Greening your practice
Letter from the Editor
By Seth Anderson, AIA
As AIA members, we have an obligation to advance the policies of the institute. This includes the statement: “The creating and operation of the built environment require an investment of the earth’s resources. Architects must be environmentally responsible and advocate for the sustainable use of those resources”. This policy reinforces the positive effect that architects can have on energy conservation and “the design, preservation and construction of sustainable communities and high-performance buildings.”
Going beyond our membership duty to the Institute, there are also many reasons to embrace the ideals of sustainability in the operation of our businesses. The three that stand out for me as a business owner are brand identity, efficiency, and resilience.
For this edition of the Practice Management Digest, we have selected articles that present the business case for embracing sustainable business practices and highlight several new opportunities to incorporate sustainability into our building projects. Julia Craighill starts off the discussion in the article “So why bother going green? What's the actual business case?” with the idea that sustainable business practices will help your brand, engagement and efficiency.
If you’ve looked around your office recently, you’ve probably noticed a thing or two that could be thrown out… uh, I mean recycled. Imagine having to pare down 30 years of accumulated office materials in preparation for the move to a new building. Jennifer Letz describes her experience in doing just that in “Embracing the Urge to Purge” while also diverting a significant quantity of these materials from the landfill.
Stephanie Horowitz, AIA, a member of the AIA Committee on The Environment (COTE), contributes her article “How small firms can go green”, which identifies resources for firms starting to incorporate sustainable building design into their practice. And for those firms that have already embraced the green wave, the article “Design Features and Analytics for Greener Buildings” by Zack Moore, offers tips on maximizing return on investment for our clients through benchmarking and monitoring.
How can a building’s lighting improve space utilization? Jonathan Weinert’s article “Sustainability and the second great lighting revolution” takes a futuristic look at how LED lighting networks, combined with the Internet of Things, can improve lighting efficiency, while quantifying and helping to reduce the physical real estate needed.
In an ongoing effort and collaboration with AIA Trust, also included is the article “Exploring the Opportunities and Risks in the Materials Transparency Movement” by Kevin J. Collins, which identifies risks associated with the movement that encourages disclosure of the material content and chemical makeup of building materials used in building construction.
I hope you enjoy this quarter's edition of Practice Management Digest and find ways to make your own business more sustainable from the perspectives of people, planet and profit.
Features
So why bother going green? What's the actual business case?
By Julia Craighill, LEED BD+C
There is considerable business value to integrating sustainability considerations your business, but before your company commits the necessary time and resources, you must first ask—Will this be worth the effort? Does it make business sense for our firm to consider sustainability in how we operate and the services we provide?
Embracing the urge to purge: Tips to ensure a clean and green office move
By Jennifer Letz
Even in an age of electronic everything, our propensity to collect and stash material objects is only rivaled by the wiliest of desert pack rats. So how do you get all of this “stuff” to leave your workplace? And, more importantly, how can it be done successfully without adding more trash to our environment? Here's how I answered these questions.
How small firms can go green
By Stephanie Horowitz, AIA
Developing in-house expertise in the area of high-performance buildings can be a challenge for small firms, especially when you’re starting from scratch. Here are some suggestions for professional development that can help your firm bulk up its in-house expertise on green design.
Exploring the opportunities and risks in the materials transparency movement
By Kevin J. Collins, RPLU, Associate AIA
Are you engaged with the movement towards material transparency? With proper contract language and client communications, design firms can promote the evolution of safer products through the materials transparency disclosures without increasing their professional liability exposures or business risks.
Sustainability and the second great lighting revolution
By Jonathan Weinert
While the majority of architects and workplace designers agree that space optimization and energy efficiency are two of the most important aspects of sustainability initiatives, most don’t think of looking up to the ceiling overhead. In the U.S., lighting accounts on average for about 17% of a building’s total energy consumption, more than any other end use.
Design features and analytics for greener buildings
By Zack Moore
Whether designing new buildings or redesigning existing buildings, architects can contribute to future energy savings and certifications for a client. Here are some tips to maximize the return on investment on your efficiency efforts for your clients.
Further reading and resources
Contribute to the Digest
The next issue of the Practice Management Digest will dive into “Pro-bono work/public interest architecture: Socially conscious design and how architects can give back to the community”
We are always looking for topics that you would like to see addressed in an edition of the Digest. If you have topics related to practice management that you’d like explored or articles you would like us to consider, please contact Seth Anderson, AIA, at sanderson@ascentarch.com.
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