--- title: "Green Building Renewal: A Historic Building is Reborn" description: How the Offices of Carlson Studio Architecture demonstrate that green building renewal is not only feasible, but decidedly preferable. image: https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-1640423713-jpg/images/photo-csa-office.jpg --- [![carbon 2022 logo](https://www.carbonae.com/hubfs/carbon-ae-horizontal-logo-2.svg "carbon 2022 logo")](https://www.carbonae.com) ![Sustainable design blog for progressive architecture](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gallery/1366_x_500_blog_cover.png?width=1366&name=1366_x_500_blog_cover.png "Sustainable design blog for progressive architecture") # The Sustainable Design Blog ### For the love of beauty, functionality, and the planet Earth ## [Green Building Renewal: A Historic Building is Reborn](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/bid/113127/green-building-renewal-a-historic-building-is-reborn) Posted by [Carbon Design](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/author/carbon-design) on Tue, Sep 16, 2014 ![](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/hubfs/C%20Mark-3.png?width=35&name=C%20Mark-3.png) Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-design-architecture) ![Green Building Design](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-1640423713-jpg/images/photo-csa-office.jpg?width=331&height=132&name=photo-csa-office.jpg)In my previous blog, I talked about the background, details, and return on investment that Carlson Studio Architecture realized when we purchased our office building in 2007 and built out a** LEED-CI Silver Certified project**, which was the third LEED-CI project ever certified in Florida at that time. I was happy to share the detailed information about this green building accomplishment. One thing I have seen over these many years in working in the sustainable design realm is that **people with a “green” mindset are very open to sharing the details with others**, whether it is an ROI calculation, or a green building design concept, or a specific detail.  A strength of the green building world that is its willingness to share, and bring everyone up along the way.  As they say, 1 rising tide lifts all boats. So, we felt strongly that we should walk the walk and design our own office to be LEED certified. # The Green Building Offices at Carlson Studio Architecture Having now worked in this green building for over 7 years, I have a few observations.  We used some simple, basic technology throughout the office that we have become so accustom to, we miss it when we go elsewhere, including: > - **Motion sensors** in all the private offices, conference rooms, bathrooms and lobby. > - The **T-8 lights** come on when we walk into a room, and go off a few minutes after we leave. > - The** bathroom motion sensors** are also tied into the exhaust fans, so they stay on automatically for a few minutes as well, then turn off automatically so as to not exhaust all the air conditioned air out of the green building. > - The **dual flush toilets** work great. > - The faucets in the sinks are all on **automatic sensors,** so when you put your hands under the faucet, the water turns on, and when you remove your hands it shuts off immediately. > - The faucet motions sensors are **battery operated**, and the flow of the water out of the faucet turns a small turbine wheel and recharges the batteries constantly. We have yet to change the batteries.  I have gotten so accustomed to not turning the lights on and off, and not having to turn the faucet on and off, that when I am away from the office I typically expect those things to happen automatically, but they don’t very often. All of this is simple technology has **no maintenance** and *nothing* to break. Other simple things like **programmable thermostats**, automatically turn the air on in the morning about an hour before we open, and reset to a bit warmer temperature in the evening to save energy when the building is not occupied.  There is also a weekend setting that is similar to the night time setting.  The thermostat allows these setting to be easily manually overridden by a user who may come in at night or on the weekend. We also added a **simple timer switch** that closes the fresh air intake damper at night and on weekends when the office is unoccupied.  This saves additional energy because the A/C system does not have to bring in and dehumidify the hot and humid Florida outside air at night or on weekends. More about real experiences working in a LEED office in a future [green building blog](https://www.carbonae.com/projects/green-building-links/). ## **Green Building Design by CSA** At [Carlson Studio Architecture](https://www.carbonae.com/), we believe that *going green* doesn't have to mean sacrificing quality or comfort... and certainly not convenience. Our own offices are a perfect example of not only how EASY it is to go green, but also that ultimately those people living and working in green buildings come to discover that life can be decidedly simpler when your building 'does the work for you'. But be forewarned: it's easy to get spoiled by such effortless simplicity, and to miss it when you're away; just as we do here at CSA. We are happy to provide a **complimentary green building consultation** to determine how your green building projects may best be implemented, whether it’s for a new green building or renovation of an existing structure. Just click the button below to submit your request, and we'll respond promptly to schedule your consultation. [![Request A Consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/42364/9a26ff7e-f82e-48ef-825a-835c66a6081c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/42364/9a26ff7e-f82e-48ef-825a-835c66a6081c) Topics: [green building](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-building), [Green Design](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-design), [carlson studio architecture](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carlson-studio-architecture) ## CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH DESIGN Welcome to the Carlson Studio Architecture blog - built for design enthusiasts and lovers of our planet. ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [LEED (55)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed) - [green (42)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green) - [carlson (38)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carlson) - [usgbc (34)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/usgbc) - [sarasota (31)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sarasota) - [architecture (29)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/architecture) - 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