SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE IS THE USE OF DESIGN STRATEGIES THAT REDUCE THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM A BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THIS CAN RANGE FROM PASSIVE AND ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES, ENERGY MANAGEMENT, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND THE USE OF GREEN MATERIALS.
-PASSIVE & ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES
JUST BY ORIENTATING A BUILDING ON A SITE CAN GO A ALONG WAY TO DETERMINING HOW MUCH ENERGY CONSUMPTION THE BUILDING WILL USE. DAYLIGHT HARVESTING AND NATURAL VENTILATION CAN AID IN HELPING TO COOL OR HEAT A BUILDING NATURALLY WITHOUT RELYING ON FOSSIL FUELS. ULTRA EFFICIENT FURNACES CAN FURTHER REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION WHILE GAS FIREPLACES REPLACE WOOD AS A BURNING ALTERNATIVE FOR LESS ENERGY AND FEWER POLLUTANTS. OPERABLE SKYLIGHTS ALLOW AIR TO ESCAPE NATURALLY IN LIEU OF AN AC UNIT.
-ON-SITE RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOLAR ELECTRIC AND THERMAL SYSTEMS PROVIDE A RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTION FOR ELECTRICITY AND HOT WATER WHILE REDUCING FOSSIL FUEL RELIANCE.
-SMART APPLIANCES & FIXTURES
BY CHOOSING ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES IN THE KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND LAUNDRY ROOMS, ELECTRIC AND WATER DEMAND CAN BE REDUCED. OCCUPANCY AND DAYLIGHT SENSORS GO A STEP FURTHER AND ELIMINATE WASTE WHEN ROOMS ARE EMPTY OR NATURAL DAY LIGHTING IS AVAILABLE.
- NATIVE & ADAPTIVE LANDSCAPING
LANDSCAPE CHOICES CAN MAKE A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN REDUCING WATER CONSUMPTION AS WELL AS PROVIDING SUITABLE HABITATS FOR BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, BEES AND OTHER WILDLIFE. RAIN GARDENS AND OTHER IMPERVIOUS GROUND MATERIALS ALLOW RAIN AND RUNOFF TO ABSORB INTO THE GROUND AND NOT RELY ON SEWER SYSTEMS.