code in practical ways could bring great value to the design. In this case, exceeding the code could directly save lives.

The article address regulations head on. “Business friendly governments in Britain- first under Labor and then under the Conservatives- campaign to pare back regulations.” And “Governments adopted slogans calling for the elimination of at least one regulation for each new one that was imposed, and the authorities in charge of fire safety took this to heart.” I have heard the exact same slogan coming from the new United States executive and legislative branches since the new administration has taken over power. Randomly eliminating regulations to gain political points is dangerous, to say the least. The authors state, “Promising to cut ‘red tape’, business friendly politicians evidently judge that cost concerns outweighed the risks of allowing flammable materials to be used on facades.” Even after warnings inside the regulatory process, “still no changes were made. ‘The construction industry appears to be stronger and more powerful than the safety lobby’, said Ronnie King, a former fire chief.” We need to recognize that code minimum (aka barely legal) is not a basis for good design. It is only the basis to stay out of jail.

That leads us into the second topic of this blog- lowest first cost as a driving factor to decision making in building design. In the case of fire regulations in Britain, “A top building regulator explained to a coroner in 2013 that requiring only non-combustible exteriors in residential tower ‘limits choice of materials quite significantly.’” Using fire-resistant materials was more expenses, but we need to recognize that there is real value in doing it anyway. Manufacturers who have an obvious financial interest in selling product, pushed back. “’Any changes to the façade to satisfy a single requirement such as fire performance will impinge on all other aspects of the walls performance as well as costs’, Stephen Ledbetter, director of the Center for Window and Cladding Technology, an industry group, wrote in testimony to Parliament.” A single requirement such as fire safety is a pretty significant requirement! Using first cost as a driving force in building design can have long term consequences, both catastrophic, in the case of the Grenfell Apartment tower, or in a gradual deterioration such as toxic chemicals from cheap materials off gassing into the interior space and gradually poisoning the occupants. (think urea formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or even lead paint, and asbestos)

Using green building standards such as LEED and the Living Building Challenge gives our firm a systematic, thoughtful, proven and tested approach to designing our buildings above code minimum standards, and allows us to more fully evaluate first cost vs. life cycle cost/ return on investment questions with the long-term well-being of the building, it occupants and the owner’s wallet in mind. Exceeding code minimums in areas of design like building envelop performance, resiliency, indoor environment quality (IEQ), reduction and elimination of toxins like VOCs, and reducing carbon emissions to name a few, all have real value and a ROI, whether you can measure the ROI in dollars, lives saved, of in comfort, happiness and delight of the occupants.

We are building buildings pretty much the same as we have been over the past 100 years. What else in our world is so much the same over the past 100 years? It is time to look above and beyond designing to code minimums, and stop using lowest first cost as the primary factor to decision making.

We face EXTREME opposition:

Since participating in the Women’s march in Washington DC in January 2017, my awareness of civil rights issues has been heightened. Moreover, I am beginning to see many similarities between those opposing minority groups in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, as they fought for equal rights and those opposing movements today fighting for a cleaner world.

In an exercise to draw out the similarities I took some profound statements from a book I just finished reading (Deep Denial by David Billings), and re-wrote them to fit into my perspectives on the current sustainability effort in the US.  I hope these help you to see the connections.  

Civil Rights Perspective 1, by David Billings

The civil rights movement created a profound shift in consciousness among its rank-and-file participants. It impacted people’s identity and sense of self.  It became for many a point of personal departure- a turning point in their lives.  

Those who witnessed this brief moment felt that, finally this nation was about to banish racism and inequity from the national landscape.  The words of Dr. King resounded around the nation.  

Many even dared to believe that the words of the nation’s creed “all people are created equal” might finally mean something to its black citizenry, to Puerto Ricans, African-Caribbean's, Mexican Americans, Asians pacific islanders and Native Americans.

Perspective 1: shifted for Sustainability

The sustainability movement created a profound shift in consciousness among its rank-and-file participants. It impacted people’s identity and sense of self.  It became for many a point of personal departure- a turning point in their lives.  

Those who witnessed this brief moment felt that, finally this nation was about to banish environmental degradation and inequity from the national landscape.  The words of David Suzuki, Mahesh Ramanujam, Janine Benyus, Naomi Klien, Elon Musk, William McDonough resounded around the nation.  

Many even dared to believe that the words of the nation’s creed “all people are created equal” might finally mean something to the privileged, the poor, white, black, etc. etc….all.

Civil Rights Perspective 2, by David Billings

A web of self-interests among the economic elite, the academy and media, sanctioned and legitimize by the power of the state, sustains white privilege.  

This unspoken preference for white is what has held poor and working-class whites in support of an arrangement that does not serve their best interest -except the self-interest of being white in a race-constructed nation.  

This social contract has worked since the founding of the republic.

Perspective 2: Shifted for Sustainability

A web of self-interests among the economic elite, fossil fuel beneficiaries, long standing institutions, those who can avoid the negative environmental impacts longer than most, and the media, sanctioned and legitimized by the power of the state, sustains the status quo.

This unspoken preference for environmental destruction is what has held those suffering from the impacts in support of an arrangement that does not serve their best interest - except the self-interest of short term profits and instant gratification.  

This social contract has worked since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Check out our latest LEED certified and other sustainable design projects!

Civil Rights Perspective 3, by David Billings

But we were no longer as involved in the politics of the community.  Our emphasis had changed from our very nascent organizing effort to direct services.  Unbeknownst to us, we had become part of a national effort to de-politicize community efforts at self-determination.  

We…. begin to move away from community-based organizing.  We were so busy with our programs!  We transformed ourselves from community organizers who fought for decent housing and education, who demanded community accountability boards to oversee police, into managers of after school recreation programs.

We claim we had no time for organizing, nor the funding to do it.  After all, we were doing good work for needy children.  

Perspective 3: Shifted for Sustainability

But we were no longer as involved in the activism of the community.  Our emphasis had changed from our very nascent organizing efforts to direct services. Unbeknownst to us, we had become part of a national effort to de-politicize community efforts at self-determination.  

We begin to move away from community-based organizing.  We were so busy with our programs!  We transformed ourselves from community organizers who fought for the environment, less carbon, clean water, less toxins, social equity, and education, who demanded community accountability from our government, corporations and institutions, into managers of lunch and learns and award programs.

We claim we had no time for organizing, nor the funding to do it.  After all, we were doing good work for our members.  

For me, the parallels are standing in plain sight. 

What do you think? Are we still excepting the status quo because it is hard to change? Are we activating our communities?  Are we organizing?  Does your house or office building set an example in your neighborhood or community?  Will it be on the right side of history?

Click HERE to start exploring a sustainable design project with Carlson:

NET ZERO, AND LOVIN' IT!

Hi everybody, and happy 2017! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and were able to celebrate the New Year with good people and good times.

Speaking of, I wanted to kick the year off with a little celebration of my own - because we just received report back on our 2016 Gold LEED certified nature center at Audubon - and it turns out that just by existing, our building is contributing to solving our energy crisis!

Similar: How to Choose a Solar Power System for Your Home or Business

I would like to use this blog to give you an update on one of our recently completed projects - the Audubon Nature Center located at the celery fields in Sarasota, Florida (see gallery here).

The building has been open for a little more than a year, and we have been gathering data on its electrical use. As I reported earlier, the building is a net zero energy building, which means it creates more electricity than it uses.  

So, now we have a full year's worth of data to share, and even a break down of how the power was consumed.

Below is a table which shows the actual annual power demand and actual solar PV generation for the Nature Center. Total demand is 15,107 kWh per year. And, according to a study conducted by the EIA (US Energy Information Administration), that is almost identical to the energy consumption in the average household here in Florida and an average of nine other nearby states.

Download the resource: How to Design a Green Home

The electrical system exports more than 25% power (4,000 kWh) than it consumes (15,000 kWh)!  By making significantly more energy than it consumes, it not only offsets 100% of it carbon footprint caused by electrical generation, but it helps others do the same by providing clean, renewable energy to the electrical power grid.  So, the building has exceeded net zero performance and is operating as a net positive facility.  

One thing to remember - this is NOT just about solar power. Net Zero Energy starts with the building envelope, and carries on with passive design features that put conservation first. Then, one does not need to create as much of it its own energy to become net zero or net positive.

The building has a highly efficient building envelope including insulated concrete form walls and double glazed insulated low E coded windows.

Plus, the building orientation and wraparound covered porches provide shading 100% of the time. The building has a sealed attic with spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof deck.

The building creates its own energy by using its 11.2 KW's PV solar array mounted on it south facing roof.  

But back to the results, because I find them to be quite fascinating.

It is no surprise that the HVAC electrical use is the largest use in the building. What I find interesting is that the plug load electrical use is the second largest component of energy used in the building.  

Plug loads are those things inside the building that the occupants use that demand electricity.  It could be the coffee pot, copy machine, printer or a desk lamp or a little tabletop fan- things like that. These are electrical uses that are not well defined in the design phase and they are hard to estimate and difficult to control.  Plug loads are one of the main reasons why net zero energy needs to be proven through actual use and not just modeled/predicted.

The Audubon Nature Center received LEED-NC Gold Certification in January of 2016.   The high-performance design has actually been exceeding the projected energy performance predicted by the energy modeling.  And, in Oct 2016, the project won the prestigious USGBC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Outstanding LEED for New Construction/Non-Profit Award for the region.

Try also: Does the Cost of Solar Energy Outweigh the Benefits?

CONCLUSION:

Forget about Net Zero Energy.... Let's talk about Net Positive energy design! It is possible, even on a modest budget.  

Wouldn’t it be great if every new building provided more energy than it consumed, so new construction actually reduced the overall power demand in a neighborhood or region instead of increasing the demand? Some people are already doing it, and their making it easier for you and your friends and family to exist and prosper.  

What if architecture added resources instead of consuming them? Why don't we make that our goal? If you're interested, I'm happy to walk you through a consultation for your next build to see if sustainability is a worthy investment! Click HERE:

Reinventing the first BRIGHT idea:

Thomas Edison’s 19th century invention of the incandescent light, which has an electric current running through a wire filament and heating it until it starts to glow, has been phased out by federal legislation.

So, what's the right answer for YOUR business? Is it CFLs? LEDs?

You want an energy efficient building - Let these bulbs light the way!

Although they are cheap to produce, incandescent bulbs aren't very energy efficient. Many businesses saw this as being a problem years before government intervention, and initially replaced them with the compact fluorescent lamp (CFLs), which has an electric current driven through a tube containing argon and a small amount of mercury vapor.  

Now, the trend in lighting is focusing on the use of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material.

1. WHY LED

LEDs provide light nearly equivalent in quality and color to the old incandescent bulbs, while offering both efficiency and lifetime improvements over CFLs. For example:

• CFLs usually take some time after switching them on for them to become fully bright
• Disposing of CFLs is cumbersome due to the environmentally harmful mercury they contain
• While some people see the fact that LEDs only emit light in a specific direction and may not spread as evenly CFLs, this directness allows for more efficient light and energy use
• They also are completely programmable and will allow for smarter management of lighting in your building

2. Why Not LED

The drawback to LED lighting, for the moment, is sticker shock. A typical LED bulb can cost more than $20. CFLs are certainly cheaper, but the good news is that the rapidly evolving LED technology is coming down in price.

MORE LIKE THIS: Green Building Materials You Probably Don't Know About

3. How Energy Efficient Are They?

Although once known mainly for indicator and traffic lights, LEDs in white light, general illumination applications are one of today's most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing technologies.  

According to ENERGY STAR, CFLs use 25-35% less energy than incandescent bulbs, but if you really want to make the biggest environmental impact, choosing LEDs is the way to go. Some LEDs, especially those rated by ENERGY STAR, use 75% less energy than incandescent lighting.

But energy efficiency isn't just about how much electricity it takes for them to be effective... what about lifespan? The less we have to manufacture, the less energy we use there too!

The average life span of a LED bulb is 50,000 hours and the CFL bulb lasts an average of 8,000 hours. Your incandescent bulbs? 1,200 hours.

4. Big Picture Implications

According to the Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lighting in industrial and commercial buildings accounts for close to 71 percent of overall lighting electricity use in the U.S. and consumes nearly 35 percent of the electricity used in the nation's commercial buildings - and still much of this lighting is comprised of those inefficient linear fluorescents

Among all energy efficient measures available to a commercial facility, lighting is one of the biggest energy hogs, so making changes here offers the shortest payback and strongest return on investment over any other change you could make with your existing structure (followed closely by HVAC measures).

5. Other ways it's awesome

They're cool:

LEDs emit very little heat. In contrast, CFLs release about 80% of their energy as heat, according to Energy.gov. Incandescent bulbs can reach temperatures of over 330 degrees Fahrenheit! But LEDs operate at a cool 87 degrees. Savings here can be seen in the amount of A/C your business uses in order keep the work environment cool.

They create value:

Converting an existing building to LED lighting or installing LED lighting in a new building creates a compelling value proposition for the building owner. Along with reduced electricity consumption and lower cooling costs, the economics of LED lights can result in recovery of the cost of the investment in less than one year in some cases. LED fixtures can now generate more lumens per watt, meaning more bang for your buck.

Maintenance is cheaper:

There are hidden savings in maintenance costs. Many LED fixtures are rated for lifetimes upward of 100,000 hours, without any need for maintenance.

You hate paying taxes:

And did I mention Tax Rebates? Yes, there are deductions for Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings through a program called 179D. The IRS needs a certification that a licensed engineer or contractor can provide to you by using a software program that is approved by the IRS for making the 179D energy savings calculation.

This tax deduction is based upon your building’s square footage, so the bigger the building, the bigger the potential savings.

6. How to get started

There are many factors to consider when you plan a conversion of an existing facility. A conversion can range from simple lamp replacement to complete fixture retrofit and is highly dependent on your overall goals.

If you feel the need, there are lighting design companies available to help you once you make a decision to convert your building LED lighting.  There are also calculators online to assist you with determining your ROI. In many cases, LED solid-state lighting (SSL) will work with conventional wiring and dimmers.

You should make sure the LED lighting is compatible with your emergency lighting requirements, and you may want to phase its installation in your building. LEDs are more efficient at directing light where it is needed and often do not require a one-to-one trade-off.  That said, a slower conversion may be best in order to ensure that your end result meets your expectations regarding user experiences.

CONCLUSION:

It’s hard to beat the value offered by modern LEDs. Not only are their prices getting more affordable every day, they also last up to decades longer than the competition.  

Speaking of competition, our firm can help you become a competitive differentiator by having a LEED certified building.  According to the USGBC, US Green Building Council, LEED-certified buildings that have lower operating costs and better indoor environmental quality are more attractive to a growing group of corporate, public and individual clients.

Owners of green buildings reported that their ROI improved by 19.2% on average for existing building green projects and 9.9% on average for new projects.  LEED-certified buildings are also demonstrating increased recruitment and retention rates and increased productivity benefits for employers.

Schedule a free consultation today!

Change is coming:

If you do not yet sense an urgency for change, you will soon.

Sure, there's market resistance, and there will continue to be, and so far, it doesn't seem to have moved very fast. But that's because the market will only transform so fast without a crisis.

The sweet spot for now may be where both sides are angry:  The market is uncomfortable with the required rate of change, and those that understand the current and pending risks are angry that change is not happening fast enough.  

The question today: Why do something different?  We are all pretty good at what we do, so why change?

When the risk of NOT changing exceeds the risks of change, change becomes inevitable... so long as everybody sees and believes it. 

Change involves risk and creates tension, so we must keep that in mind.

Currently we face many threats and opportunities

• Climate Change: The Planet is stressed
• Carbon
• Population Increase: 7+ billion people now
• Geo-Political Risk
• Cost of energy
• Government taking Action (codes)
• Long term performance
• Eco Systems provide basic services

Rewards also exist for those who are proactive, not reactive.

• Increase profits
• Access to natural resources
• Access to Capital
• Efficient management of resources

Climate change is like the internet.  It arrived one day, gets bigger every year, and shows no signs that it will ever go away. It's transformed industries, created new ones, and impacted EVERYBODY... Just like climate change.

The goals of 2030 Architecture

Net Zero Energy is a path that began with the establishment of a base line of energy use/efficiency standard set in 2003.  The path goes from 2003 to 2030, and the point is to incrementally reduce the energy use of buildings, shifting to the use of fossil free energy, and having all new buildings be carbon neutral by 2030.  

Energy Codes have improved efficiency requirements by about 40% since 1985, and within that window, the large bulk of the change (36%) happened since the first efficiency standards were set in 2003.  

So, codes have taken us about 1/3 of the way to our 2030 goal, which is a good start, but we're already 48% of the way to the deadline.

How does one achieve NET ZERO? (Carbon Neutral Building)

Step 1:  

Design a building that uses 60%-80% less energy than a minimal code compliant building.

Step 2:

Provide fossil free fuel energy for the remaining energy needs.

Simple, right?  The playbook to get to net zero is widely accepted and a proven, successful approach. But reducing energy consumption by 70-80% and maintaining comfort is not accomplished by simply tweaking the way we have always designed and built buildings.

However, a fully integrated, thoughtful and intentional design IS.   

Out of these two areas for improvement, we can directly impact the first, which is energy efficiency. Two, we continue to put pressure on legislative support for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Even with minimal increases in the latter, we can go a long way when building design is driving the change.

(MORE LIKE THIS: Does the Cost of Solar Energy Outweigh the Benefits?)

The current 2030 goal is 70% reduction in 2016:

Since 2003, we have seen an increase in energy efficiency requirements, including one of the most recent in 2014. The graphic below shows the steady improvement of the Energy Codes over the past 30 years.

(Graphic above provided by US Green Building Council)

LEED will always try to stay ahead of the building codes. The next graphic shows this pretty clearly.  

(Graphic provided by US Green Building Council)

As the codes improve, LEED changes it base line criteria to be more stringent to stay ahead of the curve. In my opinion, this kind of pressure is helpful in driving better legislation, which drastically improves our chances for success.

Green Building codes and green rating system standards are gradually incorporated into the code requirements for all buildings. Eventually (ideally by 2030), the code will require all to be net zero energy buildings, which will mean that new buildings will have zero carbon impact to the environment based on energy usage.

Currently, we are developing new buildings that have less negative impact than in prior years, which is fine for starting, but "less bad" isn't where we want to settle. Why not move toward developing buildings that have a positive impact on the environment?

Examples of Net Zero Buildings & Net Zero Ready Projects:

Audubon Visitors Center - Sarasota, FL (FULL GALLERY)

Cancer Support Community - Sarasota, FL (FULL GALLERY)

Sun N Fun Wellness Center - Sarasota, FL (FULL GALLERY)

HGTV Green Home 2009 - Port St. Lucie FL (FULL GALLERY)

Kashi by the River - Sebastian, FL

RESOURCES

2030 Challenge

www.architecture2030.org

NZEB

www.living-future.org/netzero

New Buildings Institute

http://newbuildings.org

US Green Building Council

www.usgbc.org

Want to know more about designing for Net Zero?

Schedule a free consultation or download this great ebook on how to design a green home:

How much does it cost to turn the sun into electricity, and is it worth it for my Florida building?

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, a typical residential system should lower your electric bills by 25% to 50%. The a verage household pays about $110 a month for electricity, according to the Energy Department, so a solar-panel system should save you between $300 and $600 a year.

Not bad....

Finding such savings and a shorter payback time than I expected when I first started looking into the subject, led me to doing further research on the use of solar panels for residential energy in sunny Florida.

However, doing so opened a can of political worms I was hoping to avoid, because it turns out that our laws are tilting the scales in ways people don't realize.

MORE LIKE THIS: How to Choose a Solar Power System for your Home or Business

Why squander potential like this?

Sunny Florida has plenty of solar energy potential so why haven't we adopted a more aggressive stance on generating our own clean, affordable power?  We're at a great advantage because of where we are, as there are no excessively long payback periods for installation of solar panels in sunny southern states.

Something is holding us back.... But what?

It was interesting to find that Florida ranks third for solar potential according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Florida, but only placed between 14th and 18th (research varies) on the list of largest solar installers. (resource)

The payback period:

If you live in a state where the cost for electricity is in the higher rate tiers, the payback can be as little as 2-4 years.  However, it should be noted that the time-frame will vary greatly depending on the size of your system, the cost of your system, and future swings in local electricity costs.

Florida happens to be a state where we are slightly above the average price per kilowatt hour when compared to other states, so it's a little quicker for us.

The Argument against solar

Utility companies have been saying residential solar systems cost them money because solar owners pay less in monthly electricity bills, yet expect their utility to step in and deliver power whenever their system doesn’t, which puts unexpected stress on their systems.

Solar advocates, on the other hand, say residential solar systems save utilities money by taking pressure off the electrical grid.

So, who do we listen to, and who are our elected officials supporting? And, is it any surprise that those making money off of our dependence on non-renewable energy sources are advocating against solar?

Not to me, but I kept digging anyway.

How to reduce up-front costs

Although payback for installing solar panels is becoming more affordable all the time, small systems still remain too expensive for most homeowners and businesses. Cheap electricity from fossil fuels and nuclear power gives property owners less reason to buy a system.

In some states, solar companies lease panels to consumers so they avoid the up-front costs of the panels.  

And, actually, I found data that covered four-fifths of the United State's solar capacity in 2014, and it stated that almost two-thirds of residential solar systems were owned by a third-party solar company. (resource)

HOW POLICY IS TILTING THE SCALES:

Surprisingly, Florida hasn’t opened the door to these kinds of third-party ownership arrangements, which means we don't have the same kind of access to clean energy as the states that do.

We actually have legislation that directly opposes it. Under the Florida Constitution, only utilities can sell directly to consumers.

In addition to not having access directly because of the financial implications, it also means that landlords of commercial and residential buildings who have installed solar panels on the roofs of their properties cannot sell the electricity to their tenants.

It's clear to me that our current regulations are hampering deployment of solar in Florida, which is incredibly frustrating for somebody who has dedicated their career to implementing sustainable design.

Think about it... How many people do you know who are renting their homes? And do you realize how many commercial buildings there are that lease space to their tennants (hint: it's pretty much ALL of them)?

What else our state is not doing

Florida Power and Light (FPL) offers rebates to residential customers who implement certain energy efficiency improvements in eligible homes. There are HVAC rebates and incentives for upgrading ceiling or roof insulation, or installing a reflective roof.

Strangely, though, there are no state rebates for solar panels in Florida.

There are, however, Federal Income Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency that includes solar generated energy.  Tax credits for Solar Energy Systems are available at 30% through December 31, 2019.

If you have a pool, however...

That takes us to Plan B: Solar panels for swimming pools.  There are approximately 800,000 swimming pools (including above-ground) in Florida, and most of them must be heated during the cooler months to maintain comfortable swimming conditions.

An unheated pool will stay generally at about the average outdoor temperature, which may be in the 50’s during the winter months here in Sarasota.  For most people comfortable pool water temperatures are 78°F to 82°F in spring and fall and 76°F to 78°F in winter.

Average yearly cost for heating a residential pool in Florida is $1,450 using electrical resistance, $500 using an electric heat pump, and $580 using natural gas. Liquid propane would cost the same as electrical resistance. (resource)

A typical solar heating system costs from $2,000 to $4,000 installed. Costs vary based upon the ease of installation, type of financing, location of pool in north or south, length of pool season desired and building code requirements.

The good news, compared with average fossil fuel heating, a solar pool heater offers a favorable payback of 1.5 to 7 years. In addition, the solar pool heating industry in Florida is mature. It has numerous distributors and contractors and a track-record of over 20 years of experience, and with proper care a system can last you 10 to 15 years.

Schedule a free sustainable design consultation

CONCLUSION:

Change never comes easy, even when it means saving our species from extinction. But we must take steps that lead us to total sustainability, or we won't be able to reverse the calamities caused by our dependence on limited and polluting energy sources.

I say that we should make some noise and make these issues known to our elected officials, so they know we're serious about enacting change that will benefit ALL of us.

Meanwhile, please enjoy a relaxing dip in your solar powered pool!

Interested in learning more about green home design? Check out this handy ebook my firm published about why it's an absolute MUST:

I was in attendance at the International Living Futures Institute’s (ILFI) Living Futures 2016 conference in Seattle the week of May 9, 2016.  It was an amazing gathering of leaders in sustainability.  

One of the keynote addresses was given by Ed Mazria, Founder and CEO of 2030 Architecture and of the 2030 Challenge. The imperative that he spoke about is that we reach zero net carbon emissions for all new buildings by 2030 and for ALL buildings by 2050.  He spoke about how not only is it important, but it's an absolutely necessity for the survival of our species.

Many see it as a bold plan, because it simply won't accept business as usual in the built environment, but not us, because we know for a fact that these goals are attainable, and they're just the things that motivate us every single day.

This got me thinking:  What do we need to be doing, as architects in Florida, to stay on track to meet the 2030 Challenge? 

It's a road already built:

2030 Architecture has a detailed plan to get us to net zero carbon emissions in the built environment.  Their web site states, “The Roadmap to Zero Emissions is a flexible plan that sets out the emissions reduction targets necessary in the building sector worldwide to avert dangerous and irreversible climate change, including the actions and financing instruments needed to reach the targets.”

The target of Architecture 2030 and of the COP21 held in Paris last December and just recently ratified, is to hold global temperature rise under 1.5% Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), and to avoid exceeding 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees F) of temperature rise at all cost.  Any scenario of 2 degrees Celsius is uncontrollable, leading us to the point where it cannot be stopped.

Find the roadmap here

http://architecture2030.org/initiatives/roadmap-to-zero/

Calculating Our Goals:

The current 2030 goal in 2016 is 70% reduction of carbon emissions below the base line set for buildings in 2003.

I have done some research, with some help from some experts, (thanks TLC Engineering for Architecture  http://www.tlc-engineers.com) and this is how I think we need to meet the 2030 challenge TODAY, based on the requirements of the current Florida building code (FEC).  

• The 2014 Florida Building Code (FEC) is based on the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which in turn is based on ASHRAE STD 90.1-2010 (the new LEED v4 benchmark).
• The Architecture 2030 folks, working with the AIA 2030 Commitment, have determined that a building that meets the 2012 IECC can be expected to operate at 40% less energy than the 2030 Challenge baseline (coming from the 2003 CBEC survey of existing commercial buildings) building.  So, if a baseline building has an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of 100 kbtu/sf/yr, then the 2014 FEC/2012 IECC code minimum building would be about 60 kbtu/sf/yr.

The current 2030 goal of a 70% reduction of the 100 kbtu/sf/yr baseline example means that a building that meets that goal would use no more than 30 kbtu/sf/yr (including energy cost reductions and any on- or near-site renewable production).

Plans:

So the short answer to my question is that in order to meet the current 2030 goal, a building would have to use 50% less energy than a minimally compliant 2014 FEC/2012 IECC building.

There you have it.  We know what we need to do.  Now we need to go out and do it.  

Why Carbon:

Sustainable building design requires a well balanced approach that takes many factors into consideration, not just energy use and carbon emissions, but I wanted to focus this blog on Carbon emissions to highlight its importance.  

You may remember Carlson Studio had its big year end party in celebration of COP21, and we did it on the day of the conference designated as “Buildings Day” December 3, 2015, because anything that has to do with saving our planet from irreversible distruction is something we celebrate. After all, this stuff is engrained in us.

Click here to receive a free green building consultation of your own:

To learn more about the International Living Future Institute, start here:

http://living-future.org/

To learn more about Buildings Day at COP21 start here:

http://web.unep.org/climatechange/buildingsday

Well... Do you want to be green, or do you want to be GREEN?

A green building consultant specializes in sustainable design and LEED certified projects. They may also have expertise in other green building rating systems and Energy Star.

For inexperienced project teams, the consultant can lead the entire team through the entire process. For more experienced teams the consultant may assist with any aspect of the project; from establishing sustainability goals at a project kick off meeting to documentation in the LEED online system when construction is completed.

Basically, a green building consultant will either make or break your project.

Basic requirements:

The first key to success is to look for a company that has experience working with the LEED family of certification products including, New Construction (NC), Commercial Interiors (CI), Core & Shell (CS), Schools, Homes, and Existing Buildings (EB&OM) that fits the scope of your project.

It's helpful if they have experience in all of those areas, because it means they're exposed to a lot more, which may prove to be useful for you. Either way, look for a company that has LEED Accredited Professionals on staff. The firm itself cannot be LEED Accredited, but the people performing the work can be.

What your Eco Consultant can do for you:

Facilitate early design “Eco-Charrette(s)” establish sustainability goals

This is a dynamic and interactive “workshop” or brain storming session or sessions where the entire project team gets together and determines then plans the key elements of the project. (Get more from Carlson on this by clicking HERE)

Establish Owners Project Requirements

This is a written document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project.

Basis of Design documentation

This includes design information necessary to accomplish the owner’s requirements, including system descriptions, indoor environmental quality criteria, assumptions, and references to applicable codes, standards, regulations and guidelines.

Preliminary LEED Checklist evaluation

Use the checklist as a tool to evaluate all aspects of the design

LEED Project registration

An on line process to register the project with GBCI and gain access to the credit templates and complete certification process.

Specification review and assistance

The consultant should have experience writing specs and directing the contractor on how to document the credits that they will be responsible to document.   

Design Consulting

If the consultant has architects on staff, they can help integrate the sustainable design concepts into the building design.    The key here is to let the green building design goals inform the design form the start.  A critical mistake that is often made by project teams is to come up with a design for the building and then try apply green features to the design to chase credits.

Document review at each phase

It is important to check your progress against the certification criteria at each step of the way including schematic design, design development and construction documents.  The process continues during the construction phase in the shop drawing process and final documentation at the end of construction.

LEED Certification Documentation

This is an on line process that the entire project team will need to participate in.  It is important that the effort be led by someone who has experience.

Public Relations and marketing support for LEED projects

Green projects have great stories to tell.  Tell your story with the help of an expert in marketing and public relations.

Integrated Design Process

The consultant may lead integrated design process, bringing all the stake holders of a project together early in the process, to work together for the shared success of the project.  Owners, architects, engineers, contractors, facility mangers, community stakeholders, and building users all can have meaningful contributions to the design and construction process.  

It's important to remember that buildings are not comprised of isolated components or functioning as independent silos. Each system in a building interacts with other systems, the building users, and the environment itself.  Using the integrated design process, and thinking about the “whole system” leverages the complex and complementary interactions of the building components, which leads to synergies between systems and ultimately increased energy and water savings, as well as a more healthy, productive and creative environments to live or work in.  

Sustainability Goals

Each project and client has different sustainability goals.  A good consultant will help you establish those goals and help you understand what is truly important to you for your project.

I have worked with many clients, and they each have a unique combination of sustainability goals for their project. It could be any number of the following:

• A desire to reduce operation and maintenance costs as much as practical while limiting the impact to the first cost of a project
• Maybe net-zero energy is a must
• Maybe increased productivity or a better indoor environmental quality is a high priority

Design features

Lower energy bills lead directly to operational savings and a return on investment that can be calculated and consider by the owner, and compared to the initial construction costs.  

There are many passive design features, such as proper building orientation, an energy efficient building envelope, or the proper use of natural daylight that do not add cost, but have significant performance and cost benefits over the life of a building.   Active systems such as efficient cooling systems, water saving fixtures and photovoltaics all work better when they are integrated into a project that is already doing all the passive and subtle things properly.

CONCLUSION:

Everyone these days is a “green building expert”.  Many have now recognized that the “trend” that they thought would pass is not going away and have recently jumped on board. This dilution has made it a bit challenging to sort through the rif-raff, but if you ask the right questions, you will get the right team.

When evaluating a green building consultant, look at their leadership and commitment. Look at how long the people and company have been involved, and if they are a leader or a follower in this space.

Interested in a free green building design assessment for consultation services? Click HERE to schedule a call with Carlson today!

How green is your favorite candidate?

This year's election is proving to be quite the dramatic showdown. Trump just all but sealed the Republican nomination, and Sanders and Clinton are brawling for every last delegate on the table.

There are a lot of hot button issues too - from building walls across national borders (what an architectural feat that would be), to freedom of religious expression, to our economy, to the dichotomy of lower income earners and the top 1%

But let's not also forget about the climate. Yes, this too has been somewhat of a contentious debate, and the outcome may reshape everything we know about our future, since the President will be leading policy change and very likely decided 4 new Supreme Court Justices if they make it two terms.

That's a pretty big deal for us greenies... and anybody who enjoys living on this rock we call Earth.

So, what do they think about when it comes to the environment?:

I wrote this a few days ago, by the way, before Kasich and Cruz dropped out, but their stances are still very meaningful, and they still hold office.

1. Hillary: the US must act

We'll start with Hillary. She has a commanding lead, and she and Bernie believe in a lot of the same things when it comes to climate change. So, what is she saying about it?

“The science of climate change is unforgiving, no matter what the deniers may say; sea levels are rising, ice caps are melting, storms, droughts and wildfires are wreaking havoc.” - Hillary Clinton, Remarks to the League of Conservation Voters in New York, November 13, 2015

 

“For this generation of Americans, climate change is our Space Race. It is our home-front mobilization during World War II and it is our response to the Great Depression.” - Hillary Clinton November 4, 2007.

2. Bernie: The US must act

Bernie is no stranger to climate change politics either.

“Today, the scientific community is virtually unanimous: climate change is real, it is caused by human activity, and we have a moral responsibility to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy.” - Bernie Sanders, Democratic Presidential Debate, October 13, 2015

 

“...the greatest global crisis that we face,” - Bernie Sanders

 

(MORE LIKE THIS: Evaluating the US/China Climate deal)

3. Cruz: It's a myth

“The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming... The satellites that actually measure the temperature showed no significant warming whatsoever ... Climate change is the perfect pseudoscientific theory for a big government politician who wants more power. Why? Because it is a theory that can never be disproven.” - Ted Cruz, NPR interview, December 9, 2015

“Climate change is not science, it's religion,” Ted Cruz, Glenn Beck interview October 2015.

 

4. Trump: IT'S A MYTH

“Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax!” Donald Trump, Tweet, January 29, 2014

“I don’t believe in climate change,” Donald Trump, CNN interview. September 2015

 

5. Kasich: Well...

“I think that human beings do affect the climate... We have to take our time to have remedies.” - John Kasich, NPR Living On Earth program, January 24, 2016

“We are going to continue to work on cleaning coal, but I want to tell you, we are going to dig it, we are going to clean it, and we are going to burn it in Ohio, and we are not going to apologize for it.” John Kasich, May 20, 2012

 

6. Nasa: science!

I realize NASA isn't running for president, but they do have an opinion on the issue that might help some of you naysayers or those on the fence about this issue...

“Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position”

“Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

 

So at least there is clarity out there. The candidates are clear on their positions (except maybe John Kasich) and the science is clear. We can measure the level of the oceans, the temperature of the planet and carbon dioxide. We can compare it to previous data we have gathered. We can now observe the effects of our warming planet. Have we become a society that does not care what it leaves to the next generation (or the next 7 generations)?

CONCLUSION:

I often look to Neil deGrasse Tyson for perspective in the madness. You have probably heard this already. He says, “The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”

Sustainable building design (get the free ebook about green home design by Carlson Studio) can a play a big part in solving the climate issues we face. Buildings use about 48% of all the energy in the US (from architecture2030.org). Transportation uses about 27%.

Energy use directly impacts CO2 emissions, given our current infrastructure that typically burns fossil fuel to create energy. As we now know, there options to create energy without CO2 emissions. Sources of energy such Hydroelectric, solar, wind, geo thermal, etc. can all help the main made environment become more sustainable. And that is just the energy part. Sustainable design, if done properly, can improve water conservation, improve human health and happiness, conserve resources and materials and have a gentle impact on the building site.

As Katherine Hayhoe told us at Green Build 2014 in New Orleans, there will be some level of adaption to climate change and some level of suffering. Our actions are coming too late to eliminate all suffering. We get to choose how much change and how much suffering us and future generations will be exposed to. http://katharinehayhoe.com/ She is also very hopeful, as am I.

What will the voters decide? What will you decide?

Interested in doing your part beyond voting? How about a free consultation about green design or LEED consulting? Our team of talented architects and eco consultants at Carlson Studio Architecture are here to help!

What are some green building materials that many builders are unaware of?

We could probably spend this and several more blogs discussing what green materials actually are, but I will let you decide that, and get on with some of the materials we have been using over the past 15 years in our sustainable design work.

This comes after receiving a lot of great direct feedback from posting this article by Peter Hortsman on the same subject (Must-Have Construction Material Made from Recyclables by Carlson Studio Architecture).

Building materials are constantly being improved or replaced with better materials, and because the modern sustainable building industry in the United States has been around for a couple of decades now, we have great materials that are already proven, and I'm going to share some of those that are a little less commonly known but very good for our planet.

How we got here:

What we have seen, beginning with the launch of the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED V2.0 green building rating system, is that manufactures are addressing this market sector in so many ways, both for the homeowner and the professional.

For example, back in 2002 when we tried to specify products that recycled content, or low VOC’s, the manufacturer’s themselves did not have that information available to their sales force. More than a decade later, however, this has changed. Now this information is published in all the product specs, and you can even buy sustainable building materials at your local Lowes or Home Depot store.

But educate yourself before you shop, because there is still a lot of green washing out there, and just because a label leads you to believe it's good for the planet, that doesn't mean it actually is!

1. Your Walls

First, let’s look at how we build a wall.  Historically, our 2 options have typically been wood-framed (sometimes called stick framed), or concrete block (CMU). Today, however, we have so many more choices that provide a higher performing, proven building envelope, such as:

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF):

ICFs are over-sized, Styrofoam blocks that get filled with reinforcing steel (rebar) and concrete to create a very strong, tightly sealed, and well-insulated wall system. They will arrive as individual “Lego” style blocks and are assembled on-site.  They may also be used for foundation walls if there is a basement. Some examples of ICF systems include:

• Quad-Lock  http://www.quadlock.com
• Fox Block http://www.foxblocks.com/  

We used Fox Block on our design for the 2009 HGTV Green Home project in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs):

SIPs are a panelized wall system, filled with rigid foam with a skin on both sides of either wood, such as oriented strand board (OSB, is an engineered wood particle board formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands) or an aluminum skin. This wall is also very strong, tightly sealed, and well-insulated.

It is typically manufactured off-site and is delivered as panels already sized and shaped to create the design. (like a 3D puzzle with all the pieces numbered) Our favorite:

• Murus - for more info on SIPs at http://www.murus.com/

We used Murus SIPS on our Birch Haven Residence green building design in Michigan.

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC):

AACs come in both panels and blocks:

• (see http://www.cement.org/think-harder-concrete-/homes/building-systems/autoclaved-aerated-concrete)

Straw Bale construction (just like it sounds)

Wood Chip Cement:

• forms like Faswall (http://faswall.com), which is a bit like an ICF, but the forms are made of wood chips.

We used AAC panels and blocks on our LEED Gold certified office project, Twin Lakes Park.

Say "no" to particle board:

Particle Board is one of the nastiest things you can put into your office or home. It is full of VOCs, and Urea Formaldehyde. Particle Board can off-gas these chemicals into your home or office for a year after they are installed! There are better options now:

• Skyblend Particle Board is a good option http://www.roseburg.com/Product/skyblend-particleboard/
• Columbia Forest Products http://www.columbiaforestproducts.com/resources/green-products-or-green-standards/# makes plywood, particle boards and veneers that are a healthy alternative to the old particle boards you are familiar with

2. Your Flooring

Flooring is another amazing topic, because there are so many great options available to us, and this is where great strides can be made in your quest for green.

• Bamboo is a rapidly renewable, hardwood flooring system.  (You can also make cabinets from bamboo plywood).
• Cork is a wonderful flooring system that is easy on your feet, and soft on the acoustics in the space as well. Cork flooring is available in both commercial and residential grades.
• Carpet tile is a great choice for many reasons. It can be made from recycled materials such as plastic soda bottles. It can be reclaimed at the end of its life and recycled into new carpet, and if an area gets damaged, only the damaged tiles need to be replaced.  We use it almost anytime we specify carpet.

3. Everywhere else

So many green materials and so little time…  Here are some more materials you may not know about.

• Ceramic tile made with recycled glass
• Spray Foam insulation (instead of using fiberglass batts)
• FSC Certified wood products: Forest Stewardship Council, https://us.fsc.org/en-us
• Greenguard Certified products- http://greenguard.org/en/index.aspx
• Find products at http://productguide.ulenvironment.com/QuickSearch.aspx
• Cradle to Cradle products-  http://www.c2ccertified.org/
• Find products at http://www.c2ccertified.org/products/registry

It is not hard to find good green materials. Rely on those good third party, independent agencies to help you along and point you in the right direction. Put your money where your month is and support the companies that make healthy and sustainable products. If your favorite brands are not doing the right thing, ask them to.

There is no need to take a chance on an unproven product these days, unless you enjoy being an early adopter.  And, of course, when it is time to design your new home or office, work with an architect that has decades of experience evaluating and using the best green materials in your area.  

CONCLUSION:

Green building materials can be many things. Depending on your personal definition, that could mean they are local or regional, they have recycled content, they are easily recycled at end for life, they are non-toxic and low chemical, they conserve water or energy, and I'm sure you can continue adding to that list.

Everyday items that you may not think of as green often have a green option that is readily available. Things like paints, caulks, adhesives, glues, stains, and sealants all have low VOC (Volatile Organic compounds), low toxic, low chemical options.  Many are off the shelf.  Some you may need to order.  

Whatever you do, do everything you can to keep VOCs out of your home and office.

Interested in learning more about how to incorporate green into the build of your next home or commercial building? Set up a free consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

What important components should one use to sell Their BOD on a green Commercial building design ?

So, you find yourself in an organization that needs to build facilities, and you have heard about green buildings or you already understand the benefits a green facility can provide, but you need to convince those higher up in your organization to consider the idea.  

                              What do you do?

Let's assess:

The only reason NOT to do a green building is if your organization wants to build the absolute cheapest first cost building it possibly can, and the organization does not want to own it for very long after it is built.

It is best to call a spade a spade and get on with your life. I don’t have a case I can make for you that will move that mountain. I don't mean to sound skeptical, but I've seen this conversation before, and it doesn't usually end well.

Don't go it alone

If this is not the case, my first suggestion is PASS THE BUCK!  Get in touch with an architect who knows what they are doing, has been designing green buildings for decade or 2, and have them help with the pitch. Trust me- they have heard it all before, and they want you to win the battle!

Or do... if you insist! 

It is important to find out what motivates the decision makers.

• Are they a bottom line type, and care about saving or making money as their first priority?
• Do they see the value in happy and productive employees (People)?
• Do they care about their children’s future and their community, locally and/or globally (Planet)?  

Some may be motivated by more than one aspect, but one is typically dominate in the decision-making process. Once you understand where they are coming from you are half-way home.

Cater to what motivates them

Profit (making and saving money) is probably the easiest one to address.Green buildings by design use a lot less energy and water than with typical code-minimum designed buildings. After all, saving energy and water saves money.

One may even want to spend a little bit extra in the construction cost to save even more money in the long run. This return on investment (ROI) is straightforward and easy to calculate. For example, if it takes 5 years to pay back the extra cost to create more energy savings, which is a 20% annual ROI. Not bad, huh? It's very likely to be MUCH better than any other investment the organization is making in the market, so why not?

Other ways of saving or making money include using materials that are easy to maintain and are long lasting (lowering operating costs), and increasing productivity of your employees (more on this below).

Resale is also a consideration. Green certified buildings are typically worth about 5% more than non-certified buildings.

“People” is likely the next best way to make the pitch. Do the decision-makers understand productivity, job satisfaction, attracting and retaining employees?

Do you know that 95% of the cost of a typical office building over its lifetime is the cost of the employees that work in the facility based on their salaries?  Increases in productivity are huge, and LEED certified buildings have been proven to increase productivity.

This will make the profit motivated people really happy too! As noted by the International Well Building Institute, even a small increase in productivity makes a big difference in the bottom line. Healthy, non-toxic, naturally day-lit interior spaces (the things that increase productivity) also make people happy and healthy, which improves job satisfaction and reduces absenteeism.

IE - Everybody wins!

The best companies compete for the best employees and need an advantage over other company’s recruiting efforts, and sustainable design is perfect for this, and a very attractive quality to Millennials.

And finally, the “Planet." The planet is stressed, and we have to stop ignoring that.

To be clear, when I say "planet" I really mean how people will be impacted by the things that we're doing to the planet. The Earth will be fine with or without us. It will make self-corrections and move on. It's already doing that, actually, in response to our abusive behaviors.

Does your BOD wish the organization to exist for many generations? Do they want to make the world a better place for their children? Do they want to lessen their impact on the environment?Can they see their role in the big picture?

I think many organizations can and want to say yes to these questions, but they might need to be reminded of the bigger picture from time to time.

Tie it to the cause

Everything about green design and LEED certification assists with these goals. In addition to the qualities of green design listed in the Profit and People categories above, an organization can do its share to make the planet better when by doing things like reducing construction waste, using materials that have a low carbon footprint, buying materials with recycled content and low chemical content, buying local and regional materials (LEED says that is within 500 miles), and using less materials- such as not building any more space than one needs.

CONCLUSION:

Think globally, act locally; be the change you desire.

Find out what motivates the decision-makers, and understand that green design has a way to make them happy. Once you know what your organization is thinking, and why, connect the dots back to the strengths of green building design that fortifies their existing beliefs.

Want help pitching your green design idea to the powers that be? Schedule a free consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

What are some systems for solar power generation that I should consider?

People come to our firm for green design because it's a very personal mission of ours to contribute to the sustainability of our planet and the preservation of our species. We also design beautiful buildings, if I do say so myself...

So, it's not all that uncommon to get questions about how to include solar power, our abundant and clean resource, in the overall design.

First some basics:

Solar panels (aka Photovoltaic Panels, aka PV) make electricity from the sun. They produce DC power, like batteries, which can be used directly to charge your electric car, stored in a large battery system, or be converted to AC power and used directly in your home or business.

The cost of PV has been dropping steadily for the past decade. Our first PV install was in 2003, and the cost was round 11 cents per watt.  Now PV is running around 3.5 cents per watt, and even less for larger installations

Here are some other useful facts that will help you narrow in on the right system for you.

1. Battery vs AC vs Net Metering

Battery storage is not required, and although battery storage systems are getting better, technology still needs improvement. You may have heard of the Powerwall, by Tesla. It is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery product for home or small commercial use. It stores electricity for consumption, load shifting, and backup power.  

Converting the DC power to AC and using the power directly is still the best option. Net metering is also very helpful, but eligibility varies greatly depending on the location of the property. Ideally, net metering is provided by your local power company and allows you to sell the power you make back into the grid at the same price that you pay to buy power from the power company.

Be aware- Sometimes the utility company sells electricity at one rate but buys is back at lower rate. Since many power companies are monopolies, and exist for the benefit of their shareholders, not their customers, you need to check with your local utility to determine if they have a net metering option, and exactly what the details are.   A good net metering program allows you to use the utility grid as your "battery" to store the excess power you make on site.  

If you have true net metering (1:1 buy/sell pricing) putting PV on your home or business makes great sense.  If you do not have access to net metering, you want to size your PV system so it makes some or most of power that you need, but does not typically make more power than you would normally use.

Net metering gives you a better opportunity to achieve net zero energy if that is your goal.  You can size your PV system to make more power than you need at some times of the day or year, so you have excess power "stored" in the grid to use when you cannot make all the power that you need, such as in the hottest part of the summer in Florida when your electrical loads are the highest.  

2.New construction

For new construction, considering the price of PV and the rising cost of electricity, the best thing to do is include your PV in your construction budget and install it when the building is constructed. It is a great investment with a strong return.

Can't afford it today, but want to stack the deck in your favor?

The next best thing is to set up your new building to be solar ready.  This means positioning the building so it can gather the sun when PV panels are installed in the future. Provide South facing, sloping roofs that are set up for panels to be installed later.  A standing seam metal roof is best for mounting, but other roofs can be accommodated.

If your building design wants to have a flat roof, be sure there are no other structures on the building that could prevent the sun from shining directly on the roof, such as stair tower, tall parapet walls, etc.  Of course your roofs will be light in color to reflect the heat of the sun, but that topic was covered in an earlier blog (Green roofing system selection by Carlson Studio Architecture). Typically, proper "solar ready" orientation will tend to create a building that has it long sides facing North and south, with it short sides facing east and west.  

Roofs oriented within 15 degrees of due south are recommend in the LEED for Homes criteria. The Birch Haven residence designed by Carlson Studio in southwestern lower Michigan is a good example of setting the home up properly for solar panels.  The site boundaries were oriented 35 degrees west of due south.

This was less than optimum, so we created a design that allowed the main roof of the home to be facing only 15 degrees west of due south, while the interior of the home was still aligned with the site boundaries to take full advantage of the build-able area of the site and the views.  And, we included the PV panels into the construction budget, so a 7KW PV system is about to be installed on the roof as the project is nearing completion.  

And if you're thinking about the long-term value of your investment, you should know that buildings that are"solar ready" are going to be worth more than those that are not, as noted by this study by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and personalized to your situation with this PV home value calculator by SolarSimplified.org.

3. Existing Buildings

For existing buildings, everything discussed above still applies, but you may have been dealt a less than ideal situation based on your building's orientation. Hopefully you did not just buy a home or office building with no way to retrofit solar panels onto it.

Get together with your experienced sustainable architect (Carlson) and have them evaluate the possibilities for your existing building.  The panels are lightweight, so most existing structures can support them, and wiring from the roof to the electrical room is just being able to get the conduit runs to work through the existing building.  

CONCLUSION:

PV panels can last 25 years of longer. The initial payback ROI can be as short as 5-10 years, depending on your net metering options, and the cost of your electricity. There is still a 30% Federal tax credit available too.  And the cost of energy is rising.

Of course, our planet is also wasting away with the excessive usage of fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources. Now is the time to get PV on your home or office building, or at the very least, set yourself up to succeed and save money in the near future by being prepared to add PV at any time.

Interested in learning more? Set up a free green architectural design consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

“What is a good process for selecting a general contractor?” - It's something we hear a lot

It's also one of the most important questions you can and should be asking about your upcoming build, because not every contractor is the same. They can make your project if they share your vision and goals, or break it if they are rowing in a different direction or don't have the right kind of experience.

So, I thought I would help you out by sharing four important steps to the GC selection process. Keep in mind as you read these how important building the right foundation is to any kind of successful build.

1: When to hire

Timing is really important when it comes to hiring your contractor, because you want them involved early in the design process, as soon as you know you have a viable project. They should actually be your second stop after hiring your design team.

Why hire so early? Well, it's important to have the contractor on board to accomplish the integrated design process. It's also important to get the entire project team together early so everyone can work together to achieve optimum results.  

Many smart heads are better than one, after all, and there is a big advantage to the project when the people who are going to build it participate in the design process and understand why the design is the way it is and why the decision to have it that way was reached.

2: Go for experience 1st, not low bid

Select your contractor based on their experience, not by low bid. Remember, it is early in the process and the project design is not fully developed. You don’t want to hire a GC based on a lower price quoted up front before they understand the details of the project. That's just askin' for trouble.

3: Ask for help & get to the fees

Ask your design team and others you trust for names of good contractors.  Interview about 3-4 GCs that seem like a good fit for your project.  (If you invite too many contractors they will become less interested.

It is important that each gets a fair chance to compete for the work. A 1:3 or 1:4 chance is more appealing than a 1:10 chance if you were to invite that many contractors for interviews).

Talk to them about their related experience, how they structure and charge for the pre-construction services phase, how they do cost estimating early in the process, how they approach a project like yours, who will be working on the project from their company, what their insurance coverage is, and what they anticipate for overhead costs (referred to as general conditions).

Make sure you also ask what their fee % will be.  (Their fee is usually a % of the total construction contract or it could be structured as a cost plus arrangement). They can estimate their fee based on a rough estimate of the total cost of construction, and the complexity of the project.

4: Get a pre-construction agreement

Once you pick your General contractor, you'll need to enter into a pre-construction agreement with them.  They will charge you a fee for this service.  If things work out the contractor will often credit back some or all of the fee when you sign the agreement to have them do the actual construction.  

If for some reason the project does not go ahead, the contractor is paid for the work they performed and the process is equitable to everyone.   Should you decide to proceed with the project, but not with the General Contractor that did the pre-construction services, again the contractor is paid for the work they performed and the process is equitable to everyone.  This is why you sign a pre-construction agreement early in the process, but not the contract for the full and complete construction.

Hiring your General Contractor to do Pre-construction Services during the design process makes those who will actually build the project part of the project development team as well.  They will typically provide cost estimating, and assist the owner and design team in understanding cost implications of various design decisions.  They can develop the construction schedule in conjunction with the estimating.   They can even bring in key subs, such HVAC contractors to evaluate system options and approaches.

WHY YOUR WALLET WILL THANK YOU: 

Many initially think this approach leads to a lack of competition in the bidding process, and ultimately to higher costs. Using this approach, however, you are still able to get competitive bids. Your general contractor will bid out all the sub-contracts to multiple sub-contractors for each trade needed on the job.

Often, the GC will share all the sub-contractor bids with you and you may decide together who to use.  Remember, you are really trying to get the most value for the price of the work.  You are not looking for the cheapest price if the services performed are substandard in quality or unreliable. 

CONCLUSION:

So, hire your contractor early in the project development, base your decision on quality and experience over low-bid, get input from your design team, use the pre-construction services agreement scope, and utilize your contractor’s knowledge and expertise in building projects like yours.

These early decisions make a huge difference in the end, both in the success of the project and your ability to control costs throughout the build process.

(The Wellness Center incorporates recycled construction materials - See the project by Carlson Studio Architecture)

WHY Recycled Products in Construction

Whether or not you believe that Climate Change is man-made, you cannot deny that the problems associated with trash, specifically plastic, are not caused by Mother Nature.

In an article by Laura Parker in the National Geographic, published Feb 13, 2015, she notes that 8 million tons are dumped into the ocean every year.  This is the equivalent of filling 5 grocery bags with trash and lining them up on EVERY foot of coastline in the entire world! 

As of the year 2014, this was estimated to be a total of 245,000 tons floating in the ocean (source: National Geographic). That doesn’t even account for what is sitting in landfills, lining the side of our highways and roads, or what has been ground up into microplastic and sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

That's a lot of plastic, and quite the mountain of a problem to solve. 

A new way of thinking:

One of the ways that we could help reduce this growth of waste is to make it even more profitable for the waste to be recycled into usable products.  As is happening in the organic food industry, this occurs when the public demands it.  As a start, why not insist that as many construction products as possible are made from recycled products? 

Here are some already in existence that make us very happy. If more people ask about them and insist upon them, then we may be able to reduce the amount of trash AND the amount of manufacturing of products using new material and/or harmful production processes.

Building green, after all, takes more than installing components that help you live with minimal impact on the environment once you've moved in. It also means thinking about the building process itself and incorporating embodied energy whenever and wherever possible.

1. Plasphalt ¹

Asphalt for roads, parking lots, etc., that is made from grains of plastic from unsorted waste that replace the sand and gravel used in regular asphalt.  It has been reported that plasphalt wears better and longer because the asphalt emulsions bond better to the plastic particles than the sand and gravel.

2. Nappy Roofing ¹ 

Roofing tiles made from disposable diapers – yes AFTER they’ve been used!  The organic compounds are removed and the remaining polymer is used to create fiber based construction products such as roof tile.

3. Plastic Blocks ¹

Used plastic bags and plastic packaging (some of our most problem and prolific waste) are placed in a heat mold and compressed to form decorative blocks that can be stacked to make non-load bearing indoor or outdoor room dividers.

4. Composite deck products

Tired of building and rebuilding that outdoor deck because it rots and warps within 5 to 10 years, and has to be constantly recoated – even if it is cypress?  Then look into composite decking, including structure and railings, made from recycled wood and plastic with eco-friendly manufacturing processes.  The slightly higher initial material cost is paid back in the reduction of maintenance and replacement costs.

5. Plastic Floor tile ²

There are plastic floor tiles made from recycled plastic that can be recycled and made into new tiles.  They are also interlocking and not adhered (no VOC’s).

6. Carpeting

A majority of carpet is made from plastic fibers, so why not be sure it is made from recycled plastic fiber?  There are many manufacturer’s that also assure that when it is time to replace the carpet, they will take it back for free and recycle it into new carpeting.  Let’s try to reduce the amount of new plastic that needs to be produced while keeping the existing plastic in circulation.  After all, it is the durability and non-degradable aspects that make it so desirable for flooring in the first place.

7. Plastic Lumber

Tired of termites destroying your home including the structure and the moldings and trim? How about moisture damage and dry rot in humid climates?  There is 100 % plastic lumber that is 90%+ recycled content.  It comes in premium grade products for finished work and trim applications as well as structural grade lumber.

8. PVC Windows ³

Normally not considered a sustainable product, there are European companies that are now producing PVC framed windows that are made from 98% recycled content delivering significant CO2 savings during processing.

CONCLUSION:

And this is just a start of the way that we could keep plastic from sitting in the ocean for the rest of our lifetime let alone the generations after us.  Here at Carlson Studio Architecture,our 14 LEED certified projects including 2 Platinum, and 5 Gold awards, all have a wide variety of materials that are produced with recycled content, such as carpet tiles, gypsum wallboard, metal roofing, hollow metal doors and frames, and linoleum flooring.  Check out such projects as the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, The HGTV Green Home, and the Wellness Community Center, to name a few.

1. http://www.citymetric.com/skylines/9-building-materials-made-entirely-waste-products-932 , 9 building materials made entirely from waste products, as taken from the book Building With Waste, complied by Dirk E. Habel, Marta H Wisniewska, and Felix Heise.
2. http://www.proudgreenhome.com/news/recycled-plastic-flooring-tiles-install-without-smelly-adhesives/ Recycled plastic flooring tiles install without smelly adhesive
3. http://www.bpf.co.uk/sustainable_manufacturing/recycling/The_Worlds_First_100_percent_Recycled_PVC_Window.aspx The World’s First 100% Recycled Content Window

Interested in learning more about designing and constructing a green building? Schedule a free consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

The next phase of evolution for green building design

As you may know, CSA joined the USGBC in 2002 and we have been members ever since.  Our staff began to become individual members of the USGBC when chapters began to be formed in Florida in 2003-2004.  Currently, our entire staff are members or the USGBC Florida Chapter. 

Maybe you've heard… the Florida Chapter is a new USGBC entity, and I have the skinny on why and how it formed.

(Click to visit Carlson Studio Architecture's LEED certified project gallery)

What's new

The 7 existing Chapters of the USGBC have recently merged into one, statewide USGBC chapter. The 7 existing Board of Directors have been dissolved and a single Board of Directors has been appointed, which is made up of one representative from each of the prior existing chapters, and I happen to actually be one of those founding 7 board members, representing the Florida Gulf Chapter.

This is an important step forward, because the existing former chapter boards and the many branches will continue to function, hold elections, and govern themselves as part of the larger organization, but they will be unencumbered by the organizational and administrative functions of running the organization itself. 

What's notable

USGBC Florida currently has 3 paid staff.  The primary mission of the organization remains education, with most of its work in the past focused on sustainable buildings.  Last month, the 7 Board members appointed Four (4) additional board members, to bring the board up to 11 people, and four more will be elected by the Florida Chapter membership in 2016.   

The big picture

It is a critical time in the evolution of the Florida USGBC.  I see this as an opportunity to redefine the organization and make it more effective in delivering its mission.  For me, I participate because I want to have a greater positive impact on sustainability in Florida, beyond my ability to design individual structures in my community, and this gives me greater reach and influence for supporting this great cause.

It also brings more diversity, and creates a board of professionals with much-needed skills.  I feel one key will be to introduce the ideas of social and economic equity and overall well-being into the mix as the reasons WHY we exist.

Raising the level of consciousness of our members and stakeholders could be the tipping point.

I think the State USGBC organization, its membership, stakeholders, governments in Florida, and citizens of Florida can all benefit by having increased awareness of the issue that are critical to Florida’s future.   For the implementers (the USGBC volunteers) my hope is they feel appreciated, recharged and feel that they have a purpose that really makes a meaningful difference in their communities and for a greater good.

CONCLUSION:

There are many forces acting in our state these days.  Negative impacts could be green washing, exploitation by commercial interests, political retaliation, and/or increased social and economic inequalities.  But there is  an opportunity to make a difference and provide leadership that understands the past but wants to redesign and replace the old organization with its next generation.  

I think a statewide USGBC has a lot of potential to influence/advocate for good for all in the state.  What do you think?

IInterested in receiving an architectural design consultation from Carlson Studio Architecture, one of the founding members of USGBC in Florida?

We're beyond sustainable architectural design for the environment, to design for sustainable societies and economies.

I have dedicated the better part of the last two decades to green architectural design, both in practice and in educating the public of its economical and environmental benefits. So have my talented colleagues. We wanted to have an impact on the world around us that was bigger than ourselves, so we have dedicated a lot of energy into it.

But sustainability doesn't end there. It's a bigger concept that finds its way into all sorts of corners and crevices in our lives, and we have been fortunate at Carlson to be able to integrate our designs into pieces of the world that many don't realize are critical to sustaining our socio-economic climates.

Sustainability in the built environment is our primary focus, but we also recognize that is not enough by itself to create a truly sustainable community.  Social and economic equity are also key component.  

We have completed many projects throughout the years for non-profits that have similar goals in social or economic equity.  Projects like the Cancer Support Community (more at www.carlsonstudio.org), Easter Seals, and the Community Center at Janie’s Garden Public Housing complex all support a greater purpose.

The Business Of Sustainability

Here are a couple of recent projects that combine both as well: 

1. Project 180

Project 180, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a reentry program for male prisoners in Florida. They provide assistance for those about to be released from prison in the state to assist in their transition back into society.

The goal is to reduce the impact of repeat offenders upon public safety, public spending, Florida families and individual lives. They begin to provide assistance 6 months before a prisoner’s release.

Project 180’s next major goal is to open a residential facility that can assist those who do not have immediate access to housing when they are released.  Upon the grand opening, it will feature a two year, highly structured, 24/7 clean and sober residential environment, marketable job skill training, paid apprenticeships, academic education, rehabilitation, and safe, slow reintegration into the community.

Some amazing statics provided by Project 180 about Florida

• Florida’s prisons currently house over 100,000 inmates.
• Over 30,000 return to our communities every year.
• More than 45% of those housed in the Florida state prison system are repeat offenders.
• Almost 40% of Florida’s prisoners test at or below a fifth grade education level

2. Kashi By the River

Our Kashi by the River Project is a 41 unit multifamily project in Sebastian, Florida.  It is specifically designed for up to 10 individuals to live together under one roof, and provide support for each other in a caring, small community environment.  Each person has their own sleeping room and private bathroom, and they share common functions and spaces such as the living area, kitchen, dining, pantry and laundry.  In the case of Kashi by the River, we also provided accommodations for a few couples, and we clustered four 10 bedroom buildings together to create a small neighborhood of like-minded individuals.

The community creates an environment of harmony with nature and each other, a kind of sustainability that isn't easiest to measure, but very easy to see.

CONCLUSION:

Throughout the years we have found that our clients are motivated by many different things.  Some are motivated to create a healthy and comfortable place to live or to work; others like to save money by reducing their energy and water bills through conservation of those resources (the return on investment is amazing - by the way); some have a passion to reduce their carbon footprint and combat the effects of climate change on an individual or corporate level; others simply want better design in harmony with the natural environment.

I personally look for opportunities for sustainability everywhere (probably driving the people who know me well a little nuts from time to time).

After all, everything is connected.  Architecture that is good for the triple bottom line- social, environmental (or ecological) and financial.  (Also referred to as the 3 P’s-People, Planet and Profit) should benefit everyone, and reduce our negative impacts in every way possible.  There are so many like-minded organizations around the world that are tackling the important issues of our society today.  

Organizations like Project 180.

Interested in discussing an architectural design concept or master design project that harnesses sustainability beyond the envelope? Schedule a consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

Are you designing your home and thinking about going green?

First of all, congratulations! Whether building your first home or one of many, it's an exciting time when we get start scratching down ideas for a new project. Second of all, a little pat on the back for exploring green home design! 

If you are building a new home in Florida or somewhere with a similar climate (humid, hot, sunny, and the occassional tropical storm), you may want to consider a few things in order to maximize the energy efficiency of your home.  The size, shape, and orientation of your home are extremely important, and when building new, it's a great time to address these and other important concerns.

Here are four worth considering for the design of your new green home!

1. Size

Of course, it naturally makes sense that the smaller your home, the less energy is needed to cool and occasionally heat it. So, in terms of being environmentally conscious, we want to help you get the most use out of your space, and not end up with areas that don’t get used.

"The bigger the space, the more energy it will take to heat and cool it."

In fact, one of the qualifying factors for LEED accreditation is whether the structure is sized appropriately, so although it may seem intuitive, not everybody sees “the right fit” as being good enough, and therefore, we end up with over-sized, and inefficient structures.

2. Shape & orientation

In terms of shape, a simple, compact home is always the most efficient as well, especially if you run the long axis of the house east and west.  This is because when the sun is at its lowest point (at sunrise and sunset), the angle of the sun penetrates your home the most directly, making for an uncomfortable experience both visually and in regards to heat gain.  

To avoid this scenario, it is a good idea to have fewer windows on these facades and plan your spaces out accordingly to avoid having morning activities on the east side of your home and evening activities on the west side of your home.  This will keep your home cooler since it will reduce your direct sun exposure.  

As the sun travels from east to west, it also travels along the southern hemisphere.  The sun travels lower in the winter and higher in the summer, but always along the southern hemisphere.  Planting trees on southern side of your home can keep your home cooler as they will block sunlight from falling directly on your home.   

3. Construction materials

Let’s not forget about the materials you’re using to build it! The use of ENERGY STAR qualified windows will reduce the heat gain into your home, as will shading devices over your windows, allowing views to our beautiful sunsets without the downside.

Insulation is another important item to consider. By sealing and insulating your home envelope (outer walls, ceiling, windows) you can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. Heating and cooling a home account for 50% of your home’s energy consumption.

As a sustainable architecture firm, of course we at Carlson Studio Architecture are going to advise you to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  If you are building or remodeling, reduce your need for buying new products that are not environmentally friendly.  Every part of your house such as roofing material, building material, cabinets, and counters should be environmentally friendly. Reuse your old material such as wood floors, and doors when remodeling. Recycled materials such as glass, aluminum, tile, reclaimed lumber, and plastic can be used. Or try natural products such as bamboo, cork and linoleum which are made of natural, renewable materials.

MORE LIKE THIS: Why Choose a Green Roofing System

4. Create

Other items to consider using in your home may be to harvest rainwater from roofs by using rain barrels. The collected water can then be used for toilets, sprinkler systems, or just watering your plants.  Consider tankless water heaters that can save on energy cost since it heats only that much water that is needed as it is passed through electric coil.

Consider a programmable thermostat in order to adjust your home’s temperature for times when you’re regularly away or sleeping. A slight 3-5 % of your energy bill can be saved if you can set your thermostat 1 degree down when using your heat and up by 1 degree when air-conditioning your house.

Water conserving fixtures such as low flow faucets, toilets, and showerheads are a few of the ways that you can conserve water and cut down on your water bills cost. And lastly, solar panels are a hot technology for utilizing the natural power all around us, the sun.  Solar panels may be expensive at first but they have been shown to offset 50% of your energy demand and net 60% or more off your monthly bill.

CONCLUSION:

Even after you build your home, you can install energy-saving features, such as LED and CFL lighting. Yes, they cost more upfront but use a lot less energy and last significantly longer than traditional incandescent bulbs resulting in significant cost savings in the long run. And installing Energy Efficient Appliances in your home with the ENERGY STAR label on them will give you a significant cost and energy savings without compromising performance.  

Designing a green home means keeping sustainability at heart every step of the way throughout the design process and construction.

Interested in learning more? Download this free ebook by Carlson Studio Architecture about how to get your green home ideas off the ground:

Green architecture is a great idea.

Sustainability and environmental consciousness are important to you. You make choices throughout your life, weighing convenience, costs, and personal well-being with your commitment to leave the world in a better state than when you arrived.

Because of this, you seek green alternatives whenever and wherever you can. You read labels, compare specs, and make the best choices you can based on the information that’s readily available.

And if you’re about to build a new structure, you have an incredible opportunity to incorporate principals of sustainability that will have an enormous impact on the world we live in – for many years to come. That’s why it’s probably a good idea to poke around and make sure you are engaging a firm where “green” is woven into their DNA, not just a marketing ploy to snag some extra business.

Because of that we’ve put together a list of ways to weed out the real green architecture firms from the rif-raff.

It's not like green was born yesterday...

The USGBC was founded in 1997, and LEED V2 went public in 2000.  That was 16 years ago!  Green Building became defined, and a system to independently verify the sustainable features of a building was put into place. 16 years is a long enough time for these 10 questions and observations to make sense in helping you identify the real McCoy.

1. What is their company car?

An SUV? An oversized luxury car? A turbo’d out gas guzzler? Or is it something that makes a green statement, like a Prius, Leaf, Volt, or Smart Car?  Maybe they don’t have a “company car…” So, what is the owner driving? What are the other employees driving?

2. When you mention “net zero...”

Does your architect know you are not referring to the latest beverage from Coca Cola?

3. Where is their office located?

Is it in a suburban office complex where everyone has to drive to and from the office, and drive to get lunch, and drive to go to the bank, and drive to get the dry cleaning, or is it located near where there is a great deal of housing and all the necessary services that are convenient for the staff, where staff and clients can walk to lunch, to the bank and to the dry cleaners?  Is it accessible by walking or biking? Are they located next to a public transportation hub?

4. Do they claim they do green building design, but...

“just don’t seek and independent green rating certification?” Um… why not? That’s like when children say they’re cowboys or astronauts… Saying the words doesn’t make it true – but having proof   So, why wouldn’t they seek certification if they qualified? 

5. Do they use "accredited" and "certified" right?

buildings are certified and people are accredited? If you hear your architect telling you they have X number of LEED certified staff, please run away as fast as you can.  (On a related note, products do not receive any certification or accreditation by the USGBC.  So is someone is trying to sell you a LEED certified product, run away!)

6. What do they think of "heat island effect?"

When you express a desire that your project reduce its “heat island effect” does your architect think that is a tropical condition caused by an island in the Caribbean? Reducing heat island effect is about light colored, reflective roofing and site hardscapes such as parking lots and sidewalks.  It can also involve landscaping that provides shading. 

7. Do they belong?

What sorts of organizations does the firm belong to, support or contribute to? Is the firm a USGBC member?  A Florida Building Coalition member? For how long?  15 years? 1 year?  What other green building organizations is the firm active in?  How about social equity organizations?  Community Service Organizations?

8. Do they care about their own carbon footprint?

Do they occupy an existing building that maybe is an adaptive reuse of a building that functioned for another purpose (see our blog about embodied energy).  Is there office in a dense urban environment?

9. Are they consistently certified?

How many LEED buildings has the architect done in the past 15 years? Does it seem that they always have a LEED project in design or construction, or is there one here and one there without any consistency?

10. Do they like the ponies?

Does your architect think the Triple Bottom Line is a bet at the horse track?  Or does the firm believe in People, Planet and Profit all equally?

CONCLUSION:

For many, "green" is a marketing term used to lure unsuspecting patrons who are looking to do a little extra to help their planet (and bottom line: read more). But you as a consumer are empowered to see through those who are faking it, and those who are actually making it, as long as you know which questions to ask.

Interested in learning more about green building design from an architectural firm that eats, breathes, and sleeps sustainability? Schedule a free consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

Why "construction cost" shouldn't be the only thing on your mind before breaking ground:

So often we are asked, "what is it going to cost me to construct this building?" Or even, “How much per square foot does it cost to build a (fill in the blank) building?” 

I hear it at work, at parties, from friends and family... I get it, and I actually love how much faith you put into our expertise on the subject, and it is something we actually help people with quite regularly. But it's hardly a matter of looking at a picture (or imagining what you describe) and spitting out a figure about how much your project is going to cost.

But that isn't what you were asking to begin with. This is about construction costs, which, by itself is a loaded request - it should be about project costs, because there are so many variables and hidden soft and related costs that you won't come even close to coming in at budget without considering the weight they also carry.

It's the kind of weight that could stop your project dead in its tracks.

Too many construction budgets are formulated using only the “hard construction costs," not considering any of the “soft costs,” setting their maximimum available amount of money at a level well below what will be necessary to complete the project.

When the budget is gone, the construction stops - period. So, here are some of the other costs you need to be thinking about.

1. Construction costs

Costs associated with the foundation and the building itself

• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Walls
• Windows
• Lumber
• Hardware (bolts, nails, screws)
• Concrete
• Wiring
• etc

2. Other project costs

Costs associated with financing, permitting, regulatory fees, furnishings, etc. 

• Land Acquisition: Purchase Price, Financing, Legal fees, titling & documents fees; all costs associated with obtaining the land on which the building will be constructed

• Site Planning: Soils Reports, Environmental Studies, transportation studies and surveying for utilities, easements, and topography.  It also includes regulatory agency review fees where applicable for the pertinent federal, state, county, and/or city agencies that have jurisdiction over the site design.

• Professional Fees:  Architect and Civil, Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, Engineers, as well as Landscape Architect, Interior Designer, and other specialty consultants depending on the size and complexity of the project.

• Fixtures & Furnishings / Equipment: Tables, chairs, and anything that is not built-in or included with the actual construction.  This may also include systems that are being installed by others not included in the building construction such as sound systems, communications and wi-fi technology systems, security systems. Window shades are an item that is often overlooked.

• Other: Some projects may require additional legal or special accounting professional, fund raising or grant writing consultants and those fees should also be addressed.

3. Taking action

Be prepared to invest and engage in a Project Programming Phase that includes preliminary project budgeting.  A well-defined Project Budget includes all the possible hard and related construction costs and identifies where the funds are coming from.  At Carlson Studio Architecture we have developed some unique comprehensive tools to assist you in developing the sound foundation of a successful construction project.

Project Programming is defining the needs and goals of the facility that is being proposed.  More than just saying a doctor’s office, coffee shop, or charter school, it is a detailed accounting of people using or working in the space, the equipment and/or furnishings, space relationships and more. 

CONCLUSION:

The Project Cost is really the sum of all of the above. Your architect may be able to help you plan for everything, not just the hard costs associated to the materials. We help our clients by developing a Project Budget that includes all the possible project components and allows the owner to identify the source of funding for each.  This way the funding for the entire project is identified early and the problems associated with unidentified costs are minimized.

In the initial budget stage these costs will be non-specific, but they should be defined as such, and always be calculated by erring on the high side.

Interested in a project consultation to see if your building idea is feasible with your current budget? Set up a free consultation today!

Embrace embodied energy with your green designs:

By designing and constructing more sustainable buildings, it is important to first recognize that these structures are absolutely LOADED with embodied energy. What's that, you ask?

Embodied energy is the energy cost it took to remove something from nature, transport it wherever it goes, manufacture it, and install it.

- From the trees that were harvested to make up the structure, to all the natural resources and manmade components that provide infrastructure, furniture, fixtures, and equipment. All the materials that go into the construction of a building have embodied energy in them, and we should be finding ways to incorporate them whenever possible and practical.

Each material is extracted, shipped, manufactured, shipped again, and eventually ends up on a job site where it was assembled.

When demolishing an old structure to make way for the new, we lose some of that embodied energy instantly - that which was associated with the building's original purpose and the energy it took to create and transport the materials.

In addition, there's human energy involved. 

So, how do we incorporate embodied energy into our future designs?

1. Redisribute

That's right - let's have others reuse the materials that are loaded with embodied energy. 

As an example, Carlson Studio is advocating for a position of redistributing embodied energy for a house being built in Birch Haven.

Redistribution is a relatively easy and effective goal to realize. Whether a building is in need of remodeling or demolition in order to be re-built with up-to-date technologies and materials, much of the embodied energy CAN be salvaged, even repurposed. There is still value in the materials no matter what their age or condition.

There were also items in the home, such as appliances, fixtures, furnishing, and clothing that found new lives in the salvage effort. Even the aluminum siding made its way to the redistribution pile and was installed on another house.

2. reclaim

The Birch Haven home is replacing a 60-year-old lakefront cottage that was constructed using knotty cedar planks that are no longer available except through salvage. Not only did the homeowners and CSA have a strong desire to re-use these gorgeous, native, resilient materials in the new home for posterity’s sake, they were carefully extracted in the demolition process so as much of the material as possible could be saved, salvaged, and included in the new construction.  

The building is on track to receive the highest possible form of certification for sustainability from USGBC- LEED for Home Platinum level. Therefore the waste generated by the project – regardless if it is from new construction materials or existing materials – have been thoughtfully and purposefully kept to an absolute minimum, reducing space in the landfills and trash hauling expenses.

Buildings like this are a living testament that finding new life from structures that are past their useful lifespans is not only possible, but can also be profitable.  In addition to the salvaged wood being able to carry forth its embodied energy into the new residence for the next 100+ years, it will provide a Biophilic presence of the natural material of wood into the interior of the home at almost no cost.  And on an emotional level, the ghost of the prior home will live on and have a constant visible reminder of what stood on the site before 2015. 

CONCLUSION:

Given the combination of salvage, re-use, embodied energy savings, Biophilic design, and emotional connection to the past, this design solution was a winner in so many ways.

Interested in learning more about embodied energy and how it could impact your green design? Set up a free consultation today!

Biophilic design? What's that?

No, it’s not something you need to see the doctor for – but it MAY actually be the cure to what ails your lackluster green building design. As much as you may care about incorporating energy saving ideas into your building  - whether it be for your love of nature or saving money, integrating nature will help you truly embrace your focus on going green.

We as humans are connected to nature and prefer to be immersed in it, so by incorporating elements of into our structures, we stand to reap all sorts of benefits.

Before I go into how you can take your green design concept to the next level with biophilia, I want to give credit where credit is due, because although these ideas are woven into the fabric of Carlson, it was a session at Green Build 2015 that inspired me to write this article..

Bill Browning from Terrapin Bright Green was the host of the presentation titled, “Biophilic Design: Applications for Culture & Climate,” while Elysa Hammond of Clif Bar & Company, and Nicole Isle of Glumac Engineering each presented related projects they were involved with. 

To help you understand where biophilia can be found, here are the 14 elements that they identified, broken down into 3 categories:

Nature IN the space

1. Visual Connection to Nature
2. Non-Visual Connection with nature
3. Non-rhythmic sensory Stimuli
4. Access to Thermal & Airflow variability
5. Presence of water
6. Dynamic & diffuse light
7. Connection with Natural Systems

 Natural Analogues

8. Biomorphic Forms & Patterns
9. Material connection with nature
10. Complexity & Order

 Nature OF the space

11. Prospect- able to see all the space, understand the environment, and see any danger
12. Refuge- protected space to call your own
13. Mystery- a promise of more information being revealed if pone proceeds
14. Risk/Peril- a perceived threat or risk, accompanied by a safeguard

 Now, lets talk about some REAL benefits!

EXAMPLES OF BIOPHILIC DESIGNS BY CARLSON STUDIO ARCHITECTURE:

Wellness Community - see showcase gallery

Medical office - see showcase gallery

Residence in construction - see showcase gallery

Biophilia sets the tone

Biophilic design gives us a framework to consciously integrate nature into our design work.  Embracing the climate and culture of a place makes our solutions more appropriate and better for the people that use the buildings.  People feel better, are more stimulated, more comfortable, and happier in places that they love.

Nature has Presence

Take a minute, and try to think beyond the attributes of water that we focus on day in and day out. Think beyond how it’s wet and quenches our thirst… and focus more on the actual presence of water.  

We can see it, feel it, and taste it, but we can also hear it. In fact, we LOVE to hear it. It adds noise to our environments, but actually makes us think it’s quieter than having no sound at all.

Imagine water in a pool, fountain, lake, pond, or rapidly moving river - a waterfall, or a trickle of a brook over a rocky stream bed.   Or, have you ever been to a spa where they have a small fountain with trickling water?

It flat out makes us feel better

Now think about the presence of natural daylighting in a similar way. How does it make you feel?  From the impact of the light itself on our mood, to the warmth of the sun shining in and warming that floor on a cold winter’s day.   

We all get these concepts, whether we realize it or not.  We enjoy nature and being in nature.  We feel better.  We are rejuvenated.  Our minds are clearer.  We do our best thinking while we are  in nature, whether on a beach in Florida, a birch forest in Minnesota, or walking a mountain trail in the Olympic Peninsula near Seattle.  

Why it's so important

Living in our modern world, we spend about 90% of our time indoors.  We need to make the most of that time by inviting nature inside, or by connecting to nature beyond the walls of the buildings that we live or work in.   Your architect should be able to consciously recognize these opportunities and take full advantage of them to benefit those who inhabit the spaces they design. 

In other words, they should blur the lines between  indoors & outdoors.

Getting started

First, we begin with defining the goals we are trying to achieve.  To do this, think of the 14 patterns as a palette of options to select from.   Not all 14 patterns may apply to your goals, but many very well likely will.  They could include things like stress reduction, cognitive development, emotion/mood/preference, healing and regeneration, increased productivity, etc.  

They will change based on your culture or climate, or both.  In most climates there is a practical necessity to create a physical separation between the inside and the outside. In the hot humid climates in the Southeastern US, we desire to control temperature and high humidity to keep moisture from damaging the interior of the structures.  In colder, northern climates the need to create heat inside and keep it there, and to keep the cold out is equally important to controlling humidity in the sub-tropical south.  The techniques differ, but the concept is the same. 

CONCLUSION:

Biophilic design is a great way to embrace nature in the places where we spend the large majority of our lives. The benefits are numerous, and since you're already thinking in terms of sustainability, it's good to think about applying those concepts to your own personal well-being.

Interested in a free consultation for your next green design project?

Check out our ebook on designing a green residential project HERE:

Congratulations on your choice for a green home! Now it's time to ensure it's a smooth build.

When most people set out to build their green home, the obvious first step is to find the right design team. And while I agree, you want to partner with an architectural firm that puts green first, as in, the idea of sustainability isn't an after thought, but rather, a fully integrated component in the planning process - you also want your construction crew to be thinking in the same terms.

When approached with a new project, it's rare for our clients to have a contractor already involved, so they turn to us for referrals. However, unlike your design team, you need your construction crew to be as local as possible, so even though we have our favorites, they're not always the best option due to their location.

It IS something that should be handled at the outset of your design process, because the integrated approach will save you a lot of hassle, and help you get the most efficient building that meets and exceeds your expectations.

We always recommend hiring your contractor at the same time as you hire your design team.

So, I put together a list of to-dos and questions to help you find the best contractor for your project.

MORE LIKE THIS: How to Save Yourself (Not Your Planet) With Sustainable Home Design

The to-dos that will lead to a better green home design and construction process:

1. Interview 2 - 4 contractors

You want to select your contractors based on qualifications, not those who promise the lowest price - especially so early in the process. If you're doing it right, you're making this choice before the design process is underway, so they can add their input as we go.

2. Ask good questions

Building green is a specialty type of construction, so you shouldn't expect ANYBODY with a license to build to be able to deliver the goods to your green home. That's why we put together this list of important questions to ask to make sure you're not getting a lemon.

If they can't answer these questions, or find it difficult to be specific, you may want to keep looking. Mind you, these aren't ALL related to building green - some of them are just good questions to ask your contractor, so you are able to set realistic expectations and partner with credible companies that won't leave you hanging.

COMPETENCY:

1. Have you ever built a LEED certified home in the past?
   • If so, what level of certification was obtained?
   • What were some of the significant areas for efficiency?
2. Have you worked with a LEED provider in the area on a prior project, whom you'd be able to pull into this one?
3. Have you constructed a home that has a HERS rating of 30 or better?
4. How many homes are you typically building at any given moment in time?
5. Can you or your subcontractors help us evaluate alternative heating and cooling systems that are more energy efficient, and help us determine relative costs of the various systems?
6. Have you been involved in solar PV installations on any of your homes?
7. Have you built with alternative wall system types, such as ICF or SIP?
8. Have you ever installed solar hot water in any of your homes?
9. How much of your work is design/build versus construction only based on somebody else's design?
   
   

TEAM:

1. Who will we work with on a day-to-day basis duringpre-construction and construction?
   • Do you have a superintendent that you will be assigning?
2. Do you have preferred subcontractors who you like to use for your LEED and high energy efficient homes?
3. And are you okay with us suggesting some subcontractors?

COST STRUCTURE:

1. We would like to hire a general contractor based on qualifications and then work on price, and we would like to have the general contractor competitively bid the project to multiple subcontractors. How do you handle your pre-construction services, and how do you charge for them?

2. What is your standard form of owner/contractor agreement for the construction? 
   • Do you have a pre-construction agreement, or is it all-in-one?
3. Do you often work with allowances?
   • How do you manage all the detailed selections that need to be made (Such as a finishes, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures etc.)?
4. Are you used to doing monthly draws or milestone draws, such as when the foundation is complete, when the framing package is complete, etc.?

TIMING:

1. How long do you think it will take to build this house?
2. How much time do you need from the completion of the permitting bidding documents to the time that you can present a final price?
3. How do you limit waste, and how do you manage the waste that is created and divert it from the landfill?

3. Trust your gut

Have an honest and meaningful discussion with your potential contractors.  Trust your gut.  You can get a sense of the personalities involved and how they will mesh with yours.  Convey your goals and see if there is genuine passion from the contractor to help you obtain them. The design and construction process is complicated and fluid, which means that you need to find a contractor you feel comfortable with and that you trust.  

MORE LIKE THIS: Why Choose a Green Roofing System

CONCLUSION:

Building a new home is an exciting experience, and when you're designing it based on ideologies you believe in, such as sustainability, you should not have to compromise important goals late in the game because your contractors weren't rowing in the same direction as you and your design team.

Bring them in early and ask the hard questions up front to avoid unexpected expenses and unnecessary setbacks - Not only will you be happier with the end-result, something that you literally have to live with every single day, but you'll be happier about the process itself.

At Carlson, we believe in the integrated design process, which means bringing your team together early. Because of this, we are also hired as eco-consultants. Are you interested in learning more from a Carlson Studio Architecture professional? Schedule an appointment today!

You can also download this handy ebook on how to design your green home:

Sustainable home design intuitively points toward saving the planet, but what you may not know is that you're actually saving yourself.

Green Build 2015 in Washington DC just finished up. It was the 13th straight USGBC Green Build Conference I attended since its humble but powerful beginning in 2002. With nearly 30,000 attendees today, the conference is starting turn heads in more than just the architectural community, and it was really exciting to see so much enthusiasm for sustainability.

I have often argued that humankind and nature are not separate, and that when we say we want to save the planet, our interests are actually much more self-centered than that. The planet is going to be fine, and it can and WILL take care of itself.  It may need to make adjustments that we don't like in order to heal, which may impact the way of life we are clinging to.

Deepak Chopra, our opening speaker, was actually very clear on this point. He said that we are literally one with the environment, and that there is no separation from ourselves and it. From the smallest code in our DNA to the planet, to the Universe, we are all made of the same stuff. 

There were many inspiring education sessions this year, but two really stuck out to me. The first is Barry Svigals, Architect - whose topic was “The Seeds of a Renewed Commitment."

Mr. Svigals’ firm designed the replacement school for the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Monroe, Connecticut.  This is what he had to say:

1. a global crisis exists on two fronts

Both natural and social ecologies are in crisis.  Citing Henk Ovink, of the Netherlands, who believes we don't have the will to solve our problems right now, he stated that this is an ongoing topic.

Can we solve our own problems before the natural and social ecology crises cause devastating effects on our lives?  Do we have the foresight to act now in a pro-active manner, or are we destined to react when our efforts will be less effective and more costly?

2. who we are and how we do matter

It's not just what we do, but how we participate in what we do that makes a difference.  There is no "THEY".  There is only us.  Mr. Svigals talked about social affection that occurred natural in the US during the early days of this country.  There were social networks where everyone cared for everyone.  He gave the example of John and Abigail Adams who were famous for their social affection.

As he spoke of the design for the New Sandy Hook School it was inspiriting to hear the community has chosen to rebuild their school and their sense of community based on goodness, hope, love, and openness.  Remembering the tragedy, one would not blame them if they wanted to build a bunker, a fortress, or a prison to separate the outside world from their students.  But that would be a perspective of fear, and they instead opted for hope.  

“We will not protect what we do not love”
- Barry Svigals

The second architect I heard speak was Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House.  I have always been interested in this topic, and have advocated to build the correct amount of space, and no more, a core theme to the book.

If you are familiar with the LEED for Homes Rating System from the USGBC, you'll know that one can receive bonus points for a home smaller than a size determined by the LEED standard, and is penalized for building something larger. This is based on the number of bedrooms the home will have, so a 2 bedroom home as a different square footage goal than a 5 bedroom home.

Interestingly, our current Birch Haven Residence project is seeking LEED for homes platinum certification. It has 5 bedrooms, but exceeds the recommend square footage in the LEED system, so we are absorbing some negative penalty credits due to the size.  It is forcing us to make the home more efficient in other ways to make up the difference and still get to Platinum level certification. 

Ms. Susanka believes everyone is searching for a sense of ”Home” built better not bigger; built to last, built to inspire,  built for how we really live. Current trends she is seeing include no formal living room, and no formal dining room.  These spaces no longer get much use because they do not fit the way we live.  Her recommendation is to build 1/3 less space than you think you need, and put every SF in use every day. 

Ms. Susanka has written a new book entitled The Not So Big Life: Making Room for What Really Matters, which she also spoke in great detail about in her lecture. In her book she describes how we reach our full potential, by doing simple things like putting ourselves on the calendar (make time for our own growth), and looking with the eyes of a student (everything is a learning opportunity that should be seen in a fresh light).  Ask yourself, “What can I learn about this thing in my life?”  Drop the reaction, and think what I can learn from this- See that the world is reflecting ourselves back to us.

NOW is the only time.  Prior is remembering, future is projecting.  Be present.  We can change things faster than we think we can.

CONCLUSION:

The reality is that when we say we want to save the planet, we are, in effect, saying that we prefer self-preservation over extinction, because it's true... nature will find a way to get back on course, and she's not going to make it easy on us. In fact, the more we tear her apart, the more healing will be necessary.

If we look around us and take inventory on what we can change today, we might be able to preserve ourselves for a little while longer.

Carlson Studio Architecture prides itself on being green to the core. Interested in learning more? Schedule a free apppointment today!

Ready to kick off your green home design? Check out this free resource to help you get it going:

The 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) has begun in Paris, and will continue through December 11th.

The governments of nearly 200 countries are gathering to discuss a new global agreement on climate change, with participation from an estimated 40,000 attendees. More than half of the countries there will be represented by their heads of State, and 170 countries have already submitted their plans.

In other words, this is a really big deal!

The path to climate destruction:

Scientists have warned us for decades that if greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise, we would pass the threshold beyond the point in which global warming became catastrophic and irreversible.

That threshold is estimated to be a temperature rise of 2C above pre-industrial levels, and based on current emissions trajectories we are barelling toward a rise of about 5C (which equates to approximately 9 degrees Fahrenheit).

Some nations are already feeling the impacts of climate change even now, at the current level of almost 1°C warming. Conflicts exacerbated by extreme weather are on the rise, and some are seeking official climate refugee status based on weather-related events occurring in their homeland.

One of the COP's core initiatives is to support vulnerable countries and communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change that are happening right now as well as looking into the future.

To help you understand the significance of the event, I'm going to highlight a few critical moments in history.

1992

Governments met in Rio de Janeiro and forged the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. That agreement, still in force, bound governments to take action to avoid dangerous climate change, but did not specify what actions were required.

1995

The first UN Climate Change Conference (COP1) was held in Berlin.

1997

Kyoto protocol (COP3). The pact required worldwide cuts in emissions of approximately 5%, compared with 1990 levels by 2012, and each developed country was allotted a target on emissions reductions. Unfortunately, developing countries, including China, South Korea, Mexico and other rapidly emerging economies, were given no targets and allowed to increase their emissions at will.  Al Gore, then US vice-president, signed up to the protocol, but it was never ratified by the US Congress.

2009

Copenhagen (COP15)- The conference did not achieve a binding agreement for long-term action.  It only produced broad stroke agreements that fell far short of intended goals.

what others are saying

I found that Ricken Patel’s article, "The Paris climate summit is a real test of humanity," summed it up quite well.  Mr. Patel states, “Climate change is in many ways a crucible. It is the greatest threat we have ever faced, and will require us to come together as never before, in the most ambitious solution we’ve ever attempted.

The solution is clear, and it's the only answer we have: to transform our economies to be powered by 100% clean energy.

But will we be wise enough, skilled enough, brave enough, to answer the call of our people, of our children and their children? For 20 years we have talked in these climate conferences. Progress has been glacial.

The largest corporations in the world are almost all oil companies. The top four have the same budget as the government of China. The top 10 have the same budget as the US government. They are states, superpowers unto themselves. And to save our species from the threat of catastrophic climate change, they must radically change, or die. So far, most of them have chosen to fight for shortsighted profit, and our demise.”

How we're celebrating:

Here at Carlson Studio Architecture, we are celebrating this important international event that supports sustainability with an open house and holiday party at our office on December 3rd, 2015.  This date also happens to be the day in the conference that will focus on Buildings, so we will be paying especially close attention. 

We share a vision with each other and our clients, as we want to make a difference in the world we live in.  Being conscious of and combating climate change is the number one reason why we do what we do, and we pledge our support to the COP 21 in hopes that this is a landmark year that spurs important decision-makers to take meaningful action.

Interested in learning more about why green building design is so important? Check out this free ebook on Green Home Design:

6 DIRECT BENEFITS OF A GREEN ROOF:

How do you define a "green roof"?

A green roof can have one or more of the following characteristics, depending on the goals of your project.

1. Long Lasting
2. Heat Reflective
3. Vegetative
4. Habitat Creating
5. Storm Water Management
6. Proper Orientation

Before I continue, here are some related materials that will help you with your research on the benefits of green building:

• How Do I Make My Own Home Sustainable or Green?
• Why It's So Important To Make Your Home Sustainable?
• How To Schedule A Consultation With A LEED Accredited Professional?

MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF A GREEN ROOF:

A roof that is long lasting provides the best value (ROI) over a roof’s lifetime.  A long lasting roof is a roof that does not need to be manufactured, shipped and installed, then removed and taken to the landfill, and then manufactured, shipped and installed, then removed and taken to the landfill, over and over again.   Beside the cost of transportation, labor and material each time, the embodied energy of the entire process takes an environmental toll beyond the individual building the roof is protecting.   It is a linear process that begins with extracting raw material and ends in a landfill.   It is less sustainable.  A good example is shingles vs. metal roofing.   If metal cost twice as much as shingles, but last 3-4 times as long, the metal roof is the less expensive roof option.  Metal roofing can be made from recycled content, and the metal can be recycled at the end of its roofing life to become something else. Shingles cannot. 

A second advantage is reflecting heat.  The roof should be able to reflect heat verses absorbing it.  Absorbed heat gets conducted into the building, increasing the buildings energy use, and also radiates outward impacting the micro-climate of the site, the surrounding area, and even whole cities.  Think about black asphalt parking lots- they do the same thing.   LEED-NC v2009 recommends a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of 29 or greater for Steep slope roofs (greater than 2:12 pitch) and SRI of 78 for low sloped roof (less than or equal to 2:12 pitch).    Refer to Sustainable Site Credit SS 7.2 for more information about the LEED requirements.  High solar reflectance in roofing is typically a light colored roof such as white, off white, light beige, or light gray.  There are also coating manufactures who are making darker colors that have a high SRI value.  Our HGTV Green home has a metal roof on it that is a terra cotta color, but still has a SRI that would meet the LEED-NC criteria.

A vegetative roof (sometime called a “green roof”) has many benefits.  It is long lasting and can have a life expectancy that is almost unlimited. It can reduce the heat island effect of roofs by not absorbing the heat from the sun.  It adds a layer of insulation that make your building more energy efficient.  A vegetative roof with thoughtful native plantings may provide habitat for any number of local species.  It can help your project with storm water management as it can collect rainfall and slow the run off and discharge of rain water from the site.  Check out this Green Roof Handbook to help even further.

Vegetative roofs are not new technology.  In fact, they are the oldest roofing technology.  One should work closely with an architect, structural engineer and a landscape architect to design a superior green roof.  They are not as heavy as you would think.  Their “soil” is not like the soil of natural earth.   Picking the proper planting for the climate of the project is very important.  Get an expert involved.

CONCLUSION:

Proper orientation is a critical factor for any type of green roof.   This is a design characteristic  that is free, but must be integrated into the design from the beginning.   All building should be design to take advantage of a southern facing roof orientation to allow for maximum efficiency in solar orientation for the placement of photo voltaic (PV) systems and solar hot water systems.   LEED for Homes recommends the roof be facing within 15 degrees of facing due south.  (So the EAST/WEST axis of the building is with 15 degrees of EAST/WEST).   Whether or not you plan to install photo voltaic (PV) systems and solar hot water systems during construction or not, one should always set up the building to have those systems installed in the future.  All buildings will be retrofitted for onsite energy generation in our children’s lifetime.

Remember to use the button below to speak with a certified expert and get all of your questions answered:

NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE:

We have highlighted a number of LEED Certified buildings on our website. We have residential, commercial, non-profit, and more. However, this new project is the first and possibly the only floating, LEED certified building in The United States!

It's called Cottonwood Cove, and although we designed it here in Sarasota, Florida, it's located in Nevada.

Some other projects that you might find interesting:

• Other LEED Certified Structures We've Developed
• Non-Profit Projects
• Commercial Projects

COTTONWOOD COVE OVERVIEW:

There is a little project in our portfolio that you may not have noticed, but has an interesting story. 

Cottonwood Cove Marina is located in Seachlight NV, on Lake Mohave, and is a part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Cottonwood Cove project is a LEED-NC Gold Certified Facility.  It provides marine related services out on the water and is connect to the dock system of the marina.  It floats!  It is not set on piers or piles.  It is anchored like a boat is anchored, so it sits in one place and does not drift around.  Check out the project featured on the client’s web site, which can be found HERE. The project was certified in 2013. 

Starting from the waterline up, the project has a giant raft for a foundation system.  Similar to how floating docks are constructed, there is a multitude of pontoon floats that support a structural steel bar joist floor system.  The wall system and roof system are Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and some structural steel framing.  The SIPs were chosen because of the modular construction process and ability to fabricate the panels off site.  Another key component of the wall system was the weight.  This is the first and only project we have done that the weight of the walls and roof was a critical component of the design.  Because the raft foundation had to support the building, limiting the weight of the superstructure saved money in ways that are not typical.   The geometry of the building design takes into account the capabilities and limitations of the SIP wall and roof panels to provide an efficient and beautifully functional design solution.  The ability to fabricate building components off site, assemble the building at the shore line and then move it into place, all helped to reduce the environmental impact of the construction process on the lake itself.  

Those familiar with LEED know there is a site prerequisite for Construction Activity Pollution prevention.  In our case, we did have a small piece of land that was part of our defined “project site” under LEED, and we were able to use green marina standards and marina pollution control standards to comply with the prerequisite.  Interestingly, after we were certified, LEED set out a new rule that does not allow projects to be built on water any longer.  They must be permanent structure on land now.  That is why this may be the only LEED certified project on the water.

Challenges: The location itself had many challenges.  The site is located about 2-1/2 hours south of Las Vegas, and is south of the Hoover Dam.  The client was fully committed to the idea, which is always the best way. The entire design team was on board.   The National Park Services was on board.  We did have difficulty finding an experienced contractor that was interested in doing such a small project at such a remote location.

The climate was also a bit of a challenge, and an opportunity.  The dry desert climate is much different than the sub-tropical climate of Florida.  There was almost no rainfall, and no humidity.  That made a cistern impossible, but does allow the building to utilize operable windows for passive cooling.  With LEED, energy savings is energy savings.  How the savings are achieved are adapted to the climate in which the project exists.  We have now done green buildings in Northern climates, sub-tropical climates and Desert climates, and enjoy the opportunities and challenges different climates present to the projects.

A REAL SUCCESS:

With a dedicated team of Owner’s, the National Park Service, architects and engineers, a contractor willing to learn, and an experienced LEED administrator (Ausonio) the project has been a big success and received a good deal of press, both on TV and in print.

To see more details, take a look at this one of many examples of our world class, sustainable architecture work.

To contact us or get any type of quote, just use the button below:

TRENDS IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE DEFINITION:

Talking about trends in sustainable architecture is a slippery slope.   Many of the “trends” are a simply the re-discovering of good design that worked well before we had so much technology to overcome poor design. That IS a plug for proven passive design solutions, but it IS NOT a criticism of technology. That is the strength of integrative design - to be able to look at entire system holistically and use the best of passive and active design solutions to obtain the optimum results. The following ideas are not new, but they are some of the ideas that are “top of the mind” in sustainable design today.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN TRENDS AND EXAMPLES:

Below you will see what we believe to be some of the major sustainable design trends unfolding here in 2015. There are certainly other trends and evolutionary movement in the green building industry and we will write about those as well. So, please subscribe or bookmark this blog and you can stay informed and hopefully use some of our green building expertise and experience to help you with your next building project.

Trends In 2015:

1. Resiliency

Resilience: Def. Noun

1. The capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2. An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

The Resilience Alliance defines resilience as the capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain essentially the same function, structure, identity, and feedbacks.

A sustainable building needs to adapt over its life to changing conditions, and its life must be a long one. It needs to adapt to changes in climate, temperature, rainfall, sea level, flood patterns, advancements in building technologies such as heating and cooling systems, functional changes by the users, etc. It needs to be tough and flexible at the same time.

2. Biophilia

Biophilia Def. Noun

1. A love of life and the living world; the affinity of human beings for other life forms.

The biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems. Edward O. Wilson introduced and popularized the hypothesis in his book, Biophilia (1984). He defines biophilia as "the urge to affiliate with other forms of life".

Whether or not we have thought about this concept, we know it. We enjoy being in the natural environment. When we cannot be in it, we enjoy looking at it from our balcony or through our window. The sun light and shadows that move across a space change the space constantly in a predictable way that is dynamic, full of life, and still comforting. We love the sound of the rain. We love the smell of the forest. The integration of our built world into the natural world is so important.

3. Net Zero Energy

A net zero building, is a building with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site. See the Wikipedia definition of Net Zero Energy.

The living building Challenge has its own Net Zero Energy Building Certification. You can read more about this certification here: http://living-future.org/netzero

The Whole Building Design Guide also has a Net Zero Energy Building resources which you can read more about here: http://www.wbdg.org/resources/netzeroenergybuildings.php

We certainly must get to net zero energy building design by 2030. Many countries in Europe will get there much faster. This is a goal we can achieve step by step. Each building we design, or (as an owner or investor) commission to be built must be more energy efficient than the last one. And it must make significant leaps, not just tiny incremental improvements. Net Zero Energy Buildings are doable NOW. We can gain great efficiencies with thoughtful, integrated building design and technologies that can get us 60-80% more efficient than the codes require, and we can supplement the rest with renewable energy sources harvested right at our building site, using PV, solar thermal, geothermal, wind, or whatever is available at the project location.

4. Biomimicry

The Biomimicry Institute defines biomimicry as:

“Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.”

Janine M. Benyus’ book, Biomimicry Innovation Inspired by Nature published in 1997 got the whole idea started in the US.

The Whole Building Design Guide also has Biomimicry resources at: http://www.wbdg.org/resources/biomimicry.php

This is a wonderful concept that is being utilized in the design of many different things, from carpets, to aerodynamic shapes for the front of vehicle, to building design. It is using the lessons from nature- lessons that have been learned and proven over millennium- and applying those lessons to solve problems we face in design.

• Building Project Coordinators
• Architectural Firm Executives
• Multiple Project Decision Makers
• New Home Owners
• Residential & Commercial Architects
• Board Of Directors In The Education, Healthcare, Non-Profits, Interior Design Firms and More!

• Sustainable Residential Design Ideas For Florida (& other states)
• What Can Be Learned From A LEED For Home Charrette
• Green Interior Design Project Examples
• Sustainable Design Projects & Examples
• Hospitality Industry Green Building Design Projects
• Healthcare Green Building Ideas & Examples

  PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:

Carlson Studio is a LEED accredited team of sustainable design and green building professionals in Sarasota Florida. We encourage you to connect with us and ask any question you may have when considering an architect for an upcoming project that falls into any of the categories mentioned above. You can get a no obligation estimate, ask any questions when implementing your research or reach out and ask an opinion on an ongoing project.

Just use the button below to connect with us.

Good luck and highest regards to all that are considering our environment and including sustainable design in their construction plans.

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IN FLORIDA:

Being in a sub-tropical climate, sustainable design in Florida faces some unique challenges. Here are some of our thoughts, especially related to designing a Passive House, and trying to get to Net Zero energy use, in the hot and humid climate of Florida.

Here is a good illustration of climate zones in the USA from the IECC. Note the white line that indicates the Warm and Humid area of the country. Most of Florida is in Climate Zone 2.

Need more, related inspiration? Check out these other perspectives that will help you make other green building considerations:

• Other Sustainable Design Thoughts And Ideas
• Sustainable Design Hard Earned Awards
• More Abound Carlson Studio Green Building Strategies

PASSIVE DESIGN SYSTEMS THAT WORK:

Passive Design Systems and design criteria that work well in hot and humid climates:

• Tight and insulated homes vs. open and breezy homes: Open and breezy homes were the ideal design prior to the invention and wide use of air conditioning.   Air conditioning now allows tight and insulated homes to be more comfortable.
• Envelope concepts that work well:

1. Compact shape- reduce the exterior wall area
2. Continuous insulation- no interruptions in the building envelope

• Thermal bridge free- make sure there are no thermal bridges in the windows and doors, or in the wall or roof systems.
• Air tightness- seal the house tightly to avoid air infiltration coming in from outside or the leaking of the conditioned air to the exterior.   Air tightness should be <=0.6 ACH at 50 pascals pressure. (AHC is air changes per hour)
• The Passive house goal = 75% below energy star requirements with relative humidity (RH) = 40-50%
• Use good glass in the windows and doors- double glazed, low-e coatings.
• R>= 38.5 (R- value, insulation)
• SHGC 0.5-0.55 (solar heat gain coefficient)
• Use energy recovery system that brings fresh air in

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. If you get the building orientation wrong, you fight it all the way and it make some of the other energy saving techniques you may be using less effective.
2. In the south, people add to the interior climate issue by creating heat and moisture inside the envelope. This is beyond the designer’s control.
3. Energy modeling is not very accurate in predicting net zero energy use. Modeling does not take into account plug loads.
4. The primary energy demand per person is difficult to estimate.   Mixed climate zones are challenging- heating and cooling criteria need peak loads to insure comfort, in addition to annual loads.

 Check out the recommendations for climate zones in Florida  

Carlson Studio has over 30 years experience helping the following industry define and execute the best and most profitable solutions to successfully execute a green planning strategy:

• Healthcare
• Residential
• Non-profit
• Educational
• Hostipality
• International
• Mutli-family
• Religious
• Commercial

We encourage you to reach out to us and let us help you with your green building project. We are very confident we can assist you in a number of ways. Just hit the button below to make a connection.

INTRODUCTION:

In the fall of 2014 the US Green Building Council released an article with facts about the green building industry. Here are some of those facts that stood out, and what they mean to us. These facts are based on national and international data. Since Carlson Studio Architecture has been deeply involved in LEED certification in Florida since 2000, we can add our Florida perspective to the national data.

Here are some real time examples of LEED Certified, green building projects:

• Commercial Green Building Achievements
• Educational Green Building Projects
• Residential Green Building Development

THE FACTS ABOUT GREEN BUILDING:

  On the residential side:

 1. USGC reports- 62% of firms building new single-family homes report  that they are doing more than 15% of their projects green

 2. By 2018, that percentage increases to 84% (per McGraw Hill Construction Company. Green Multifamily and Single Family Homes: Growth in a Recovering Market. June 2014)

3. In 2013 there were 1160 LEED certified residential units in place in Florida.

4. The LEED for Homes rating system is much different than all the other LEED systems. It is cheaper, and easier to use.

5. The system has been expanded to not only include single family homes, but also multi-family homes of low rise and mid-rise configurations.

  The Non Residential Side:

 1. USGBC reports - 41% of all nonresidential building starts in 2012 were green, as compared to 2% of all nonresidential building starts in 2005.

(per McGraw Hill Construction (2012). Green Building Market Sizing, drawn from Dodge Project Starts and Construction Market Forecasting Services, as of March 2012)

2. We saw saw a similar trend in Florida during the same time period.

3. In 2009 there were only 9 LEED certified commercial projects in Florida.

4. By 2013 there were 716 certified commercial projects in Florida, plus 182 projects K-12 and Higher Ed. Projects.

This last statistic shows significant traction through a very bad time of recession.

You probably know by now how much energy buildings use. Energy use in the United States looks like this:

• Buildings use 41%
• Industrial uses 30%
• Transportation uses 29%

Buildings are one of the heaviest consumers of natural resources and account for a significant portion of the greenhouse gas emissions that affect climate change. In the U.S., buildings account for:

• 38% of all CO2 emissions (per Energy Information Administration (2008). Assumptions to the Annual Energy Outlook.)

73% of electricity consumption (per Department of Energy 2011. Buildings Energy Data Book. Buildings Share of Electricity Consumption/Sales. Accessed October 26, 2011)

WHAT DO THESE GREEN BUILDING FACTS TELL US:

Green buildings consume less energy. Compared to the average commercial building, the LEED Gold buildings in the General Services Administration’s portfolio generally (per U.S. Department of Energy (2011). Re-Assessing Green Building Performance: A Post Occupancy Evaluation of 22 Buildings)

• Consume 25% less energy and 11% less water
• Have 19% lower maintenance costs
• 27% higher occupant satisfaction
• 34% lower greenhouse gas emissions

And where in the Country is green building doing well? USGBC says….

Top 10 States in the U.S.A. for LEED: Registered & Certified, per capita (as of February 2015)

1. Illinois
2. Colorado
3. Maryland
4. Virginia
5. Massachusetts
6. Hawaii
7. California
8. Georgia
9. Minnesota
10. (tie)New York
11. (tie)Arizona

 Where is Florida on this top 10 list?

 If you are researching a new green building project or renovation challenges, Carlson Studio invites you to reach out and ask questions, schedule a consultation or even get an estimate. Just use the button below to connect.

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Carlson Studio Architecture is currently designing a LEED for homes project in Michigan. As part of the design process we held a LEED design charrette with the contractors, material suppliers, designers and subcontractors of the project. This highly interactive, brainstorming session brought the entire team together to strategize the project. Getting a bunch of smart people together to think about the project holistically was important -some of the things that we learned are as follows:

Other Projects That May Interest You:

• City Of Sarasota Master Plan
• Private Horse Barn Custom Design
• LEED NC Gold Certified Floating Marina

SHARING WHAT WE LEARNED DURING THIS CHARRETTE PROCESS:

There Are 4 Areas Of Focus The Came From This LEED Charrette:

1. Landscape:

We learned there were many credits available in the landscape categories. This includes water conservation in the irrigation system and native plantings and native low impact design solutions. Since we are working on an existing site we may choose to remove some of the existing impervious surfaces and replace them with landscaping and/or pervious surfaces. The landscaping and irrigation credits will be important to us if we are to achieve our certification goals.  Mike Bruggink, Fen View Design, is the Landscape Architect.

2. SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels)

We learned that LEED encourages and rewards the use of sip panel construction in the LEED for homes standards. SIPs should help us obtain a very good HERS rating, create a well-insulated and tightly constructed building envelope, speed up construction and reduce waste. Rich Bloem of True North Homes has an extensive background in SIP construction.

3. Lumber

Our current LEED home is planned to be constructed of wood. In addition to the SIP panels which have wood faces, we plan to use wood floor joists and wood trusses to complete the building envelope. We plan to source all of these materials locally and regionally it's close to the site is possible. We did determine that FSC certified wood was going to be very difficult and expensive to get for this particular project and have decided to not pursue FSC certified would based credits. We did look at the advantages and disadvantages of open web wood floor trusses versus TJI style pre-engineered floor trusses.   There were representatives of each style of truss at the charrette which was incredibly valuable to the team. Because of the somewhat complex geometry of the floor framing systems we decided to go with the TJI style floor trusses on this particular project. Jed Nelson and Mark Paradowski, from Barry County Lumber Company where in attendance.

3. Plumbing

We are looking at using Kohler brand fixtures for this particular project. We learned that there are many options to choose from but this and other major manufacturers all do high-quality low flow fixtures that meet the highest standards in the LEED credits. We plan to use the best performing, low flow fixtures for this project. We also plan to supplement the gas fired water heater with solar thermal system(s) mounted on the roof to preheat the water and save us energy. Ross Genzink, Genzink Plumbing was in attendance.

We offer a simple but important checklist you can use when isolating certain elements that will make your home more "Green" and actually save you energy and money. Just use the button below:

WHAT'S NEXT?:

These are just a few of the things we learned in the integrated design process for this project. We look forward to completing the permit documents, bidding the project, and getting construction underway in the spring.

Designing, planning and constructing a LEED for homes project may be a challenge but it is one with invaluable foresight. As this process becomes more and more popular, both consumers and commercial entities will learn and experience all of the benefits and even more important, will play a role in turning around so many environmental issues including something as massive as the world's climate change challenges.

If you or your business is in the research phase of a creating or remodeling a structure, we strongly encourage you to do your homework and research. We are here to help you answer many of the critical questions that arise from such an undertaking and would like to offer you additional information or a no cost consultation. If you would like to bounce your ideas off of a LEED accredited architect, just use the button below.

How To Manage A LEED Charrette - A Real Time Example:

We have completed our LEED charrette for our single-family home that we are designing in Michigan. Thanks to Rich Bloem and Alex Goosen from True North Homes (general contractor) for their assistance in putting the charrette together and facilitating the day.

Wikipedia definition of a Charrette: "While the structure of a charrette varies, depending on the design problem and the individuals in the group, charrettes often take place in multiple sessions in which the group divides into sub-groups. Each sub-group then presents its work to the full group as material for further dialogue. Such charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. Compare this term with workshop."

Need some other examples of successful charrette results? Check out these LEED projects:

• Sun & Fun Lifestyle Center In South West Florida
• Cancer Support Community On The Florida Sun Coast
• Single Family, Birch Haven Residence

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL LEED CHARRETTE:

The first thing one needs to do for a successful charrette is manage the logistics. We met at a great venue called the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, Michigan and we were treated with a great conference room full of all the necessary AV equipment that we needed, as well as coffee, breakfast, lunch and breaks throughout the day to make the whole thing very enjoyable. Don't overlook the details and making the participants comfortable during the charrette process.

There are various considerations when executing a productive LEED charrette. Here are a few that we addressed and played a significant roll in the overall outcome.

Number 1: The Players

There were about 20 people who participated in the charrette. Most were there all day. Some came and went. The general contractor, the architect, the landscape architect and many of the subcontractors and material suppliers contributed to the successful day. We discussed all the features of the home and all the systems necessary to construct it in an open forum where everyone contributed. Some had experience in doing green homes and for others this is their first exposure to the process. Several of the participants have been working on preliminary LEED for Homes checklists for the project prior to coming to the charrette. 

Number 2: Credits & The LEED Rating System

For this particular home, because of its size, we need to achieve 100 credits in the rating system to obtain our goal of platinum certification. Are preliminary checklists were reflecting scores between 88 and 94 credits. The variation was coming mostly from the HERS score which was anticipated to be anywhere between HERS index of 30 and a HERS index of 44. Learn more about the HERS Index process. Alex Goosen is managing the HERS preliminary rating process, and Jamison Lenz is our LEED Provider from the Green Home Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Number 3: Teams & Strategies

As a team we went through the entire LEED checklist and looked for synergies between various systems and other design and construction strategies to improve the home's design to a point where he could receive platinum certification. The design itself had already taken into account many passive design elements to make the process easier. The home is already set up with south facing roof to accept PV and/or solar thermal systems to improve the homes energy performance.

Step 4: Trouble Shooting

One of the most interesting discussions of the day was about the homes heating and cooling systems. It was determined that there are more heating load than cooling load, but that it was important that both heating and cooling be provided. The initial basis for the design was a forced air system for both heating and cooling using highly efficient equipment. And there was a need to make the home more energy-efficient to get it from the gold to the platinum level of certification. The air-conditioning and heating sub-contractor provided great input, and practical analysis, as well as a specialist in renewable energy systems (such as PV, solar thermal and geothermal systems) provided his perspective as well.  After a great deal of discussion and various systems options, we decided to proceed in evaluating a radiant hydronic floor heating system for the first floor, supplemented with a forced air heating system for the second floor that would also serve as the forced air cooling system for the entire house. We will supplement both systems with solar thermal roof mounted water heating to preheat the water needed for the hydronic floor system and PV solar electric panels supplement the entire system including the forced air system cooling and heating. The PV solar system could be in the range of 5 KW to 10 KW. Solar thermal is yet to be sized but it will provide support to a natural gas fired boiler that will help maintain the water temperature under any conditions. Successfully integrating the systems together should improve our HERS score down to the low 30s or maybe better. Also we will integrate the domestic hot water heating with the radiant floor heating by having those two system share their heat energy which will be an important link to save energy.

WHAT WE LEARNED:

A LEED charrette is a living and breathing process and each one may be different. After we completed this charrette we walked away having learned a few things:

• Michigan has true net metering (you may know that Florida does not, shame on the sunshine state)
• There are many options and heating and cooling systems in Northern climates
• Forced air heating and cooling is most likely the least expensive first cost solution
• Hydronic radiant floor systems provide an incredibly comfortable way to heat a home

The return on investment calculations that the subcontractor will provide will help us make a decision between first cost and lifecycle cost for the system that we end up selecting.

Carlson Studio has been committed to design excellence since 1997. We would like to extend a helping hand whether you are in the research stage, consultation stage, team building stage or other decision making stage. Just hit the button below to request a no cost consultation or any other question you might have.