Resources > Architects & Builders > Tips & Trends > July 2009

Architecture and the Environment

For a long time, the public has focused on the lack of housing availability and affordability. We all have driven through neighborhoods in hope of finding our first house, the ideal school system for our children and a nice area that we could call home. We sacrificed so much to be able to afford to live in that first home, enduring long commutes to and from work, and spending precious hours in transit away from the place we worked so hard to own and share with our families and friends. Today, we are taking the subject of housing to a new dimension. The consumer is starting to understand the harm that our choices are causing the environment, including the fact that not only our actions but our present buildings are highly responsible for the impact of global warming on our natural resources and our personal health and that of our children. There is a tremendous confusion within the public on the steps to take to improve our buildings, take care of our family’s environmental health issues and leave the earth in the same or better condition than we found it.

Save Your Green While Being Green

It’s not just about being green to reduce our burden on natural resources, is it? Face it, these days, we need all the green—monetarily speaking—that we can get. Energy use is probably the most effective greening of your home. By doing a few simple things, you can reduce the energy used in building as well as in direct operating costs of your home. Now that can save your green while being green.

Designing on the Oceanfront: A Quick Overview

Many of the things that draw us to oceanfront living along the southeast coast are apparent: the pristine beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and year-round temperate climate. What isn’t so apparent are the challenges of designing a house that properly responds to the elements to provide a comfortable and sustainable beach dwelling. Due to its limited supply, oceanfront real estate has evolved into a significant investment. In addition to the harsh elements and increased regulation, the high cost of the land makes it even more important to create a design that successfully addresses all challenges of a site.

Why Hire an Architect?

I was once an outsider to the architecture profession. It was pure chance that lead me to be employed at an architecture firm. For the past four years, I’ve been involved in dozens of projects and have gained insight into a world that I once believed only the rich and famous could afford. I’ve since discovered that an architect brings to customizing your home valuable services that are not just for the wealthy but also for the clever, the economically efficient, the value-conscious and those who never settle for average.

---