Sustainable Practice
The Tradeoffs: There is No All-or-Nothing for Sustainable Practice
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for sustainable practice. We know that having an all-or-nothing mentality can leave people stuck without knowing which facet of sustainable design they should focus on. Meeting you where you’re at lets us guide you through the right options for your project needs, budget, and aesthetic goals.
October 24, 2024
As an integrated design firm focused on custom design solutions, our team at Board & Vellum is adept at providing guidance in many different ways, from concept through completion of a project. As with every other aspect of design, looking at sustainability from all perspectives is the best way to prioritize project goals.
Making sustainable choices can sometimes feel like a zero-sum game, but there is no all-or-nothing. It’s a rare budget that can address absolutely everything, so it’s important to take the time to think through what’s most important to you, and where you can have real impact. Thinking in absolutes only ensures all of our efforts will grind to a halt!
Those weighing sustainability and resilience objectives are most likely considering how their home or building can best withstand extreme weather and adapt to the changing climate, while meeting personal preference goals of aesthetics and comfort. We kick off projects learning as much about our clients’ priorities as possible, right from the start. Together, we look for the ideas and opportunities that make the most sense for the project, the site conditions, its use, and most importantly, the people. In order to make good decisions, it’s vital to see and evaluate the big picture.
When considering the potential tradeoffs (totally okay, by the way), an architect’s holistic knowledge and understanding of systems is critical to finding the right mix and balancing upfront costs with long-term savings. Sustainable technologies and materials can sometimes have higher initial prices, but their benefits, such as lower energy bills and reduced maintenance, often outweigh these costs over time. Integrating sustainability into a design that meets personal preferences and functional needs, without compromising aesthetics or comfort, is our sweet spot. And the earlier we get them into the mix, the more feasible and affordable they become!
One of the aspects that rings true with almost every one of our clients is personal health and wellness. Indoor air quality is top of mind for more people today — healthy indoor air quality is vital for well-being. Thousands of materials go into your home, and many people are more aware than ever about the effects of some chemical compounds we have all been exposed to for years. You’re probably familiar with terms like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mycotoxins, and phthalates (PFAs). These affect our health and many products have been reformulated to eliminate or at least minimize them.
PFAs are being banned from most manufactured goods which will be a huge undertaking by industry. Low- and No-VOC paints and finishes that minimize indoor air pollutants are now widely available and cost comparative. Summers are also hotter and fire season starts earlier, and folks want their homes to be a refuge when outdoor air is unhealthy. Newer ventilation systems such as ERVs and HRVs also provide controlled and filtered stale-to-fresh air exchange with heat exchanging cores for better energy efficiency.
Selecting materials with a lower environmental impact is another crucial step for responsible design. Some of our favorite sustainable options include reclaimed wood, thermally modified wood, bamboo, hemp, cork, recycled metal, and recycled glass. Consider the lifecycle of materials, including their durability and recyclability.
Opting for materials that are locally sourced can help reduce transportation emissions and support local businesses. Water conservation is another essential aspect of sustainable building. It’s easier than ever to incorporate low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets, and rainwater harvesting systems to reduce the impact on our shared water resources.
Integrating renewable energy sources into your design can significantly reduce its carbon footprint. Solar panels are a popular option, but you might also consider geothermal systems or wind turbines, depending on your location and energy needs. Even small-scale renewable solutions can make a meaningful difference over time.
Thinking about how you will use your space can help hone in on your best options and discover balanced trade-offs. You may want to include native plantings in your yard, but still want to have space for your kids and your dog. Selecting the right plants for the right space, with longevity, safety, and water use in mind, ensures the right result.
How about trade-offs for solid exterior surfaces? There are plenty of new, more durable options than wood decking, eliminating the need to stain or replace a few years down the road. And while concrete is durable, it's not biodegradable or permeable, and contributes to heat island effect. Gravel, decomposed granite, and natural stone can be fantastic alternatives for landscaping applications, as well as thermally modified wood for decks.
Balancing competing demands requires an approach that considers both environmental impact and the well-being of the community. Local climate, intended use, and planning for the future are just a few important considerations. Owners and developers of multifamily buildings can encourage sustainable practices throughout the building’s lifecycle, from construction through occupancy, promoting waste reduction by recycling construction debris and sourcing materials responsibly. Providing ample recycling and food-waste composting options for occupants, as well as educating them on maintaining their building’s sustainability features, will ensure ongoing efficiency.
The phrase our team at Board & Vellum uses a lot is that we “meet people where they are.” That is to say, across the spectrum from multifamily developers to commercial business owners to homeowners, even to the public entities like parks departments we work with, each type of client comes to us with a different set of needs, desires, dreams, budgets, and baseline knowledge about sustainable design. We meet you where you are, and then guide you through what can be an overwhelming amount of information so that together we can find the right balance, find the right tradeoffs that make sense for your project.
The good news is that there are plenty of design solutions to effectively balance the tradeoffs most of us will make. Even though very few projects get to the 100% sustainable mark, every little bit across a wide swath and variety of projects really adds up!
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
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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.
