What is Sustainable Design?

 

Sustainable Design is the philosophy of designing the built environment and corresponding building systems with an intelligent integration of technology and nature; in order to reduce environmental impacts, optimize a building's performance, promote occupant health and productivity, increase energy effficiency, and reduce operating costs.

 

Why consider Sustainable Design?

 

Buildings Consume:

• 40% of mined materials

• 40% of processed materials

• 40% of total energy

• 25% of virgin wood resources

• 16% of water suply

 

Buildings Produce:

• 40% of landfill waste

• 40% of CO2 emissions

• 50% of ozone-depleting CFC's

 

People are Directly Affected:

• Most people spend 80-90% of their time indoors

• 30% of indoor environments suffer from poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

• Approximately $70 Million spent per year in the USA to remediate issues caused by poor IAQ

 

 

Primary Objectives of Sustainable Design:

 

ENERGY:  Reduce energy consumption and operational costs.

 

MATERIALS:  Maximize the use of sustainable materials.

 

AIR QUALITY:  Minimize negative impacts on IAQ.

 

PRODUCTIVITY:  Improve the health, motivation, and productivity of human occupants.