Firm Profile
Overview • Design Philosophy • Energy Efficiency • IAQ • Durability • Sustainability
Sustainability has been defined as the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable or green development seeks to reduce the use of non-renewable resources in construction, and to minimize the impact of construction on the environment. Many of the concepts we employ help our homes to be better stewards of our natural resources.
Design
The size of a
home has a direct impact on both the amount of resources used to build
it and the area of the site that will be disturbed. How the home is
located on the site will also affect the disturbed area, as well as the
potential for passive solar gains and natural cooling. Designing a home to adapt to the changing needs of its
occupants will prolong its useful life.
Energy Efficiency
The more energy efficient it is, the fewer natural resources
will be required to
heat, cool, light and operate the home over its
life. The future savings in energy costs
typically exceed any higher initial cost associated with more energy
efficient design.
Material Selection
By choosing renewable materials, or those with
a smaller ecological footprint, the initial demand on natural
resources is decreased.
Durability
The use of
more durable materials in a home reduces the demand on natural
resources in the future for maintenance and replacement. Any
higher initial costs are typically more than recouped over the life
cycle of the home.