Climate change, climbing energy costs, and advances in technology have created a welcome opportunity for architects to discuss sustainability with clients. While federal government support would be optimal, waiting until that support materializes is no longer feasible, given the current state of the environment.

Moving the mainstream toward sustainable buildings has become easier, thanks to media attention, architects who care deeply about the environment, and the recognition that projects that are built with an eye toward sustainability can greatly improve the outlook for the environment. Education about the benefits of sustainable design can often tip the balance with clients, and that education starts with the architect.

But the push towards sustainability may ultimately fail unless the business case is sound. The economic value to the residential, institutional and commercial sectors needs to be clear. Clients may have the perception that sustainable design is more costly; it is up to architects to show them that creating energy efficiencies can save real money in the long run, as well as helping to preserve the environment.

Buildings consume energy mainly in the form of burning oil, natural gas and coal. Producing a sustainable building involves an array of choices on many different levels, starting with proper siting and material selection. Energy-efficient strategies such as photovoltaics, wind power and daylighting can often be cost-neutral.

Commercial Opportunities

The design of a building defines its energy consumption pattern (for example, lighting accounts for the largest energy in commercial offices, followed by HVAC), while the total construction materials account for a small amount of energy over the life of the structure, known as embodied energy. Architects can reduce energy consumption through several methods, including natural lighting, fluorescent technologies, light management, solar gain control, proper glass usage, passive heating and cooling techniques, water and energy efficiency, and the specification of low embodied energy materials.

In addition to the reduction of a buildings energies, the effect of the space and its materials on the occupants health and productivity is important. For this reason, consider selection of building products with zero or low VOC emissions. For information on standards established in California for maximum levels of VOC exposure for building materials for school and office construction, visit www.chps.net.

Residential Opportunities

Because homeowners are faced with rapidly rising fuel costs, they are often most receptive to energy-efficient strategies. Verandahs, skylights, and adjustable louvers can all improve lighting, reducing a major source of energy consumption. Extra insulation in the attic, triple-glazed windows, tankless water heaters and water-saving products are all popular. As more options become available, remodeling becomes an excellent opening for client education. Up to 60% of residential operational energies can be reduced through design and material selection, with little or no additional cost in construction.

The weakening of the residential market is offering more opportunities for remodeling, where architects can make a strong case for introducing energy efficiencies to counter escalating home energy costs.

For case studies of actual reduced energies in high-efficient buildings, visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/highperformance/ and http://www.nrel.gov/buildings_thermal/buildings.html

New AIA Initiative

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently adopted an initiative to achieve a minimum reduction of fifty percent of the current consumption level of fossil fuels used to construct and operate buildings by the year 2010. Subsequent targets each year thereafter will result in the design and construction of carbon neutral buildings by 2030. The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a similar policy statement and is partnering with the AIA to promote this 2030 goal to mayors across the country. Large-scale city planning may be the most viable plan to date to promote sustainability.