Smart is the New Green
"Never doubt the power of a small group of people to change the world, as in fact it is the only thing that ever has."
~ Margaret Meade
Early last year DYKEMAN signed up as members of the Seattle Climate Partnership. This comes with a commitment to reducing carbon emissions, and in architecture, this applies to how you run your office in addition to how you design your projects. The firm also resolved to commit to the professional ethics of the AIA called "Obligations to the Environment," dealing with sustainable design, development and practice. After our carbon footprint study, we set out to work on our implementation plan. We use our office as a testing lab to see what ideas makes sense and have a good return. Our goal is to educate ourselves about making smarter choices. Like others, we are feeling the market pressure to be Green, but we want to do it in meaningful ways that will endure, not yielding to a fad or what many view as a passing trend.
The word "Green" is getting worn out. On the other hand, sustainability, which focuses on conservation of energy and resources, is a complex concept. Many people talk about it, but very few can actually achieve it. Smart design is sustainable and takes a common sense approach to solving design challenges. Our commitment is to design sustainable environments that benefit our clients and ensure we remain relevant in today's challenging economy.
So what next?
The triple bottom line -- economic, social and environmental responsibility - forces balanced decision-making. This makes sense to us and resists the pitfalls of being trendy or reacting to a fad. Triple bottom line decisions are smart decisions. Here are some examples of steps we have taken at DYKEMAN; saving energy in ways that reduce carbon emissions and turning in our paper-plates and plastic disposable forks for a permanent set that saves a few bucks in the long run. We're working hard to do our part.
And it’s evident in the work we do too. Whether pursuing LEED certification or the Living Building Challenge, DYKEMAN is working with clients to make smarter buildings.
Another option would be to adopt the 2030 Challenge, which is to reduce greenhouse gasses by 60% this year, then raise the bar another 10% every five years, so that by 2030, all new buildings, renovations and developments are using no GHG-emitting energy in their operations. The explanation of this standard is only 2 pages long, so it's not an arduous commitment for busy architects and developers. As long as you "do your best," you won't get penalized. You do need a "clear implementation plan" that gives designers and clients a reasonable path to achieving the goal.
The Seattle Climate Partnership, LEED and the Living Building Challenge can all be used to help us move toward a more sustainable future. They aren't perfect, but there are elements we can all use if we make more informed choices. Don't be surprised if we want to talk to you a little bit about this on your project. Let us share some of the details of these options with you and some of the specific strategies and techniques that can help you build smarter buildings.
Scott Schreffler, LEED, AP
Sustainable Design Coordinator
Project Architect