Sustainable Practice
The New Normal: A More Sustainable Starting Line
When some people hear ”the new normal,“ they feel resigned or discouraged. For sustainable practices, though, we think the new normal is a good thing — an exciting and inspiring opportunity to reflect on the past, consider the more sustainable starting line of the present, and look forward to where we’re going.
October 24, 2024
We’re all learning more and more about the effects of climate change every day, and it can feel overwhelming to witness the rise in climate disasters. Public awareness of what is contributing to this crisis is certainly higher than just a few years ago. With knowledge comes power, and industry is taking this to heart and responding with shifts in the way business is done.
Everywhere you turn, products, services, and companies are highlighting just how green they are. In marketing campaigns, they spread the word about being great environmental stewards because they know it sells. Many legitimately are setting good examples of stewardship, and much credit to them. However, not all claims are honest about the underlying realities, and those who stretch the bounds of credulity (green petroleum? come on…) are watering down the potential positive impact.
We’re likely all familiar with the term “greenwashing” and the negative impact the practice has had on consumer trust around “green” products and practices. Perhaps the upside is that this consumer skepticism has made it harder to effectively greenwash in many areas. As the public is getting more informed, companies are being questioned about details and asked to provide proof in the form of labels, data sheets, and certifications. Some of these labels are more meaningful than others, so buyers still need to beware.
In a similar vein, in the architecture and design world, the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable practices” have long been touted by green building advocates (we use them, ourselves!). But, perhaps with so much talk about sustainability the word is losing its impact, and some people are growing tired of all the buzz. We’ve heard it even feels like being “preached at” when they already know they need to make sustainable choices, and are doing the best they can.
Maybe rather than sustainable design, we could start thinking of this as environmentally responsible design. That’s an idea we explore further in our companion Living Shelter podcast episode, 30 Years of Sustainable Practice: Looking Back with Terry Phelan.
Has “sustainability-fatigue” begun to undermine the progress we’ve made in communicating the urgency of reducing the impact of the built environment? Perhaps, but as the urgency remains higher than ever, the baseline has shifted: the baseline for building design now, especially in jurisdictions like Seattle, is dramatically more sustainable than it used to be.
The phrase “the new normal” can sometimes bring on feelings of acceptance and complacency — a resignation of this is where we are now. Some people even see this as something to resist, not being ready to be swept up in changes they don’t understand the benefit of or need for. We believe it’s important to be compassionate in these cases, and represent that change is the only constant and, in many cases, can be positive, encouraging, and uplifting.
When shaping the spaces we occupy, most of us want to do the right thing, or at least do what we can. But even filtering out the greenwashing, there’s an overwhelming amount of information, options, practices, and approaches for how to design more sustainable spaces, buildings, and landscapes — how do we move forward without getting overwhelmed? Well, working with an informed design team can be invaluable when you’re so frozen by all the things you could do, that you don’t even know where to start.
The future is now.
Thirty years ago, green building practices were far from commonplace. Today, sustainability and resilience are fundamental aspects of architecture and design. Driven by advancements in technology, materials, and a deeper understanding of the building industry’s impact on the environment, what was once considered “going the extra mile” is at the baseline for building and construction practices.
You may be surprised to learn how far commercial and multifamily buildings are required to go today. For example, solar-ready roofs are now code minimum for Seattle. Double- or triple-paned windows, airtight building envelope construction that can pass stringent blower door testing, and LED lighting are also required by Seattle’s current building codes.
Installing energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) — a mechanical ventilation system that improves indoor air quality by bringing in fresh outdoor air while moving stale air out through a heat recovery core — used to be a luxury. Now it's a requirement for multifamily buildings. The move away from electric resistance and gas heat to more efficient heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling, means many more people now have air conditioning, both in multifamily buildings and single-family homes.
Understanding how the requirements are changing in order to meet the ever-increasing demands of climate change is a big part of how we work. As a multidisciplinary design firm, we have the benefit of seeing a broader picture of a design project, and the opportunity to help our clients design for the future holistically. We know how important it is to approach the integration of sustainable practices with a strategic mindset, focusing on the things that align with personal goals and preferences, as well as financial realities. As Zack Thomas, Board & Vellum’s Director of Landscape & Site Design says, “There’s no 100% right answer.”
Simply prioritizing energy efficiency is a great place to start. Efficient practices have now become best practices — advanced technologies like high-performance HVAC systems and sophisticated energy modeling tools now exist at the baseline of architectural design, rather than the bleeding edge. Buildings can more effectively exceed yesterday’s efficiency standards, and target net-zero energy or even positive energy goals.
As discussed in the most recent Living Shelter podcast episode, the good news here is the continued development and increased availability of technologies. The cost of solar panels, heat pump appliances, and electric cars have started to come down, which means there are shorter investment payback timelines.
So, we are happy to reassure you that the “new normal” is a good thing. It’s exciting to know that we have so many more resources, so much more opportunity, than ever before. The baseline today is inherently much more sustainable than it used to be, on several different fronts!
When it comes to feeling overwhelmed, it’s helpful to understand and accept that we can’t do absolutely everything, so prioritizing our needs and wants (not to mention being realistic about the budget) will likely require a few tradeoffs. In our next post, we’ll examine some of the ways we can move forward today, while still thinking about tomorrow.
This post is part of a partner series on The Living Shelter Podcast about the past, present, and future of sustainable practice.
More From The Living Shelter Podcast
30 Years of Sustainable Practice
In Episode 9, 30 Years of Sustainable Practice: Looking Back with Terry Phelan, guest Jeff Pelletier interviews Terry Phelan about how she’s seen sustainable practices evolve over her 30+ year career.
Passing the Torch to New Leaders
In the final episode of The Living Shelter Podcast, Passing the Torch to New Leaders: Looking Ahead with Jeff Pelletier, guest Jeff Pelletier discusses Board & Vellum’s approach to sustainability and the firm’s ongoing commitment to elevating sustainable practice.
