We were saddened to hear the news that Ray Anderson, founder of Interface Carpet, lost his battle with cancer this week. Anderson was regarded by many as a visionary business leader who helped champion sustainability. He founded Interface Carpet in 1973 and helped transform an entire industry with his “eco-epiphany”.

Ray shared with Metropolis Magazine that his “late-night encounter with Paul Hawken’s seminal book, Ecology of Commerce, changed his life.” Ray was so inspired by Hawken’s words that he set a goal for Interface, in which he called “Climbing Mount Sustainability”, of zero environmental impact by 2020.

It was only fitting that Paul Hawken deliver a eulogy at Anderson’s memorial service yesterday in Atlanta.

“People called Ray a dreamer. To be sure, he was, but he was also an engineer. He had definitely seen the mountain, but he also dreamed in balance sheets, thermodynamics, and resource flow theory. He dreamed a world yet to come because dreams of a livable future are not coming from our politicians, bankers, and the media. For Ray, reimagining the world was a responsibility, something owed to our children’s children, a gift to a future that is begging for selflessness and vision.”

Read about Ray’s “Climbing Mount Sustainability” on Metropolis Magazine.

We recently came across Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey house on Apartment Therapy’s American Style. Wright along with other notable architects from the mid-century modern era helped shape American architecture. Their designs are as relevant and fresh today as they were over 60 years ago.

Completed in 1941, the Pope-Leighey home followed Wright’s Usonian design principle, which is considered to be the origins of the popular “ranch-style” homes.  Frank Lloyd Wright, like many of us here in Colorado, was inspired by his natural surroundings. The Pope-Leighey home, located in Virginia, could easily blend in with our mountain-style architecture.

Courtesy of Apartment Therapy

Courtesy of Apartment Therapy

Courtesy of Apartment Therapy

What do you think about Wright’s Usonian design?

With projects like FLEDERHAUS in Vienna, Austria it is easy to see how architecture can impact our local parks and recreation. This eco-friendly, five-story structure designed by Heri & Salli, is the perfect place to lounge after a busy day seeing the sites in Vienna. With over a dozen hammocks available for public use this “haus” has given new meaning to laying around.

Courtesy of ArchDaily. Photography by Mischa Erben

Courtesy of ArchDaily. Photography by Mischa Erben

Courtesy of ArchDaily. Photography by Mischa Erben

Courtesy of ArchDaily. Photography by Mischa Erben

Courtesy of ArchDaily. Photography by Mischa Erben

If you happen to find yourself in Vienna, this vertical public space is open daily until October from 10am till 7pm.

What do you think about a structure like this here in Colorado? Do you think our residents would find this a suitable use of public space?

Certified Green homes sell for more

Portland-area homes with green credentials command prices an average 30 percent higher than their non-certified counterparts, even while the overall market share of certified green homes in the region took a slight dip, according to new data.

Earth Advantage Institute, a nonprofit green building organization, announced Wednesday the results of its annual certified home analysis for the Portland metro region for the year May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011 based on Portland Regional Multiple Listing Service data.

The report found that better sales prices were nabbed by both new homes and existing homes with certification of sustainability measures such as energy efficiency and green building materials. The certifications included in the report were either from Earth Advantage, the federal governments Energy Star program and LEED home designations from the U.S. Green Building Council.

In Multnomah County, existing homes with green certification received a whopping premium of 61 percent over the average price of non-certified homes. In Clackamas County, green-certified new homes fetched an average price premium of 23 percent.

“People are willing to pay more for green-certified homes,” said Dakota Gale, sustainable finance program manager, Earth Advantage Institute.

Gale added that the process of certification for new homes is relatively simple. “It’s pretty low-hanging fruit,” he said. “We hold a builders hand all the way through the process.”

Oddly, new homes in Clark County, Wash., with green certification sold for 14 percent less than their non-certified counterparts, the only such anomaly in the analysis.

The overall share of the housing market for green-certified homes dipped slightly in the metro area in the last year, dropping from 19.8 percent of the overall market to 18.2 percent. Green homes were steadily gaining market share each year in recent reports.

“Why? My guess it was a first-time home-buyer market last year and many starter homes aren’t built to green standards,” Gale said.

The report includes Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia, Washington and Yamhill Counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. Full data is available from Earth Advantage.

Source: Sustainable Business Oregon

@SustainableBzOR | christinawilliams@bizjournals.com | 503.219.3438

Breckenridge has one of the largest Historic Districts in Colorado. Many buildings are ripe for green renovation.

The greenest building is the one that is already built.

That’s the message being spread by some historic preservationists as recent studies lend further support to adaptive reuse and recycling of existing building stock, versus construction of new buildings.

Studies have shown the merits of “green building,” which includes advanced energy efficiency technology, use of sustainable methods and materials, and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system; but until recently, there’s been relatively little data available highlighting the benefits of building reuse. Now, more are beginning to see how adaptive preservation of older buildings combines ideas that are forward-thinking, sustainable and community-friendly.

“Preservation saves energy by taking advantage of the nonrecoverable energy embodied in an existing building and extending the use of it,” according to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Surprisingly, older buildings, especially commercial structures built before 1920, have been shown to be extremely energy efficient. New construction, on the other hand, requires enormous expenditures of energy and materials.

A recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 30 to 40 percent of our natural-resource extraction comes from the building industry. What’s more, if new construction involves tearing down an existing structure, add to that the energy expended in demolition and the waste that ends up in our landfills.

Think of the slogan: reduce, reuse, recycle – why shouldn’t it apply to our built environment? Yet there is still a strong aversion to recycling existing buildings through retrofitting and reuse. There are the architects and developers involved who find it much simpler to start from scratch, and the fact that new construction is a pillar of the U.S. economy.

A local case in point is the Aboff building (formerly Hotel Huntington) at 410 New York Avenue, which, sadly, failed to obtain historical landmark status from Town and State officials in March and is currently slated for demolition and replacement by a drive-through bank, despite efforts from local preservationists and community members.

For more information on historic preservation issues:
http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/green-lab/
http://www.splia.org/index.php
To calculate “embodied energy” on any building: http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org/

Is going green worth it to you?
Source: huntingtonpatch.com

NeoCon, the largest trade show of its kind in North America with 700 showrooms and exhibits to explore, wrapped up a couple of days ago in Chicago. The show featured some great sustainable design solutions, and Inhabitat has roundup of some of the highlights. Check out the best of NeoCon’s green offerings below.

Wool Clouds designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Kvadrat, available in North America through Haworth.

3Form Gecko tiles are applied with water and give a bright pop of color, as well as privacy, to existing glass installations.

Vienta Wall Tiles by Arktura are durable enough for use both inside and outside.

What do you think of these eco-friendly design innovations? How important is sustainable design to you? At Trilogy Partners, we build custom homes with an eye to sustainability as well as style. Contact us today and let us help you go green!

images via Inhabitat

Melissa Rappaport Schifman just wanted to do the right thing. She never imagined it would take a 342-page manual and three years of her life.

It started when Melissa and her husband, Jim Schifman, bought a 1950s rambler “as is” on a corner lot across from Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. They had planned to remodel the modest house using green methods and materials, but when they discovered that it would be costly to solve moisture issues in the basement, they decided to start from scratch.

True to their green desires, they hired Deconstruction Services, a nonprofit affiliated with the Green Institute, to remove and recycle the wood flooring, cabinets, appliances, even the toilets. “We struggled with tearing down a home, so we were glad it was recycled,” Melissa said. Then they set their sights on building a sustainable, energy-efficient, healthy home that would lower their energy consumption (and costs) and offer views of the lake.

“We have so many choices when building and remodeling,” Melissa said. “Why not be thoughtful and choose products that are better for your health and environment?”

But the Schifmans weren’t just going to just dabble in green features. They wanted to go for the features that make the most difference: a geothermal heating and cooling system, photovoltaic solar panels and wood harvested from sustainably managed forests. They also wanted the ultimate stamp of environmental approval: LEED certification.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green-building certification program, which promotes the design and construction of green homes. It’s based on a rating system with categories such as site selection, water efficiency, materials and resources, energy and indoor environment quality. To get the certification, a home has to be inspected during and after construction.

“When someone says their home is green, it’s questionable,” Melissa said. “With a LEED home, all the benefits have been verified by a third party.”

Typically, homeowners hire a green building consultant to do the time-consuming task of certification. But Melissa, who had experience in financial analysis and renewable energy, wanted to tackle the job herself.

“This would be a great thing for me to go through,” she said. “I wanted to find out if it was the wave of the future or a big pain in the rear.”

When she received the 342-page LEED reference manual from the U.S. Green Building Council, she decided it was the latter.”I was excited because it was a gold mine of information for building a healthy, energy-efficient home,” she said. “At the same time, my heart sank knowing how much work I would have to put into it.”

STYLISH AND SUSTAINABLE

Before Melissa even cracked open the manual, the couple had to decide what style of home they wanted to build for themselves and their two young daughters. “We’d always liked contemporary homes,” said Melissa. “They use space well, have open floor plans and lots of windows. That style worked well with our green goals.”

They’d seen Duluth architect David Salmela’s modern designs for the Jackson Meadow community in Marine on St. Croix, Minn., and the book on him, “Salmela Architect.”

“We liked his whimsical touches and his sense of practicality and efficient use of space,” Melissa said. “We knew his designs connected a home to the Earth. That’s why we chose him.”

The Schifmans arranged the first of many meetings, not only with Salmela but also the builder, the mechanical and electrical engineers and the landscaper, to talk about building a home to LEED standards.

Salmela eventually designed a clean-lined, L-shaped home with a wall of windows facing the lake. The home is in two structures, which total 4,800 square feet and are connected by a breezeway. The family living spaces are on the main floor and the three bedrooms are upstairs. Melissa requested a home office above the garage so she could be away from distractions. The finished basement has a playroom for the girls and guest bedroom that doubles as an exercise room.

“We were able to design a beautiful house that wasn’t just about sustainability and energy efficiency,” Salmela said. “It’s enjoyable to live in, connects to the site and fits in the neighborhood.”

GREEN FOR A LIVING

Melissa’s number crunching helped them choose the most efficient products and materials. “I figured out what you get the most bang for the buck,” she said. “I like doing cost-benefit analysis. It’s fun.”

Her favorite eco features are the two small green roofs, over the entry hall and the garage. The plants absorb rainwater runoff, help insulate the home and extend the life of the roof. And they’re beautiful to look at. “By July, the sedum will have red and yellow flowers,” Melissa said. “Plus we got LEED points for them.”

In 2009, the house was done, but Melissa was far from completing the LEED certification. In fact, she started a blog to help her get through the process. Although the blog was more work, she felt that a public daily journal would make her more accountable and help her understand the LEED point process. “I went through the checklist and wrote about my experience on the blog,” she said. “It gave me the discipline to get it done.”

Melissa spent hours (200, she estimates) calculating everything from waste diversion rates to how much water flowed from faucets. She tracked down subcontractors to find out where they got their supplies and materials to determine if they were locally sourced. “There were times when I thought if I stop doing this – would anyone care?” she said.

In the end, the work paid off. The family got a sustainable, energy-efficient house that they said they never want to leave. And Melissa got a new career. After passing the LEED exam, she became a LEED Homes Accredited Professional, which means builders and homeowners can hire her to consult on their green projects.

She’s also a partner in Resonance Companies, where she works as a sustainability consultant for small businesses. She’s still blogging (www.green-intention.com) and is working on a book about her experience.

In a few weeks, she should get official confirmation: The Schifman residence will be the 11th LEED certified home in Minneapolis.

Melissa and Jim are very happy with their home, but they do have one regret: “Living green shouldn’t be so hard and inconvenient or cost more,” Melissa said. “We hope in the future it will just be the normal way of living.”

Source: Sunherald.com

A “green remodel” can mean so many different things; there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and every remodel is ultimately as unique as the homeowner who envisioned it. So, what type of green remodeler are you? You might not fit precisely into a single category, and the point isn’t to peg anyone or apply labels, but rather to provide advice and resources specific to your approach.

1. Energy Efficiency Warrior

You’re tired of those high energy bills. Sometimes you might annoy family members by following them around the house and turning off the lights they leave on. So when it’s time to make some upgrades around the house, you will be focusing on ways to make your home operate more efficiently. Consider these projects:

2. Aesthetic Upgrader

Your own is a reflection of your personal tastes, and you want it to look good! Therefore, you focus your efforts on making aesthetic improvements, but you also want to make sure you choose materials that are eco-friendly and contribute to healthy indoor environment, too. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

3. Room-by-room Remodeler

Are you the type of person who eats one item at a time on your plate and doesn’t like anything to touch or mix together? Either way, your remodeling efforts are focused on one specific space, and you need advice that is unique to that particular room:

4. Budget Conscious Remodeler

Who doesn’t want to save money? Just because you don’t have a lot to spend on your home right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a few green improvements. Here are a few ways to save:

Source: About.com

Water Ripples

Water conservation has become an important part of sustainable living.

A growing concern for sustainable construction is water conservation. For many years, reducing power consumption has been a major focus of sustainable living, and while it is important, our dwindling water supply has slowly made green building exceedingly blue.

New construction specifications should incorporate water efficiency and conservation to reduce the impact on our water tables. The easiest way to conserve water usage is to install ultra-low flow fixtures wherever possible; your water consumption will decrease while leaving your quality of life virtually unchanged.

Proper landscaping makes a dramatic impact on water efficiency as well. Native plants reduce the need for regular watering since they have already adapted to the climate’s average rainfall. Scheduling a controlled irrigation early in the morning or after dusk will also reduce the amount of water wasted by evaporation.

To construct your own sustainable designed home in the Colorado Mountain region, contact Trilogy Partners today.

Congratulations to our client and dear friend, Trey Parker, on his triumphant Broadway debut as writer, director, and producer of Broadway’s newest musical hit, The Book Of Mormon. Recently nominated for 14 Tony Awards, more than any play this season, Parker joined with long time South Park co-creator Matt Stone and Avenue Q writer Robert Lopez to tell the story of two Morman missionaries who are assigned to spread the Mormon gospel in Uganda. Book of Mormon tickets have become almost impossible to come by as the public can’t seem to get enough of the guys behind the irreverent South Park Cartoon Series. We’re proud to have worked with Trey to co-create and build two of his favorite places on earth, one in Steamboat Springs (and featured in Architectural Digest), and the other on Kauai. We always knew that South Park was just the tip of the iceberg, because not only is Trey an incredible writer and satirist, he’s also a brilliant designer with a truly classic and timeless sense of taste. We look forward to joining forces with Trey again soon.

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