Sustainable Design

In the Shaanxi Province of China, the residents have used sustainable design ever since their existence.  As a result, not only is the area beautiful, (at least in terms of natural aesthetics), but the people are extremely healthy. 

Now, when it comes to sustainable design in the United States, living in caves is not much of an option.  And many farmers are already using compost heaps, (even if it’s not to the degree of Shaanxi Province).  So, that leaves the other option of incorporating natural energy into sustainable design. 

The most obvious forms of natural energy include solar and wind power.  Of these two energy sources, solar has become increasingly popular.  In fact, the government even provides a tax credit to help homeowners cover the cost of solar panel installation. 

And yet, despite this, solar energy is still more expensive, at least when it comes to initial installation. 

Once everything is in place, homeowners will save money on their energy bills, but it’s getting to that level that can be a problem for many.

Well, the next best solution would involve ensuring that only minimal amounts of ‘harmful’ energy is used.  This means installing materials that are known for their ability to conserve greater amounts of energy. 

If construction companies need a model to work from for Western-based sustainable design, they should investigate buildings that have a high LEED rating. 

What is LEED?  LEED, (which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design for Homes), is an organization that rates homes and other buildings based on how environmentally friendly they are. 

The higher the rating, the more green the building is.

LEED has also gone a step further by offering classes to architects.  If they pass these classes, they can become LEED-certified. 

With a LEED certification, they show they possess the knowledge necessary for sustainable design.  This is why construction companies need to strongly consider hiring at least one LEED-certified architect for their organization.

Of course, construction companies should be aware that sometimes good sustainable design might mean sacrificing aesthetic quality. 

A talented architect might be able to work around this disadvantage by considering different color schemes or offsetting the plainness with something fancy. 

In conclusion, there’s no reason why the United States can’t be like their Chinese brethren when it comes to sustainable design. 

Yes, the culture might be different, but the principles they adhere to can apply to anyone. 

And, believe it or not, there are many that are already putting some of their ideas into practice.  It’s just not enough. 

But maybe one day it can be if each individual in the construction industry does their part in making things more green.